The NFL has had a problem with wide receivers and drugs over the last year, first Sam Hurd of the Chicago Bears was arrested on intent to distribute charges and now Jerome Simpson of the Cincinnati Bengals has been indicted on trafficking charges of his own.
Simpson was indicted on drug charges in Covington, KY on Thursday after federal officials nearly four months ago confiscated a package containing 2.5 pounds of marijuana that was being shipped to the wide receivers Kentucky home from California. Investigators say they also found six pounds of marijuana inside the home of Jerome Simpson along with various drug paraphernalia including smoking devices, scales and packaging materials.
While Simpson made one of the most talked above highlight plays of the season, a touchdown flip several yards from the goal line into the end zone, his season was also marred with dropped passes and issues with route-running. Cincinatti was already expected to drop Simpson in place of a new wide receiver in the No. 2 wide receiver spot.
For the Bengals player arrests have been a huge problem in the past, from April 2006 through June 2007 the team had 10 player arrests while Receiver Chris Henry was a repeat offender for the team. The Bengals and their repeat issues were one of the various reasons NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pushed for a stronger crack down on player misconduct.
If convicted Simpson could face one to five years in prison.
Do you think players arrested on such charges should be immediately banned from NFL play or is 8 pounds of Marijuana nothing to get upset about?
Let’s keep celebrities and everyday citizens from crowding our courts and jails contributing to the money pit that is the War on Pot. When will our Government realize it can profit more from taxing the sale of the harmless medicinal herb than by jailing people for it? Groups are organizing all over the country to speak their minds on reforming pot laws and defending this plant. I drew up a very cool poster for the cause which you can check out on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/01/vote-teapot-2011.html Drop in and let me know what you think!