Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson said a couple of things after Wednesday’s voluntary practice that might make a knowledgeable football fan shake their head.
VIKINGS CAN “DEFINITELY” WIN THE SUPER BOWL
That’s right. Simpson told the Pioneer Press that the Vikings are good enough to win the Super Bowl this season. What else is he supposed to say, really?
“Definitely,” he said when asked. “Especially with all this talent we got. And we’re utilizing it finally. We’re utilizing all the talent we have here. It’s something that is really possible that we can do.”
The Vikings are coming off a 5-10-1 season, finishing last in the NFC North division. The odds from Vegas say the Vikings are 120 to 1 long shots to win the Super Bowl – only the Jaguars and Raiders have worse odds, according to Vegas Insider.
Another shot was taken at the Vikings when stats-based website Pro Football Focus said the Vikings have the 29th best roster in the NFL. There are only 32 teams, so that’s not what anyone would call an endorsement to make a run at Lombardi.
“I KNOW I’M WORTH MORE”
Simpson is coming off his best season with the Vikings, finishing with 48 catches for 726 yards and one touchdown – his only touchdown in 28 career games with the Vikings. However, the Vikings brought him
“I can’t lie. I was definitely surprised that I get paid less than what I got last year,” Simpson told the Pioneer Press. “I had my best numbers. But I guess when you got that negative thing on you, they kind of got you behind the 8-ball.”
The negative thing Simpson referred to was a November arrest on suspicion of DWI.
Simpson humbly said he’s knows he’s worth more than the $900,000 he’s set to make in 2014, but he “made my bed, so I got to lay in it.”
Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith wrote that Simpson made $2.1 million in 2013, and he’ll get a bigger payday in 2015 if he can continue to produce and stay out of trouble.
Simpson will be an unrestricted free agent next season.
