Vikings sign flashy wide receiver Jerome Simpson - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- The Minnesota Vikings have signed Jerome Simpson, the former Cincinnati wide receiver recently convicted on a felony drug charge.

The contract was completed Thursday, hours before the Vikings began the NFL draft.

Simpson was sentenced earlier this month to 15 days in jail, three years of probation and 200 hours of community service plus a $7,500 fine and court costs. He previously pleaded guilty to a prohibited act relating to controlled substances. Authorities said they tracked a shipment of 2 1/2 pounds of marijuana to his Kentucky home in September and that they found another pound of the drug inside the house.

Simpson had a breakout 2011 season for the Bengals. The highlight was his head-over-heels flip into the end zone for a touchdown during a December game.