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Friday, 31 January 2014

Sunday, 10 November 2013

Vikings" Simpson arrested on DWI suspicion

Updated: November 10, 2013, 1:48 AM ET

By Ben Goessling | ESPN.com

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of drunken driving, and was booked into a Hennepin County jail.

Simpson, who is in his second year with the Vikings, was arrested by the Minnesota State Patrol and booked at 5:39 on Saturday morning, according to the Hennepin County Sherriff’s jail roster.

According to a Minnesota State Patrol arrest report, a state trooper responded to a report of a stalled vehicle on Interstate-394 leaving Minneapolis.

Simpson, who had blurry eyes and slurred speech, said he was coming from the Pour House in downtown Minneapolis, but denied having been drinking. He failed a field sobriety test, was arrested and transported to the jail, where he refused a breath test.

He posted bail of $ 12,000 on Saturday afternoon, though formal charges from prosecutors are still pending.

Simpson was suspended for the first three games of the 2012 after pleading guilty to a drug-related charge in March 2012.

The Vikings signed Simpson shortly after the NFL suspended him, and his DWI occurred during the first year of the three-year probation sentence ordered by a Kentucky judge.

It remains to be seen how the arrest will affect Simpson’s probation, or if he will face additional discipline from the league.

The Vikings said in a statement on Saturday morning that they “are aware of the matter involving Jerome Simpson. We are continuing to gather information and will have further comment at the appropriate time.”

Simpson, who was plagued by a back injury after returning from his suspension in 2012, had been in the middle of a rebound season with the Vikings. He had caught 33 passes for a team-high 491 yards in nine games after re-signing with the team on a one-year deal in March.

This spring, Simpson talked about having a big year and earning a long-term deal with the Vikings.

Previously covered Vikings for St. Paul Pioneer Press

Also covered Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Wild and Washington Nationals

Twin Cities native and University of Minnesota graduate

ESPN.com – NFL

Vikings" Simpson arrested on DWI suspicion

Saturday, 9 November 2013

Dolphins players deny locker room violence

Updated: November 9, 2013, 8:33 PM ET

By James Walker | ESPN.com

DAVIE, Fla. — The back and forth claims between the Miami Dolphins and offensive tackle Jonathan Martin continued Saturday.

Less than 48 hours after Martin’s attorney, David Cornwell, released a scathing statement that included accusations of a “malicious physical attack” toward Martin, several Dolphins players denied such claims.

“Since I’ve been here, I haven’t seen anything like that,” Dolphins offensive tackle Tyson Clabo said of physical violence against Martin.

“I never really seen anything like that,” defensive end Olivier Vernon added. “Most of the time, I thought it was joking. I don’t know how he felt. Everybody was just having fun.”

Other players such as tight end Michael Egnew and cornerback Nolan Carroll denied that the Dolphins have a violent locker room.

Martin left the team on Oct. 28 following a lunchroom incident and has not returned to the Dolphins, who suspended fellow offensive lineman Richie Incognito indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team.

Cornwell’s statement, which was released Thursday, read, “The issue is Jonathan’s treatment by his teammates. Jonathan endured harassment that went far beyond the traditional locker room hazing.”

There seems to be a large gray area between the locker-room environment described by Martin’s representatives and the one portrayed by Miami’s current players.

“I haven’t heard anything about that stuff,” Carroll said. “For me, I was never close to Jonathan Martin to really talk to him.

“So I couldn’t tell you what he was going through or what type of allegations there was.”

The NFL is holding a full investigation to get to the bottom of the issue.

The Dolphins (4-4) will look to put aside their distractions when they travel to face the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-8) on “Monday Night Football.”