GEORGETOWN, Ky. – Jerome Simpson has history on his side. He is the fifth wide receiver the Bengals have selected in the second round of the draft in 41 tries. The other four – Cris Collinsworth in 1981, Carl Pickens in 1992, Darnay Scott in 1994 and Chad Johnson in 2001 – are among the best receivers ever to play for the franchise.
Maybe that’s why Simpson was so adamant at the opening of training camp about proclaiming his motivation to prove wrong any who doubt the team’s wisdom in choosing him in the second round this year. He’s got a reputation to uphold.
Coming out of Coastal Carolina, a member of the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA), not many had heard of Simpson but the Bengals were impressed with what they saw. He had a knack for catching everything thrown his way, as attested to his Big South conference records in receiving yards and touchdown receptions. His hands measured 11 inches from the tip of his pinky to the tip of his thumb, the largest of any player at the NFL Combine. His other measurables included a 44-inch vertical leap, again among the best of any player drafted this year.
Now it’s just a matter of Simpson translating those physical attributes into success at the NFL level. Simpson and fellow rookie Andre Caldwell (chosen in the third round) are expected to lead the future of the Bengals passing game.
The future isn’t here yet, not with Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh coming off of Pro Bowl seasons and forming one of the best receiving duos in the league, but the promise is there.
“They’re both smart guys,” said quarterback Carson Palmer. “They’ve both come from different systems in college so they’ve had a lot to learn and a lot thrown on their plates. But they’re both willing to learn. They want to know and they want to play right now. They’re a little ways away right now and aren’t going to be on the field right away but they both have the talent to get on the field.”
The Bengals open up their preseason schedule Monday night at Green Bay. Simpson spoke with reporters in anticipation of this first game.
Q: Are you ready for this first game?
A: I’ve been looking forward to this game since I was wee-high. I’m looking to play hard and make some plays.
Q: You came in with a bit of chip on your shoulder. Still feel that way?
A: I am out here working hard – you don’t see that chip on there? I’ve just got to keep working hard to prove that did the right thing choosing me in the second round.
Q: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned here?
A: Being more physical, being more patient in my routes and being more crisp in my routes.
Q: What do you think about playing in atmosphere of Green Bay?
A: I’ve never played in anything that big before but when you come out here the football field doesn’t change. I’m just going out here to play football, not to worry about the crowd.
Q: What’s the biggest crowd you ever played in front of?
A: Probably about 30,000 at James Madison University or Appalachian State.
Q: What’s been the toughest transition for you?
A: Just being more physical because the guys are a lot stronger here. It’s about getting off that press coverage using better technique here because guys are smarter.
Q: What’s it like being around vets like Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh?
A: There are little things like talking to me after practice, which is a good veteran leading the rookies. It’s great to have Chad and T.J. to fall back on.
Q: Do you initiate the talks or do they?
A: It goes both ways. They’ll give me a hint sometimes, a little buzz in the ear – “Jerome do this, settle a little more when you go into your routes.” I’ll ask them and they’ll tell me when I come back from the play.
Q: Does Carson Palmer do the same?
A: Yeah, Carson does it a lot, too. He tells me when I run a good route, he tells me when I need to sell something better or run the route better.
Q: We saw that this afternoon.
A: Yeah. Carson explains things well. He’ll tell me to look earlier at times or sell the route better. He’s a big help in learning this offense.
Q: Did diving and making that 43-yard touchdown catch in scrimmage help bolster your confidence?
A: It bolstered it but I came back down to earth because I have to make plays like that all of the time. I’m supposed to make plays like that. It was a good confidence booster because catch came against good competition.
Q: Speaking of competition, what is it like going up against Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall?
A: Those guys are awesome. They’re two good corners and it’s great going against great competition like those guys everyday because it helps me get better.