Getty ImagesIf the NFL is ever going to fine a player for flopping on the ground and feigning an injury, it should start with Bengals receiver Jerome Simpson.
Simpson committed an absolutely ridiculous flop in Sunday’s game against the Browns, acting like he had just been shot by a bazooka when Browns linebacker Scott Fujita bumped into him after a play.
The whole thing actually got started by Simpson, who grabbed Fujita by the foot and dragged him out of a pile after a play. If anything, Simpson should have been flagged for that, and Fujita was justifiably annoyed and got in Simpson’s face. When Fujita brushed into Simpson, Simpson went flying backward and onto the ground, acting like Fujita had just brutalized him. The video is here.
European soccer players thought it was an absurd flop. Professional wrestlers thought Simpson went overboard. Cincinnati schools are wondering if Simpson could visit their gym classes to teach tumbling.
Unfortunately, the nearest official had a bad view of what happened and fell for Simpson’s ploy, throwing a flag on Fujita. So Simpson got rewarded for an absurd acting job.
It’s too late to do anything about the flag, but it’s not too late for the NFL to make clear that it won’t tolerate that kind of nonsense. We don’t need the NFL to turn into a league where players are faking like they were hurt and begging for penalties. Simpson should get fined, and the rest of the NFL should be put on notice that flopping won’t be tolerated.
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No fine…suspension.
Simpson’s tribute to the end of the NBA lockout.
As much as I hate faking injuries and faking penalties like that…come on guys, laugh a little– that was pretty funny
Absolutely freakin’ hilarious.
I want to hate him for being a little weasel, but again, FREAKIN’ HILARIOUS.
Bring the hammer down now, before this great sport turns into soccer, God forbid.
Umm maybe they should fine the Ref who threw the flag on that BS
how about the refs actually do there job and pay attention to whats going on. I feel like theres no accountability for referees who screw up. Which seems to be happening at least once in every game, every week.
that was hilarious … very soccer….. he ought to get fined for it … the most absurd unsportsmanlike call in NFL history…
ridiculous? Yes. Hilarious? Even more so.
Thanks for that clip PFT. I’m in better spirits now.
That was his tribute to Sidney Crosby…
The penalty had zero impact on the game. It was towards the end of the half, it was a part of offsetting penalties and cleveland still scored at the end of half.
Did you ever think maybe Fujita is just that strong?
Scott Fijita is one the strongest ex. Cowboy, ex. Saints Lb now playing for the Browns, that was no flop. Surprised he didn’t launch him out the stadium into outer space. Fijita should be fined!………lol. Funny stuff.
I also get a laugh out of the way the referee threw the flag on it. He didn’t see anything happen. He hears the crowd goes nuts – he looks up and catches a glimpse of Simpson on the ground.
He then proceeds to stare directly into the camera and without looking at his belt, whips out the yellow flag.
Kickers do it all the time. Get over it Homer!
Fine him…..but cmon…that was hilarious. Hopefully, it ends up in c’mon man on monday night football.
I loved it. I would have hated it if was done against my team.
This WILL be on “C’Mon Man” tonight!
I wish we would go back to “if the refs didn’t see it, it didn’t happen.”
The flop was bad, but my issue is with the Ref. He clearly didn’t see the “push”.. he reacted to the fact that Simpson hit the ground.. You shouldn’t flag something you don’t see.
I thought only punters did this. They could take lessons from this guy. Oscar worthy.
this made my day
this is how we all would act if the cops found 6 lb. of pot in our house!! We’d be flying,too!!
Sampson Simpson….”he sticks by his story” boyeee
Officiating 101 – “Don’t flag what you think you
saw – only what you actually saw”.
that was HILARIOUS!
Well, if Matt Hasselbeck didn’t get fined for flopping on the ground and faking a knee injury on a hit against the Bengals earlier in the season (on a play that also drew a personal foul), can’t see why we should suddenly start fining guys for faking stuff now.
Give me a break. The issue isnt with Simpson, It’s with incompetent officiating.
I would be embarassed to be on the same team as this guy. The last thing we need is for this to turn into the NBA or soccer.
I suggest 25K fine for football and 100K prize for acting. He shouldn’t lose for possessing double – football+acting- talent
I’m with everyone else who thinks this is funny. He’ll be the target of Stevie Johnson’s next TD celebration. That will be humiliating enough.
raynman49 says: Nov 28, 2011 7:25 PM
I thought only punters did this. They could take lessons from this guy. Oscar worthy.
It used to be punters. Now it seems to be quarterbacks. They plead for a flag after almost every hit, and beg for a PI after every incomplete pass.
Ric Flair would be proud. Wooooo!
Refs need to stop throwing flags for what they think they might possibly but I’m not quite sure but coulda been penalties. You have to be sure when you throw the flag or make any other call.
That way if you’re wrong you’re just wrong, you didn’t just assume. Hear that NBA? That goes for you too…
Actually, Simpson got flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for pulling his leg, as well as Fujita for the push.. Offsetting penalties. Seen the whole game.
Chuck Norris once shoved a man and he flew much farther then Jerome Simpson.
If Simpsons is going to get a fine/suspension for faking a fall and injury, doesn’t Suh deserve something extra for faking an apology?
The ref needs to be fined for throwing a flag without seeing why he threw it.
I want video! That hilarious and I barely caught it. I was laughing and asking myself if I really just saw that.
Roll up another one.
pretty classic
A fine? seriously? That’s part of the game. And it was freaking hilarious.
Jerome didn’t get away with this….the officials called offsetting personal fouls on the play!
Gimme a break…. do we really need Goodell making more “judgement” calls and handing out more fines? That was funny…and we don’t need less fun in the NFL.
Browns fan here, and that was hilarious. Good thing one competent ref saw it though and made the penalties offsetting.
Simpson won’t find it so hilarious when he gets fined though.
You gotta understand the situation here in Cincy. TO and Ocho are both retired (before anyone corrects me on Chad’s status, please check his stats. dude is done.)
Jerome is just trying to get a piece of that reality TV cheese. The gay judge from Dancing With the Stars already gave him an 8.9
Vlade Divoc would be proud !!!!!!!
Pretty sure he landed a full backflip there. Impressive
Waaah….
@stevincinci
You SAW the whole game.
I thought it was funny.
Less funny are the ‘injuries’ that occur whenever the Pats run their hurry-up offense.
Yeah, we need more rules in the NFL!!! If you were still allowed to hit, flops wouldn’t happen as the flop’per’ knows they’d get the wood later in the game! Full circle, baby!!!
Sarcasm implied…
Wow, that was a hell of a flop. LOL!
Got a big future as a stunt man when he retires from the NFL.
I haven’t seen acting that bad since Mariah Carey’s Glitter.
ROFL!!
It’s more realistic if you visualize the guys floating in Half Baked.
“The gay judge from Dancing With the Stars already gave him an 8.9″
Which one?
Everyone is flabbergasted…. lol funny stuff right there
It’s not offsetting if they don’t throw the flag on Fujita. Idiots.
I love how the article and some of the comments are worried Simpson’s flop will somehow turn football into soccer. Isn’t the league office doing a pretty good job of putting skirts on the players as it is? Safeties aren’t allowed to hit, entire defenses can’t wrap up on a tackle, and nearly every penalty committed on Sunday is assessed a fine on Wednesday.
I think Vince Lombardi would spear Goodell if given the chance.
Vlade Divac and Manu Ginobilli approve.
We don’t need the NFL to turn into a league where players are faking like they were hurt and begging for penalties.
Are you kidding? The NFL is already a league where players beg for penalties.
See: Every incomplete pass involving tight coverage from a DB, after which the WR looks around seemingly bewildered by the pass interference that must have taken place in order to prevent the too-good-to-possibly-be-beat-by-that-scrub-corner WR from making any catch.