The Vikings lack weapons on the outside other than Percy Harvin.
So the decision to sit one of them didn’t help on the field, and didn’t sit well with Jerome Simpson.
The Vikings wide receiver wasn’t active for last week’s loss to the Redskins, after missing some practice time with weakness in his lower leg because of a back issue.
And he clearly thought he could have gone.
Asked about his status, Simpson replied in a series of curt answers, via Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com
Asked how he was feeling, Simpson replied: “Great.”
Asked if he’d be ready to play against the Cardinals this week: “Yes.”
Asked if he was back to full speed: “Yes.”
Asked how tough it was to sit out: “Terrible.”
It got better from there, barely.
“I can do everything,” Simpson said. “I feel good. I feel like Jerome Simpson.”
Simpson said Frazier told him he’d be a game-time decision, but Frazier said he discussed it with the receiver Saturday.
“He kind of had an idea of where I was headed, but in his heart he wants to play,” Frazier said. “He’s a competitor, which is what you appreciate about him. He wanted to be out there. But we’ll see how it goes this week. . . .
“He wants to play. He wants to help our team win and we’ll evaluate it this week.”
Of course, Simpson has other reasons for wanting to play.
He missed three game checks from his suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, and has $950,000 worth of roster bonuses that are payable per week on the 46-man game-day roster. So in addition to being unable to help the Vikings keep the Redskins from loading up the box, he also lost $59,375 in the deal.