CLEVELAND — Whether it be with the Kansas City Chiefs or Cleveland Browns, general manager John Dorsey has not shied away from taking risks on players with checkered pasts away from the game of football.
From drafting wide receiver Tyreek Hill with the Chiefs to signing running back Kareem Hunt back in February, Dorsey is willing to take risks on players with off-the-field issues if he believes they have learned from their mistakes and can help the team on game days.
And Dorsey would not rule out the possibility of drafting former Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, who, while in high school, was involved in an assault of a woman in the middle of a street.
“Jeffery came in for a visit,” Dorsey said during his pre-draft press conference at team headquarters in Berea Thursday. “Had a chance to sit down with him, talk about the past, talk about the steps he’s taken at Mississippi State over the course of his career at the school.
“What we’re going to do if it’s the possibility he’s there, we’re going to sit and talk about it as an organization and make the best decision moving forward and make sure that everybody’s comfortable with that decision moving forward, if it happens.”
In a viral video of the incident, Simmons is shown repeatedly hitting a downed woman, identified as Sophia Taylor, in a two-on-one assault. After Simmons stopped punching, his sister, Ashley Bradley, continued to kick and tug at Taylor’s right leg as she was lying in the street. When Taylor stood up, Bradley pushed her back down to the pavement.
“I think it’s a case by case basis and I think you sit there and you begin to, let’s understand everything involved here moving forward,” Dorsey said. “We’ll make that decision. We’ll see if it happens. We’ll see what that’s decision’s all about.”
Although involved in the one incident, Simmons was not part of any reported off-the-field issues while at Mississippi State. Reportedly, Simmons was in good academic standing, delivered motivational speeches and garnered team recognition for community service.
During his sophomore and junior seasons at Mississippi State, Simmons registered a combined 30 sacks, including a personal-best 18 in 2018.
Complicating the matter is the fact that Simmons suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while training in January for the NFL Scouting Combine.
“He’s a phenomenal football player, and unfortunately, he had an ACL injury recently in January, I think,” Dorsey said. “If he was there at 49, you may think about it, but you have to see what’s best for the organization moving forward.
“What you do is you look at his ability to play the game of football. I think you sit and talk to your medical staff and see how long it will actually take with regards to his recovery of that injury. I think, then, you begin to digest the information you have and see if there enough factual information to make a prudent decision.”