Family and Friends 'Happy,' Concerned About Jessica Simpson Engagement

The singer has been outspoken about her relationship with Johnson (though, in fairness, she's been pretty vocal about nearly all of her relationships -- from John Mayer to Dallas Cowboy Tony Romo -- since her 2006 divorce from Nick Lachey). "He definitely makes me happy and makes me very comfortable being who I am," she recently told USA Today. "It's nice to be with somebody who praises you for all the right reasons."

Johnson's divorce from his wife of five years, Keri, was only recently finalized. Shortly thereafter, in early October, Simpson declared her love for him to PEOPLE. "As far as Eric and I go," she said, "we're just best friends. He's my dude! I love him."

Simpson's friends are reportedly divided over Johnson, 31. The star's brother-in-law, Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz, told PEOPLE at VH1's Save The Music gala on Nov. 8 that Johnson is "a really smart guy, and Jessica really loves him." At the same event, a source close to Simpson revealed to PopEater, "Eric is such a good guy ... they are great together."

Others are less excited about the union. "Her friends do not trust him," an insider told Us Weekly. They are said to be concerned that the one-time New Orleans Saints tight end is using Simpson. "[Johnson] was never that successful in the NFL, but he's always wanted the celebrity-lifestyle," a source told the mag. "I believe that Jessica is his way to get famous. He's using her." A separate source added, "Eric doesn't have a job, he just follows her around."

And while Joe Simpson has publicly supported the relationship, he is said to be concerned that Jessica is considering marrying Johnson without a prenuptial agreement. "Nick walked away with over $10 million of her money when they divorced, because they had no prenup. You would think she would have learned her lesson," a Simpson insider told PopEater's own Rob Shuter. "But where romance is concerned, Jess follows her heart not her head."

Though Simpson's singing and television careers have stalled a bit in recent years, her fashion and fragrance lines have been major successes, giving her a reported net worth of nearly $100 million. "At the moment, Joe is sitting back and being a great father, supporting his daughter and his future son-in-law," a family friend revealed to Shuter. "However, you can bet after all the excitement has died down, Joe is going to do everything in his power to make sure Jessica doesn't walk down the aisle until Eric signs away any right he might have to Jessica's enormous fortune."

The announcement of Simpson's engagement came just a few days after her ex-husband, Nick Lachey, revealed he had proposed to his longtime girlfriend, former MTV VJ Vanessa Minnillo. While initial reports suggested Simpson was hurt by the news of Lachey's engagement, she sang a different tune when she visited Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM radio show on Thursday. "I am extremely, extremely happy for him," Simpson told Seacrest. "I really wish them nothing but the best ... Our relationship was over a really long time ago, and it would be nice if everyone could move on with us and really just celebrate the love between him and Vanessa."

Since her divorce from Lachey, Simpson has been particularly unlucky in love. In July 2009, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo dumped Simpson the night before her 29th birthday. And earlier this year, singer John Mayer ignited a firestorm -- one he still hasn't lived down entirely -- when he opened up for a candid interview with Playboy magazine. In the interview, Mayer famously referred to ex-girlfriend Simpson as "sexual napalm" and admitted he was "addicted" to her. "That girl, for me, is a drug," he said. "And drugs aren't good for you if you do lots of them. Yeah, that girl is like crack cocaine to me ... Sexually, it was crazy."

Feeling exposed and betrayed, Simpson went on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' and told the host that she was "so disappointed" in Mayer because "that's not the John I knew." She had more of a sense of humor about the crooner when she visited 'The Late Show' a few days later. When David Letterman asked for her opinion of the debacle, she revealed that while she understood Mayer's words were probably intended as a (slightly embarrassing) compliment, she didn't appreciate that the interview might change the public's perception of her. "I'm like the good girl and then that happens," she said. When Letterman responded, "Well, you can be both," Simpson said, "That's the thing, I am ... but he [Mayer] gave away my game."

As Simpson is both notoriously verbose about her love life and an avid Twitterer, expect some sort of official statement on the engagement in short order. The singer's next album, 'Happy Christmas,' her second collection of holiday songs, hits stores Nov. 22.

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