The New England Patriots gave Michael Floyd a chance last year after the wide receiver’s second arrest for driving while under the influence, but it doesn’t sound like he will be returning to the team.
With the Patriots having acquired star receiver Brandin Cooks from the New Orleans Saints, ESPN’s Mike Reiss speculates that New England has no room for Floyd on its roster. Danny Amendola could also end up taking another pay cut to return, and Malcolm Mitchell is expected to take on a bigger role in his second season.
Assuming the Patriots are out, one team to watch for Floyd is the Detroit Lions. Here’s what Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com wrote about how Floyd could fit with the Lions.
His DUI issues are a legitimate concern, but he can play and is the kind of tall, possession receiver Detroit doesn’t have on the outside. His 4.2-percent drop rate is a concern on the field as well. Here’s why Floyd might fit, though: If there’s a locker room that could be a good influence on him, it’s the Lions. Former Notre Dame teammates Golden Tate and Theo Riddick are key members of the Lions.
Floyd’s off-field issues (see his latest DUI video here) are an obvious deterrent for some teams, but it should also be noted that the former first-round pick never reached his potential on the field in Arizona. He caught just 33 passes for 446 yards and four touchdowns last season and topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark only once in four-plus seasons with the Cardinals. The one thing Floyd has going for him is that he is only 27, and he could end up being an incredible bargain for some team.
