When you have an opportunity to add a big target for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as you inch closer to a playoff run, you just have to go for it.
With Danny Amendola still sidelined with a high-ankle sprain, that’s just what New England did after they added a little depth to their receiving core over these final three games in beleaguered Cardinals receiver Michael Floyd, who the Patriots claimed off of waivers from Arizona.
The reason behind Floyd’s release reportedly stemmed from the fact the receiver was arrested for a DUI early Monday, with police finding him unconscious behind the wheel of his running vehicle at an intersection in Scottsdale.
 Floyd appears to be a risk worth taking. (USA TODAY Images) |
That apparently was enough for the Cardinals to move on from Floyd, who up to this point had caught 33 passes for 446 yards and four touchdowns. He battled against Malcolm Butler in Week 1 (see photo above) on a night where he caught just three passes on seven targets for 61-yards.
The Patriots seemingly looked at this as an opportunity worth taking advantage of, and they went ahead and released recently added Griff Whalen in favor of Floyd.
It’s a good pick-up for New England, who assumes little risk with his addition as the remainder of the receiver’s deal expires at the end of this season. According to Spotrac, his 2016 salary is worth $7.32 million but he’ll cost the Patriots just $1.2 million over the remainder of the regular season, which doesn’t include the money he’ll receive in compensation from playing in the postseason.
While some will question how the team could add a player who was just arrested for a DUI, it won’t be the first time they’ve been able to turn around a troubled player. If he can follow past players like LeGarrette Blount, who has thrived both times he’s joined the team, and fall in line with how things are done in New England, it will be interesting to see what type of player Floyd could be in this offense.
Floyd is a former first round pick in 2012 (13th overall) and he’s a big target at 6’3″, 220lbs and given the fact he’s playing for a new contract since he’s a free agent after this year, he’s got plenty of motivation to perform well.
With a playoff run looming for the Patriots, it’s a chance for Floyd to make a statement if he can establish a role in the offense. His former teammate, Larry Fitzgerald, believes he can and also feels he should have plenty of motivation to make that to happen.
“You’ve got a young guy who’s hungry, he’s eager to make plays on a contract year,” said Fitzgerald via 98.7 FM in Arizona. “He’s got a chip on his shoulder now — not that he didn’t already have one, but he’s got a bigger one — and I hope he goes and makes a deep playoff run.”
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
