Michael Floyd still has love for Arizona while with Patriots preparing for Super Bowl LI
Jan 31, 2017, 9:49 AM | Updated: 12:10 pm
New England Patriots wide receiver Michael Floyd stretches while warming up during an NFL football practice, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
(AP Photo/Steven Senne)
For Michael Floyd, to say this season has been a bumpy one would be an understatement.
He entered the year with incredibly high expectations after a strong finish to 2015 led into a contract year in 2016, only to struggle with consistency and drops.
His role seemed to decrease, and though his Arizona coaches and teammates continued to express confidence in him, it was turning into a year to forget.
Then, Floyd hit his low point, getting arrested on DUI charges on December 12 in Scottsdale.
The Cardinals, who were 5-7-1 at the time, released him a couple days later, though soon after he was claimed by the New England Patriots.
New England finished with a 14-2 regular season record — the best mark in the NFL — so it’s safe to say things have taken a turn for the better for the 27-year-old former first-round pick.
“The hot and cold, that’s for sure,” Floyd joked at Super Bowl Media Day Monday when asked what the difference is between Arizona and New England. “But nah, it’s two different organizations. They run it totally different.
“I’m not going to bash on either one of them; I love both places and I’m excited that I’m here now.”
In 12 games with the Cardinals this season, Floyd caught 33 passes for 446 yards and four touchdowns. He appeared in just two regular season games for the Patriots, catching four passes for 42 yards and one score, and was active for the team’s Divisional Round win over Houston but caught just one of three targets for nine yards.
Floyd was inactive for the AFC Championship Game against Pittsburgh, and it would not seem likely that he will be in uniform Sunday when the Patriots take on the Falcons in Super Bowl LI.
But whether he plays or not, Floyd is now part of a team that is preparing to play for the sport’s biggest prize, and should the Patriots come out on top, will be in line for a Super Bowl ring.
He would also be able to call himself a champion, which is something that seemed incredibly unlikely back in mid-December.
“I feel like I’m in a good position right now,” he said. “Obviously it’s pretty tough at times when you make a transition at the end of the year to a different team and you have to learn and pick up very quickly on a whole new offense, but with the guys that we have on this team helping me out every single day, and me taking the time to put the work in and get the playbook down, is a good thing for me.”
SportsRadio610’s Garret Heinrich contributed to this report
