Arizona Cardinals cut wide receiver Michael Floyd after DUI arrest
Dec 14, 2016, 1:21 PM | Updated: 10:45 pm
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) during an NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd was cut by the team on Wednesday after being arrested for a DUI earlier this week.
Head coach Bruce Arians said he would not address Floyd during his press conference shortly after the cut was announced.
“We made some roster moves,” he said. “You can read about them, I am not going to talk about them.”
Arians later clarified that he, general manager Steve Keim and owner Michael Bidwill all agreed cutting the wide receiver was the best decision.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport caught up with Bidwill and posted the exchange on his Facebook page.
Michael Floyd's base salary for 2016 is $7.32m. Prorated for final two weeks (cards responsible for this week) $430,058×2=$861k.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) December 14, 2016
Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer said getting the news of Floyd’s release was hard to hear.
“It’s a tough day,” he said. “Mike’s a close friend of mine. I hope for nothing but the best for Mike.”
Safety Tyrann Mathieu said Floyd being cut “sucks.”
“He’s a good guy,” Mathieu added. “I think we all make mistakes; sometimes, when you’re under the spotlight, you’re under a microscope. Obviously I wish him the best, he’s like a brother to me, and if he ever needs anything I’m sure he can reach out to me and I’m sure he can reach out to a bunch of guys int he locker room.”
Mathieu said he has already reached out to Floyd, and added there is a level of shock in the locker room over what’s transpired.
Carson Palmer, "Mike is one of those guys that everyone in the locker room loved."
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) December 14, 2016
According to police, Floyd was found asleep at the wheel of his car near Camelback Road and Goldwater Boulevard at 2:48 a.m. on Monday.
Police said they conducted a roadside DUI test, after which Floyd was arrested. According to the police, the arresting officer said the receiver was slurring his speech, had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol, though Floyd claimed he had only had a couple of drinks.
The arrest came during what has been a rough season for Floyd. The 27-year-old is in the final year of his rookie contract and was in line to receive a sizeable offer in the coming months, but has caught just 33 passes for 446 yards and four touchdowns while struggling with drops.
This is not the first time the wide receiver has run into a problem due to alcohol, as he was suspended during his time in college at Notre Dame after being cited for drunken driving.
The No. 13 overall pick of the Cardinals in the 2013 NFL Draft, the former Fighting Irish star has caught 242 passes for 3,739 yards and 23 touchdowns as a pro.
In a corresponding move with cutting Floyd, the Cardinals signed wide receiver Jeremy Ross and elevated Givens Price to the active roster.
Ross, 28, is a five-year veteran who most recently spent time with the New York Jets before being waived Dec. 6. He served solely in a special capacity with the Jets, averaging 20.4 yards on 11 kickoff returns and had one punt return for 10 yards. He’s got 39 career catches for 469 yards and two touchdowns in 49 career games. Most of that came in 2014 when he was with the Detroit Lions and caught 24 passes for 314 yards and one touchdown.
The team signed tackle Aaron Epps and wide receiver Marvin Hall to the practice squad.
