Michael Floyd Could Face Mandatory Jail Time
Already set for a possible suspension from the NFL in 2017, Patriots wide receiver Michael Floyd could also face a mandatory 45-day jail sentence for his Dec. 12 DUI arrest in Scottsdale, per WEEI.
At the time of his arrest, Floyd had a blood alcohol level of .21, which is more than twice the legal limit of .08. Moreover, given that it exceeds .2, it qualifies as a Super Extreme DUI under Arizona law. In addition to serving jail time if convicted, Floyd would have to install an alcohol monitoring device in his car and avoid drinking alcohol for 90 days. Alcohol has long been a problem for Floyd, who had a previous DUI arrest while at Notre Dame in 2011.
Floyd’s latest arrest, video of which leaked via TMZ on Tuesday, led the Cardinals to release the fifth-year man and 2012 first-round pick. Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill then told the team’s radio network Sunday that Floyd showed “no remorse” and “was unapologetic,” which made it easier for the franchise to move on from him (via Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic). The Patriots subsequently claimed Floyd on waivers, and head coach Bill Belichick indicated Wednesday that the latest details of the 27-year-old’s arrest won’t affect his standing with the team.
“Yeah, we were aware of his situation when we claimed him,” Belichick told reporters, including Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. “He’s in an ongoing legal situation I’m not going to comment on.”
Floyd practiced with the Patriots on Wednesday and might debut with the AFC East champions Sunday against the Jets. While Floyd could help the Pats’ offense as they vie for a fifth Super Bowl title in the Tom Brady/Belichick era, his legal issues will surely damage his stock if he gets to free agency in the offseason. On a less serious note, he has also experienced a dip in production this year, having caught 33 of 71 targets for 446 yards and four touchdowns.
Patriots Activate Jacoby Brissett
After something of a false start, the Patriots activated quarterback Jacoby Brissett from injured reserve Wednesday. To make room, they waived rookie defensive tackle Woodrow Hamilton (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com). Brissett returned to practice at the tail end of November, opening a three-week window during which New England had to place Brissett on the active roster or keep him on IR for the remainder of the season.
[RELATED: Patriots Claim WR Michael Floyd]
Brissett, of course, started two games for the Patriots while Tom Brady was on suspension and backup Jimmy Garoppolo was injured. While posting a record of 1-1, Brissett completed 28 of 46 passes for more than 300 yards, and while he didn’t throw any touchdowns, he did score on the ground against the Texans in the midst of a 27-0 shutout in Week 3. The 24-year-old Brissett suffered a thumb injury during that contest, however, and while he started in Week 4, he was thereafter placed on IR after undergoing surgery.
Garoppolo has been the subject of recent trade speculation, and given that he’s only signed through the 2017 campaign, it’s certainly fair to wonder if the Patriots will ship him to the highest bidder during the offseason. Such a move would allow Brissett, a third-round pick earlier this year, to become Brady’s understudy as the club’s new backup QB.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Patriots Audition Jeoffrey Pagan
- The Patriots auditioned defensive tackle Jeoffrey Pagan, reports Doug Kyed of NESN (Twitter link).
Patriots Lose Trevor Reilly
- The Dolphins signed linebacker Trevor Reilly off the Patriots‘ practice squad and waived fellow LB Zach Vigil, per a club announcement. Vigil, a undrafted rookie, spent the first portion of this season on the NFI list.
Patriots' Monti Ossenfort Could Be GM Candidate
The writer’s list of potential trade candidates is led by Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, while Tony Romo (Cowboys), Tyrod Taylor (Bills), and A.J. McCarron (Bengals) also earn mentions. Meanwhile, Rosenthal’s release candidates include Jay Cutler (Bears), Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Robert Griffin III (Browns), and Nick Foles (Chiefs).
- As organization’s begin to look at potential general manager candidates for next season, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss says that Patriots director of college scouting Monti Ossenfort could be pursued. Reiss cites the success of four current NFL general managers who “cut their teeth” in New England: Bob Quinn (Lions,) Jon Robinson (Titans), Thomas Dimitroff (Falcons), and Jason Licht (Buccaneers).
Michael Floyd Likely To Face 2017 Suspension
Wide receiver Michael Floyd, whom the Patriots claimed off waivers from the Cardinals last week, is expected to a face a league suspension in 2017 as a result of his recent DUI arrest, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The length of Floyd’s ban will likely be determined by the results of his blood alcohol contest — although Floyd refused a breathalyzer at the scene, he did later undergo blood work.
[RELATED: New England Patriots Depth Chart]
The state of Arizona has strict DUI laws, according to Schefter, leading some observers to believe that Floyd could be facing jail time in addition to league-imposed discipline. Either way, the news certainly isn’t positive for Floyd, who is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency next spring after a three-game (plus postseason) audition with New England. Floyd has had trouble with alcohol in the past, as he was also arrested for DUI during his time at Notre Dame.
Floyd, who’s posted 33 receptions for 446 yards and four touchdowns so far this season, will be inactive for New England’s game against the Broncos later today.
Pats Notes: Kilgo, Brissett, Jones
- DT Darius Kilgo may be on the Patriots‘ practice squad, but the Pats are not paying him that way. According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe in a series of Twitter links, New England is paying Kilgo $30,882 per week, which gives him the same compensation he would have received under his original contract (the practice squad minimum is $6,900 per week). The team also guaranteed him $92,647, the equivalent of three weeks pay. As Volin observes, the team is attempting to “do right” by Kilgo, who was claimed off waivers from the Broncos when it looked like Alan Branch would be suspended, but who was cut and re-signed to the practice squad when Branch won his appeal.
- DT Darius Kilgo may be on the Patriots‘ practice squad, but the Pats are not paying him that way. According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe in a series of Twitter links, New England is paying Kilgo $30,882 per week, which gives him the same compensation he would have received under his original contract (the practice squad minimum is $6,900 per week). The team also guaranteed him $92,647, the equivalent of three weeks pay. As Volin observes, the team is attempting to “do right” by Kilgo, who was claimed off waivers from the Broncos when it looked like Alan Branch would be suspended, but who was cut and re-signed to the practice squad when Branch won his appeal.
- The Patriots have until Wednesday to activate quarterback Jacoby Brissett to their active roster, or he will revert to injured reserve and be lost for the season. Mike Reiss of ESPN.com believes the Patriots do plan to activate Brissett but that they are waiting until the last possible moment to do so because they do not have an obvious corresponding roster move to make. We had previously heard that the team was expected to activate Brissett on Friday.
- Cyrus Jones has had a disappointing rookie year for the Patriots, but the second-round selection out of Alabama is not going anywhere, as Volin writes in a separate piece. Jones, who was coveted for his return skills, has been a disaster as a return man this season, and he hasn’t fared much better as a corner. But even if he does not get much playing time the rest of the season, Jones will get the chance to right the ship in 2017.
Breer On GM Search, Harbaugh, Draft
When it comes to being a GM, is it more about who you know than what you know? In his latest column, Albert Breer of The MMQB spoke with one league official who suggested that the NFL’s career development advisory panel has something of a fraternity-vibe.
“It’s all full of nepotism. It’s a joke. And it starts with Charley Casserly,” the personnel man said.
Casserly rejected the idea that he, Ron Wolf, Bill Polian, Ernie Accorsi, John Madden, Tony Dungy and Carl Peterson are aiming to line up their friends with jobs, but he did acknowledge that connections help.
“It’s so different than it is with coaches,” Casserly said. “Coaches are so clearly defined. You know who calls the plays, you see them on TV, coordinators have press conferences. It’s just not like that in scouting. Are they pro? College? None of them are making big decisions. What you need is networking. It’s not politicking.”
Casserly was directly involved with the Jets’ coach and GM search process in 2015. Gang Green wound up hiring Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan – two former co-workers of Casserly’s.
Here’s more from Breer:
- Breer identified the following executives as people who could immediately jump into a GM job somewhere: Chiefs VP of player personnel Chris Ballard, Patriots VP of player personnel Nick Caserio, Ravens assistant GM Eric DeCosta, Seahawks co-director of player personnel Scott Fitterer, Texans director of player personnel Brian Gaine, Packers director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst, Seahawks co-director of player personnel Trent Kirchner, Cowboys assistant director of player personnel Will McClay, Cardinals VP of player personnel Terry McDonough, Vikings assistant GM George Paton, Falcons assistant GM Scott Pioli, Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin, Packers director of football operations Eliot Wolf.
- The widespread feeling in NFL circles is that Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh will be back in pro football eventually, even if it’s not happening right now. For his part, Harbaugh says that he is incredibly happy as the Wolverines’ coach.
- Is Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen the next under-the-radar quarterback prospect a la Carson Wentz? It was Craig Bohl who recruited Carson Wentz to North Dakota State and he is now Allen’s coach at Wyoming. It’s hard to say whether the 6’5″, 222-pound signal caller has the same kind of talent, but his stock is rising. “He’s a big ol’ kid with a big arm, and he’s pretty athletic too,” said one AFC exec. “We gotta learn more about him, but the tools are there.” Allen, a redshirt sophomore, has plenty of time to develop.
- Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck recently predicted that Central Michigan quarterback Cooper Rush will be an “incredibly high draft pick” this year. Apparently, talent evaluators do not agree. “He may get drafted late because of the [lack of] quality at the position,” said one area scout assigned to CMU. “He’s an accurate thrower with deceptive athletic ability to extend plays with his feet. Not a dynamic or explosive athlete, but good enough to avoid the rush and create at times. Average arm at best, but he’s got solid touch on intermediate and deep balls. He just lacks elite velocity.”
Patriots Increase Weekly Salary Of LB Trevor Bates
- Patriots practice squad linebacker Trevor Bates saw his salary increased to $18K a week, reports ESPN’s Mike Reiss (via Twitter). For reference, minimum salary for practice squad players is $6.9K a week. The University of Maine product was a seventh-round pick in this past year’s draft, but he was cut by the Colts in mid-October.
[SOURCE LINK]
Opinion: Floyd Gets 3-Game Audition With Patriots
- The Patriots are dealing with injuries at wide receiver in the short-term, and while those issues likely played a role in New England claiming Michael Floyd off waivers today, the club is likely looking taking a long-term view in assessing Floyd’s fit with the team, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes. While the Pats will pay a relatively high price tag for a three-game regular season audition, that time will allow the team to see how Floyd meshes with the organization, and determine if he could be part of the franchise going forward.