New England Patriots: Having Michael Floyd Travel Is Right Move
By Nick Ziegler
The New England Patriots recently claimed wide receiver Michael Floyd off waivers. Surprisingly, he traveled with the team to face the Denver Broncos.
The New England Patriots made a big splash when the claimed wide receiver Michael Floyd off of waivers from the Arizona Cardinals. Floyd was released by the Cardinals after he was arrested for a DUI. Despite having some issues in his personal life off the field, the Patriots have decided to take a chance on Floyd.
After a few good seasons in Arizona, Floyd was really struggling for them this season. In 13 games, Floyd totaled 33 receptions, 446 receiving yards, and four receiving touchdowns. Even though he isn’t playing up to his norm, he is still an upgrade for the Patriots at this time.
Due to injuries, the Patriots have been a bit thin at wide receiver. With Danny Amendola out of the lineup, it has been Julian Edelman, Malcolm Mitchell, and Chris Hogan getting all the snaps they can handle at wide receiver. While the Patriots do mix and match formations well, they needed depth at wide receiver.
With depth needed, Floyd has traveled with the team to Denver. Head coach Bill Belichick didn’t say for sure whether or not he would be active, but he will be with the team.
“It gives us time to help catch him up on assignments and procedures and things that relate to the team, and for him to see the operation pregame, during the game — whether he’s active or not active — just to take some of the surprise element out of the next time it happens,” Belichick said to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. “I think it’s good to get into the routine of the new team that you’re on. There’s always a little bit of hesitation until you know for sure exactly [the environment].”
More from Musket Fire
- What trading Mac Jones during the draft can do for the Patriots
- Best and worst draft picks during the Bill Belichick era
- Early round Patriots draft picks you’ll hate now, love later
- Musket Fire Roundup: Our own final predictions for round 1
- Breaking down the Patriots’ options in the 2023 NFL Draft
Having Floyd with the team makes a lot of sense. It will be a challenge to learn a new playbook in a short amount of time. While the signing of Floyd adds depth, he will also have to learn quickly. The Patriots do run a complex offense, which will require a lot of studying for Floyd.
After being released by the Cardinals, this should be a wake-up call for him. Getting a chance to play for the Patriots is an excellent opportunity. If Floyd contributes, he could find himself winning a Super Bowl this season.