Pats claim WR Michael Floyd and work out Devin Hester

[SDGuy73]

I was hoping the Pats would try Hester.

 

[Vyle203]

I'm pretty happy about Floyd actually. I think he might be a great fit.

 

[sharkymcwrath]

I was hoping the Pats would try Hester.

Me too though I don't know what he has left.

I like the Floyd acquisition.

 

[SDGuy73]

Me too though I don't know what he has left.

I like the Floyd acquisition.

Can he still catch the ball? That's good enough.

 

[ohiopatsfan]

Wonder who the Pats will cut to make room for Floyd. Hopefully, he has something left in the tank. Still relatively young and has good size for those jump balls in the end zone. Hester is a big question mark. Good background as a return specialist but had fumbling issues this year with the Ravens (we don't need any more fumblers, thank you very much).

 

[BigKen]

DJ Foster will return to the practice squad. Maybe they sent Cyrus to the PS too?

Ravens were pissed at Hester for letting the Pats down the ball on the 1. Not really his fault. Lucky swipe by Johnathan Jones.

 

[BigKen]

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Taking a closer look at their options in the wake of the punt-return struggles of rookie Cyrus Jones, the New England Patriots brought Devin Hester to town for a visit on Thursday.

This marked a return trip to Gillette Stadium for Hester, who played against the Patriots on Monday night in his final game with the Baltimore Ravens. Hester, who returned one punt for 12 yards and struggled to field another punt Monday, was released by the Ravens on Tuesday.

Nothing is looming in terms of a contract agreement between the Patriots and Hester, according to Comcast Sports Net.

Hester, 34, is an 11-year NFL veteran who has spent time with the Chicago Bears (2006-2013), Atlanta Falcons (2014-2015) and Ravens (2016). He has 315 career punt returns and 295 career kickoff returns, and some experience in big games, which might be appealing to New England (11-2) at this juncture.

But Hester has struggled this year, muffing three punts while battling a groin injury. His hesitancy in fielding a punt Monday night helped the Patriots down the ball at the 1 and set up a safety.

Overall, he has totaled 25 punt returns for 180 yards (7.2) in 11 games this season. He added 19 kickoffs for 466 yards (24.5 avg.).

The Patriots have a bit of a punt-return quandary on their hands, as Jones has been unreliable and there might be reluctance to use receiver Julian Edelman or safety Patrick Chung in the role because of increased injury risk. Recently signed receiver Griff Whalen is another possibility to take the role until veteran receiver Danny Amendola returns to health from an ankle injury.

 

[BigKen]

The New England Patriots claimed former Arizona Cardinals receiver Michael Floyd off waivers Thursday, a source told ESPN's Field Yates.

The move comes three days after Floyd was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and failure to obey a police officer.

Floyd was taken into custody after being found unconscious behind the wheel of his running vehicle at an intersection in suburban Scottsdale early Monday. He was booked and released from jail later that morning. The Cardinals released him Wednesday.

Danny Amendola injured his ankle Dec. 4 against the Los Angeles Rams.

That led the team to sign free agent Griff Whalen to a one-year deal last week. But Floyd, a first-round pick in 2012, represents what appears to be an upgrade.

Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell are the Patriots' top three wide receivers, with a combined 139 receptions for 1,762 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Floyd had 33 catches for 446 yards and four touchdowns for Arizona this season. Those were well off his stats in 2015, when he overcame early injury problems to catch 52 passes for 849 yards. His best season was 2013, when he hauled in 65 receptions for 1,041 yards.

In claiming Floyd, the Patriots (11-2) inherit the remainder of his contract, which expires after the season. Floyd is scheduled to earn $1.2 million for the remainder of the regular season, and then would receive playoff shares that go to every player if he's on the Patriots roster in the postseason.

An unrestricted free agent after the season, he will count as part of the Patriots' compensatory draft-pick formula in the offseason if he signs elsewhere -- assuming he spends the rest of 2016 on the roster.

The Cardinals mentioned Floyd's release without comment Wednesday in a news release that announced several other roster moves.

Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald described Floyd as "like my brother" after his release and said, "I love him dearly and like any other family member I never turn my back on him, no matter what."

"I'm going to support him," Fitzgerald said. "I saw him yesterday. I'm going to see him again today. It's important during these times to support people when they're going through some stuff."

 

[ohiopatsfan]

Just read that Griff Whalen was cut to make room for Floyd. That makes it more likely that, unless his tryout was terrible, Hester will be added as a return specialist. In that case, as BigKen indicated, Foster will probably be cut again and added to the PS. I assume BB will want to hang onto Jones and try to work through his problems. Hopefully, Hester will be ready to return punts and kickoffs this weekend against the Broncos. Maybe even try him as a deep threat WR against the Jets and/or Phins. Sounds like BB is going all in this year to get to the SB.

 

[redseat]

eh... Hopefully he doesn't f up again off the field

 

[NWPATSFAN]

I like both these options.
Floyd just needs to get clean. Chances are part of his decline was due to drinking? I'm speculating but he was an early first round pick based on talent. So it's really up to him and the NE organization taking in another offcast. If he works out great. If not no big deal. It's late in the year and NE not likely to need to soend that money anywhere else? Plus there is the possibility of getting a comp pick if he hangs around?
Hester we all know has lost a step and has had a few fumbling issue as of late. But again no real risk. If he can hold onto the ball. Fair catch and kneel downs is cool. Who knows maybe he gets a huge opening and returns one?

 

[BeaReylo]

Nice pick up. I wouldn't have hated it if The Skins nabbed him but he will be a great fit with The Pats.

 

[Rex Racer]

I was hoping the Pats would try Hester.

Not me. 5 fumbles this year and no speed left in his old legs.

 

[CreepCreep2014]

Floyd just needs to call for an Uber or god dam cab....I mean WTF is wrong with these guys. If I can afford a ride home, so can he....

I do like the signing. I remember when he came out, it was between him and Blackmon as to who the 1st WR would be that yr. I think Floyd was the safer bet, LOL. AZ got away from him and David Johnson is getting all the looks. He is that big WR that can stretch the field. He was unstoppable at ND his SR season. I expect him to be inactive this week. Get him ready for the playoff run. Shit, just give me about 5 routes and just let him run them.

 

[redseat]

Floyd just needs to call for an Uber or god dam cab....I mean WTF is wrong with these guys. If I can afford a ride home, so can he....

I do like the signing. I remember when he came out, it was between him and Blackmon as to who the 1st WR would be that yr. I think Floyd was the safer bet, LOL. AZ got away from him and David Johnson is getting all the looks. He is that big WR that can stretch the field. He was unstoppable at ND his SR season. I expect him to be inactive this week. Get him ready for the playoff run. Shit, just give me about 5 routes and just let him run them.

Doesn't the league have people on speed dial that these drunken fools call at any hour of the day and not pay a dime for it?

 

[cdumler7]

Doesn't the league have people on speed dial that these drunken fools call at any hour of the day and not pay a dime for it?

Yup part of the CBA was that the NFL hire a car service that is available 24/7 for NFL players to use. Part of the push to get arrests down across the board in the NFL. For the most part arrests and legal violations are way down over the last few years so some people must be using it. From what I understand though players are reluctant to use it because they think the NFL is tracking who uses it and how often. Even if you don't want to use them I think most of these guys can afford a cab or Uber to get them home.

As for the Floyd signing could end up working out very well. Even if he only helps out on say 10 plays a game he can be an impact player. Beyond that good chance some team wants to offer him a decent contract so could end up getting a comp pick out of the situation. I've heard his partying is pretty legendary so we will see how that works with the "Patriot Way" as BB isn't one to put up with that for long.

 

[SDGuy73]

eh... Hopefully he doesn't f up again off the field

I like both these options.
Floyd just needs to get clean. Chances are part of his decline was due to drinking? I'm speculating but he was an early first round pick based on talent. So it's really up to him and the NE organization taking in another offcast. If he works out great. If not no big deal. It's late in the year and NE not likely to need to soend that money anywhere else? Plus there is the possibility of getting a comp pick if he hangs around?
Hester we all know has lost a step and has had a few fumbling issue as of late. But again no real risk. If he can hold onto the ball. Fair catch and kneel downs is cool. Who knows maybe he gets a huge opening and returns one?

Floyd just needs to call for an Uber or god dam cab....I mean WTF is wrong with these guys. If I can afford a ride home, so can he....

I do like the signing. I remember when he came out, it was between him and Blackmon as to who the 1st WR would be that yr. I think Floyd was the safer bet, LOL. AZ got away from him and David Johnson is getting all the looks. He is that big WR that can stretch the field. He was unstoppable at ND his SR season. I expect him to be inactive this week. Get him ready for the playoff run. Shit, just give me about 5 routes and just let him run them.

Weis coached Floyd. He says Floyd knows 75% of the verbage. This is a good read.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis recruited wide receiver Michael Floyd at Notre Dame and also coached him there for the start of Floyd's college career, so he adds a notable layer of knowledge and insight on the Patriots' newest acquisition.

Weis was a guest Friday morning on the "Kirk and Callahan Show" on sports radio WEEI, and here were some of his thoughts on Floyd and the Patriots:

Close relationship: Weis described Floyd as "one of my guys," at one point comparing it to a father-son connection. "This guy is a smart guy, his mom is a very strong person, so he has a strong family behind him. This is not some loose cannon right here. Just a guy that's made some mistakes," Weis said. "But he is very happy-go-lucky, smile-on-his-face, a hard-working, good football player. He's a good kid." Weis said he'd like to think if he was around Floyd, then some of his past DUI issues wouldn't have surfaced. "He would have been more afraid to do those things when I was around because he knew what the repercussions from me would have been," he said, noting that the two most recently exchanged text messages last week.


Where Floyd fits ... and what about those drops? Weis said "almost every [Patriots] receiver is a front-line slot receiver and this guy is an outside receiver, a big-sized guy with great hands. He's dropped a bunch of balls, but who knows what's the story behind that? I've seen his hands and they're soft hands, good hands. With somebody like Tommy [Brady] throwing the ball, you usually don't have to go look around and see where the ball is because it's usually right where you want it, right between the numbers." Weis added that he spoke with one staffer from an NFL team Friday morning who had hoped his club would have claimed Floyd.

Pats' culture sparks Weis' confidence: Weis cited the Patriots' culture as one reason why Floyd could shine. "In this case right here, I think you go to that place where you walk into the locker room and the locker room is a different feel than most other places. You walk in there and there is an expectation, a certain way you're supposed to act, and that's on the field and off the field. People who don't act that way, you don't end up hanging around there too long," he said.

Floyd will have head start on learning offense: Another reason Weis likes the fit for Floyd is the carryover in terms of offensive system from Notre Dame under Weis and the Patriots under Josh McDaniels. "How many places can you go to where you know 75 percent of the verbiage walking in the door?" Weis asked. "With Josh's tweaks and what's matriculated over the last decade, the verbiage is still the same -- formations are formations, the protection, the route, the sight adjust, they're basically the same. There is just a 25 percent spinoff you have. So you have a guy who comes in here who is a good player, doesn't have to learn the system all over again, just learn the 25 percent that's changed, mentally you have a big advantage of going to a lot of other places because you already kind of know what to do."

 

[redseat]

Yup part of the CBA was that the NFL hire a car service that is available 24/7 for NFL players to use. Part of the push to get arrests down across the board in the NFL. For the most part arrests and legal violations are way down over the last few years so some people must be using it. From what I understand though players are reluctant to use it because they think the NFL is tracking who uses it and how often. Even if you don't want to use them I think most of these guys can afford a cab or Uber to get them home.

As for the Floyd signing could end up working out very well. Even if he only helps out on say 10 plays a game he can be an impact player. Beyond that good chance some team wants to offer him a decent contract so could end up getting a comp pick out of the situation. I've heard his partying is pretty legendary so we will see how that works with the "Patriot Way" as BB isn't one to put up with that for long.

Yeah, could have sworn I read something like this last year. That's for making me believe in myself!

 

[BigKen]

Saw Floyd at practice today...............he will be in Denver wearing #14.

 

[CreepCreep2014]

Reading that Floyd was already in the NFL's substance abuse program, so I think he will be suspended now. I think it's up to the league, and we know what the league thinks of NE. I predict we won't see him this yr. Maybe BB was aware of this and is thinking next yr, but who knows. Worth a shot IMO...

I laugh at the MSM mocking this move. Was Floyd supposed to never play in the NFL again, or was he JUST not allowed to play for the Patriots?? I mean seriously. Media, players dumping on BB. I don't recall any of these assclowns calling on the Steelers to cut Bell for his weed mistake. When was Floyd supposed to be pick up?? A week, month, a year?? He goes anywhere else and it's no big deal. The hypocrisy in the NFL towards the Patriots is pathetic.