FOXBORO, Mass. — Bill Belichick downplayed the New England Patriots’ addition of wide receiver Michael Floyd in his news conference Friday.
Belichick wouldn’t get into specifics on Floyd, mostly saying signing the receiver was what was best for the football team. Belichick did have interesting comments on Floyd’s recent arrest.
Here are Belichick’s full comments on Floyd.
Opening statement: “We claimed Michael Floyd yesterday and released Griff (Whalen). We think this is really similar to the Whalen situation from last week, a position we don’t have a lot of depth at. We felt that obviously, we would rather work with Floyd at this point in time. We’re aware of the situation (arrest on DUI charge) that came up earlier in the week. We’ll let that legal situation play itself out. But really we’ll just see how it goes. It’s a player we haven’t had before, so we look forward to working with him, and we’ll see how it goes.”
On DUI in college: “I wouldn’t say it was similar at all.”
On thinking it was a DUI in college: “I’m not saying it wasn’t, but I’d say it was quite a different situation. Whatever it is, it is. We’re aware of whatever the past is. We’ll move forward with the player and see how it goes.”
On how to gain a level of comfort with adding Floyd: “As we always do, we take the information we have and if we feel that’s the best decision for the team.”
On if he spoke to Charlie Weis, Floyd’s college coach and former Patriots offensive coordinator: “Look, I think we’ve covered it.”
On if he has a role in mind for Floyd: “Right, I just covered that. We don’t have a lot of depth at the position. We added a player at that same position last week, and we basically exchanged players.”
On if experience with Weis helps: “I don’t know. He’s been here a couple hours.”
On Floyd’s skill set: “We’ll see.”
On how much he can expect a player to pick up midway through the season: “Look, this isn’t the first time a player has ever come to a team during the season. We’re not talking about a historical event here. Whether it was Alan Branch two years ago or Kyle Van Noy this year or whether it was Jonathan Casillas, Griff Whalen a week ago. It’s the same thing we’ve talked about with every one of those guys. We’ll see how it goes.”
On chances Floyd plays Sunday vs. Broncos: “Again, we’ll do what we feel is best for the game. He’ll travel, so we’ll see.”
On value of traveling: “Absolutely. Yeah, no question. Gives us time to 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 a player’s active or inactive, just it takes some of the surprise element out of next time it happens. I’m sure there will be some things that if any of us went to any new team it would be different from whatever team we’re used to being with. Sometimes those things are an adjustment, sometimes they’re not, but I think it’s good just to get into the routine with the new team you’re on. There’s always a little bit of hesitation until you know exactly. First day of work, it’s always a little bit, ‘How is it? How does this go? How does that go?’ And then once you get comfortable, it’s just different. It takes time.”
On if Floyd falls into category Belichick has talked about before of players that are hard to find: “I don’t think there’s any question if there weren’t some circumstances that the player probably wouldn’t be available. But regardless of all that, whether that is or isn’t the case, as I said at the beginning, I think this is a position that we don’t have a lot of depth in. We added a player at this position last week. Similar conversation, another player became available. We made a decision to work with the new player that was available over the other player that we brought in here. Whether that’s right or wrong, I don’t know, but that’s our decision based on the criteria that we made, which is what’s best for the football team. We’ll see how it goes, like we saw how it went last week with Griff. I don’t know how that’s going to go. I don’t know what else there is to add. Same question five times.”
Just trying to be thorough: “That’s one thing about you guys. You’ve gotta be thorough, especially when it’s on certain subjects, absolutely. I’m not being critical, just stating facts.”
Some notes:
— Belichick’s comments that Floyd’s DUI in college and the one Monday weren’t similar was notable. Floyd failed a breathalyzer test in college, registering a blood-alcohol level of .19, more than twice the legal limit. Floyd was found asleep behind the wheel of his car at a stop light Monday. He was arrested after refusing to take a breathalyzer test.
— It also was notable Floyd will travel with the team to Denver on Friday for their matchup against the Broncos on Sunday. He’ll at least get to observe the Patriots’ walk-through Saturday by going with the team.
Here’s what Michael Floyd can bring to the offense >>
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
