There will be a lot of anxious Ravens Friday and Saturday as they await roster cuts. But few of those players have had the up-and-down career of Michael Floyd.
If Floyd, 29, makes the team, he gets another chance to get back to his previous highs. If not, it could be the end of his career.
"You only get so many tries in this league until they give up on you," Floyd said.
In his second season, the first-round pick (No. 13 overall) out of Notre Dame topped 1,000 receiving yards. It was more yards than teammate Larry Fitzgerald posted in 2013. The Cardinals viewed Floyd as the ultimate heir to Fitzgerald's throne.
Floyd had a couple more strong years with the Cardinals, but it came crashing down in a hurry in 2016.
On Dec. 12, 2016, he was arrested and charged with a DUI after Scottsdale, Ariz. police found him asleep at the wheel at a traffic signal. Two days later, the Cardinals released Floyd.
Floyd signed with his hometown Minnesota Vikings the following offseason, but in July it was announced that he was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. It was reportedly for failing several alcohol tests, violating the terms of his house arrest.
Floyd started just one game and caught 10 passes that season. Last year, he bounced to the Washington Redskins, where he again caught just 10 passes in 10 games played.
"It's just bad decisions," Floyd said. "Those decisions re-routed me in this game. I can only see it as making sure it never happens again, which it never will. It's just growing up as a man."
The Ravens signed Floyd in mid-May, adding a veteran to an otherwise young wide receiver corps. Then Floyd got married over the summer. In a way, it was like a fresh start.
"Being married, I think it's very positive for me," Floyd said. "Life's changing and it's not just about you anymore. You have a family of your own. If you mess up, you're not just disappointing yourself, but you're disappointing your family as well.
"My body feels good. Mentally, I'm great. I got people at home rooting for me, so that's always great motivation."
Floyd's chances of making the Ravens' 53-man roster didn't look good earlier this summer. Four spots are locked up by Willie Snead IV, Chris Moore and rookies Marquise "Hollywood" Brown and Miles Boykin. That leaves maybe two wide receiver spots up for grabs.
Second-year wideout Jaleel Scott has made plays throughout the summer. The Ravens also brought in another veteran in March with Seth Roberts, who is currently listed as a starting wideout on the depth chart.
But Roberts got hurt midway through training camp and Floyd has made the most of increased reps. He started making plays in practices, did well in the Ravens-Eagles joint practices, then connected with rookie Trace McSorley on a beautiful 28-yard touchdown throw and catch in last week's preseason game.
"He plays kind of angry. He does, and I say it in a good way," Head Coach John Harbaugh said after the game. "He plays with aggressiveness and tempo and physicality. He had some big catches for us today and he's done a great job. I mean, he's a former first-round pick. He's had a heck of a career and obviously he's still got a lot left.
"He's in the running. He's got to be in the conversation with those other guys the way that he's played."
Floyd doesn't think he'll be too nervous Friday and Saturday. If you think too much about it, he said, you'll give yourself anxiety. "I'll just go about my day and hope for the best," he said.
And does he envision if he doesn't make the team?
"Still playing. I'm going to keep going, work my way up," Floyd said.
"I think things happen for a reason. I'm not proud of everything I've done on my path, but I've learned from it. I think I couldn't be in a better position now to compete for a job. I've got that fire lit still underneath me and I can go out there and perform at a high level."
