Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Michael Floyd will sit out the first four games of the NFL season. This suspension is punishment for a DUI last season.
The Minnesota Vikings now know how long they will be without their new free-agent signee Michael Floyd. It is reported that Floyd will have to sit out the first four games of the 2017 season.
This suspension by the NFL is because of a DUI arrest last season. Floyd was arrested for on December 12th, 2016 for a serious DUI where he fell asleep behind the wheel at a stoplight in Arizona.
Based on NFL rules, Floyd is still able to practice and play in games during the preseason. That will allow the Minnesota Vikings to get a good look at him to see where he fits in the offense.
He returns during Week 5 when the Vikings take on the Chicago Bears for a big divisional Monday Night Football matchup on national television.
The NFL rules state that a player must sit out one game for a first-offense DUI. They decided to come down much harder on Michael Floyd. This is likely due Floyd violating his house arrest and his blood-alcohol level being almost three times the legal limit at the time of his DUI.
The following tweet by ESPN’s Field Yates was the first report of the suspension.
Source: Vikings WR Michael Floyd has been suspended for the first four games of the 2017 season.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 14, 2017
Now with the suspension set the Vikings look to move on. It is clear that head coach Mike Zimmer has no patience to deal with Floyd’s drinking problem. Zimmer even has doubted the Kombucha tea defense by Floyd. The tea allegedly caused Floyd to test positive for alcohol while on house arrest.
The following statement from Zimmer was reported by the Pioneer Press’ Brian Murphy.
"“I said, ‘If I find out you’re lying to me, I’m going to cut you.’”"
If Michael Floyd is telling the truth and can stay clear of alcohol he has a real opportunity to help the Vikings receiving corp. The Vikings do not have a lot of depth after leading receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs.
Next: Zimmer says Vikings will cut Floyd if he is lying about the Kombucha
That third spot on the Minnesota Viking’s depth chart is Michael Floyd’s to lose.