Michael Floyd Is In Football For The Long Haul
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - Michael Floyd has been living the football dream: from his time at Cretin Derham Hall, to Notre Dame, and now as a first round pick by the Arizona Cardinals.
This week he's working out with a fellow Cardinal, and he's working to prove he belongs.
Floyd burst onto the football scene at Cretin Derham Hall High School. He was multi-talented, stemming from a fundamental love for the game.
"I always wanted to play football. I've been playing since third grade, you know. I have a passion for it, and a love of the game for it," said Floyd.
He made his mark at Notre Dame as a prime-time performer for the Fighting Irish.
"It was great, you know. If I was to go back to high school and had to choose again…I would choose Notre Dame just because…the atmosphere there, the environment. I love the people there,' he said.
When he got his number at the NFL Draft, it was in the first round by the Arizona Cardinals. So he headed west, ended up bunking with a veteran receiver there from Minnesota named Larry Fitzgerald Jr.
"Mike is a great kid. He's a terrific young man. Somebody you'd expect to come from Minnesota. He's attentive, he's aware of what he wants to do, he's got big goals, he has the ability to make it happen," said Fitzgerald.
Floyd is more than able to return to compliments to his mentor.
"He's a great leader, great role model. I couldn't be in a better position. I'm really excited to learn from him and also all the other vets on the team to how to really be a pro," said Floyd.
This week he works out in Minnesota at Fitzgerald's unofficial camp. It's there where they work hard, with exercises such as 16 110 yard dashes.
And it's where they work at their craft. Floyd is learning quickly, as a first round pick, making it in the NFL for the long term is real work.
"Everybody thinks this is pretty easy, but they don't know how hard it is…making sure to stay in shape, and be productive out there. It is a business, the NFL," he said.
