Lettin' it fly. #Skol https://t.co/PNdx48usj9 pic.twitter.com/RwuZlH3F6f
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 10, 2017
July 14 (UPI) -- Wide receiver Michael Floyd will sit out for the first four games next season after being suspended Friday by the NFL.
The league banned Floyd for the start of 2017 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. He won't be paid during the suspension. Floyd will be eligible to return to the team on Monday, Oct. 2, the day after the Vikings' Week 4 contest against the Detroit Lions.
He can participate in preseason games and practices.
Floyd, a former first round NFL Draft pick, was cut in December by the Arizona Cardinals days after he was arrested on a DUI charge. He later pleaded guilty to extreme DUI. Floyd spent 24 days in county jail and 96 days in home confinement as a result of the charge. He was also ordered not to drink alcohol, perform community service, pay a fine and go to alcohol counseling.
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After a short stint with the New England Patriots, Floyd signed with the Vikings in May. He was not active for the Patriots' Super Bowl victory.
The wide receiver tested positive for alcohol while on house arrest but said he was consuming Kombucha tea, which he didn't know contained alcohol. An Arizona judge ordered Floyd to spend a day in jail after failing the alcohol tests.
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that if Floyd lied to him about the tea and his alcohol consumption, he would cut the pass catcher.
Floyd is currently playing on a one-year, non-guaranteed contract for $1.4 million. He said he drank the tea at teammate Kyle Rudolph's house, {link:according to the Press. : "http://www.twincities.com/2017/06/24/vikings-to-judge-we-encouraged-michael-floyd-to-drink-kombucha-tea/" target="_blank" title="TwinCities.com"}
The 27-year-old enjoyed his best season in 2013, when he had 1,041 yards and five touchdowns on 65 receptions for the Cardinals.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Mike Thomas was also suspended for four games Friday for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances.
