NEW YORK -- Larry Fitzgerald has the partner in crime he desperately craved.
The Arizona Cardinals selected Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd with the 13th pick in the NFL draft Thursday, giving coach Ken Whisenhunt's offense a second playmaker on the wing.
"It's exciting just knowing that he's on the opposite side of me, one of the best receivers in the game," Floyd told The Associated Press. "It's a learning experience for me to know that when I get down there, I'll be able to learn from one of the best."
The Cardinals have badly missed Anquan Boldin since he left for the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent in 2010, and 6-foot-3, 220-pound Floyd gives the team a physical presence who can make plays.
Floyd has had some well-documented off-the-field issues with the Irish, but Fitzgerald -- a fellow native Minnesotan -- figures to give the rookie an instant support system.
"One of the things that struck me about him was his honesty," Whisenhunt said. "We asked him some pretty tough questions about his past, and he was very honest. I think that we emphasized the importance to him about some of our players and how important they are to our community and what type of role models they are and how important it was for us that he would have to fit that mold."
Fitzgerald spoke out in support of Floyd, and now he has his man. Also happy? Larry Fitzgerald Sr., who hopefully will stop picking on poor Early Doucet now.
