Packers land Michael, Still a Wasteland at Cornerback

It's a shooting star! It's Superman! It's...! Wait, it's not either of those things...

Nope. Instead, it's Packers' general manager Ted Thompson hitting the market for a running back for the second time this season. An unheard-of happening which, up to 2016, was pretty much about as equally as possible as the aforementioned phenomena. 

The head honcho in the Packers' backfield, Eddie Lacy, has a future in Green Bay that is clouded due to an ankle injury that required surgery. He's missed the last four games and will continue to until a possible January return. As a result, the Packers cycled through talent at the tailback position in the absence of both Lacy and seventh-year running back James Starks. From Don Jackson to Knile Davis, who saw a mere five carries in his 13-day audition with the team before being released, to rotating wide receiver Ty Montgomery into the backfield for run help; they just couldn't get a consistent suitor.

However, help is on the way as of Wednesday afternoon. 

Christine Michael, a Super Bowl champion, is making the trek up north to settle down with his third team in three years. After two stints with the Seahawks and one with the Cowboys, the Packers are hoping to get solid production from the 26-year old, who, in 2013, was selected one pick after the Packers chose Lacy.

As a corresponding move, the Packers placed Jackson on injured reserve. Likely due to the hand injury he suffered against the Bears in mid-October.

Much like Davis, who the Packers didn't have to give up a conditional draft pick for, Michael will likely have to learn the offense. Seeing him suit up on Sunday night in Washington may be a far cry, but with similar philosophies between Thompson and Seattle's general manager John Schneider, don't rule out Michael making an appearance in the visitors' backfield.

With a wounded secondary that is currently giving up 253.6 passing yards per game this season - above the league average of 249.12, tossing out a line for Michael may have been a questionable move from many on the outside. Nevertheless, head coach Mike McCarthy made it a point of emphasis to acknowledge the fact that he and the team's offense wants to run the ball more, which they've gotten away from in their last meeting with the Titans - a 47-25 loss in which they carried the ball just 13 times as opposed to 55 pass attempts. Point being, dipping into the market for a cornerback may have been a more viable option.

There has yet to be specification on when Damarious Randall will return, and with Sam Shields still going through concussion protocol more than two months after the initial collision, the secondary in Green Bay continues to be a major question mark. But, at least there's a new running back in town, right? One minute you're carrying the rock as a 'Hawk against the runner-up 2015 AFC Champions on Sunday night, and the next, you're getting ready for another Sunday night game, now sporting green and gold.

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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (46)

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 16, 2016 at 07:31 pm

Your the first person I thought of when I saw this signing.

Hopefully your right...

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Chad Lundberg's picture

November 16, 2016 at 08:57 pm

Maybe I'm just desperate, but I have a hunch this could loom large and in a good way.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

November 17, 2016 at 07:19 am

It could, he looked really good to start the season. The question is if he can be mature enough to be a member of a professional football team.

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Razer's picture

November 17, 2016 at 07:23 am

You are desperate. Seattle got rid of him for a reason - a reason we will find out on our own

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dobber's picture

November 17, 2016 at 08:04 am

I still think he's better than James Starks at this stage in his career. It's the best shot they're going to have at a run game from here on out.

The sad part was that as soon as Starks reappeared, the Packers went back to plain, old, predictable 11 personnel. MM talks about how game flow dictated that. No...the COACH dictated that. The offense struggles and stalls in 11 personnel, MM. Spreading the field and attacking is what the offense needs to do to be even moderately effective. Maybe adding Michael will change that.

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Tundraboy's picture

November 17, 2016 at 09:30 am

Game flow has now joined the pantheon of MM babble along with Pad level, etc.

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Malland56's picture

November 18, 2016 at 04:20 pm

According to other scouts he is immature but the talent is there for the tapping.

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Point-Packer's picture

November 16, 2016 at 05:41 pm

Why bring in much needed CB depth when you can add an underachieving journeymen with a bad attitude and half a brain?

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Point-Packer's picture

November 16, 2016 at 11:41 pm

Yeah, Michael is a stud RB...Dude got beat out by an injured RB in Rawls and a rookie. I live in Seattle and all my Seatard friends were thrilled he got let go. Bad attitude. And dumb. Stellar combo.

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Razer's picture

November 17, 2016 at 07:25 am

...Dude got beat out by an injured RB in Rawls and a rookie...

This tells you everything. Dumb and bad attitude pretty well sums it up.

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dobber's picture

November 17, 2016 at 08:05 am

I didn't see anyone call him a stud.

At this stage in the season, there are no studs left out there to be had.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

November 17, 2016 at 08:13 am

Your point, Point Packer, was that TT failed to find a stud CB. We're pretty sure that if there were an anywhere decent CB on the street, TT would have brought him in. My own guess is that Michael represents an upgrade over the current roster. If he isn't, he'll be let go soon enough, at no cost since there are one or two spots on the roster being inhabited by marginal players, maybe even deadwood.

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L's picture

November 16, 2016 at 06:08 pm

Not hating this move (RB C.Michael), but I'd still like to see the team address depth concerns at CB, O-Line, and possibly ILB. FB J.Kerridge should be waived to make room for either ILB C.Bradford, G Lucas Patrick, or a FA CB (as I doubt CB H.Waters is ready to play in a game in an emergency). WR G.Allison is another guy they could possibly consider waiving if they decided to make room for another one of those guys, but hopefully we can re-sign him to the PS.

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stevehj's picture

November 16, 2016 at 06:09 pm

Good grief. Thompson makes a move to pick up a back that many suggested would be a good move but most doubted he would make, and the best you can say is he should have got a cornerback? The constant Debbie downer comments are nauseating. Can't you say something positive about this team?

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ZacharyJacobson's picture

November 16, 2016 at 08:32 pm

Lol. If you want to talk about positives, you should see my Twitter feed. It's a fun gig getting slammed for my optimism with this team.

"...tossing out a line for Michael may have been a questionable move from many on the outside. Nevertheless, head coach Mike McCarthy made it a point of emphasis to acknowledge the fact that he and the team's offense wants to run the ball more, which they've gotten away from in their last meeting with the Titans - a 47-25 loss in which they carried the ball just 13 times as opposed to 55 pass attempts. Point being, dipping into the market for a cornerback may have been a more viable option."

Please, tell me where in this section of the article that I said Thompson should've picked up a cornerback.

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croatpackfan's picture

November 17, 2016 at 02:17 am

Zach, he is commenting comments from others. Now everybody complains why TT did not find CB. Which one? Nobody gives names, just shouting - FIND CB. Well, when you are "suggesting" something then offer a the solution, too... But many just complaints!

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L's picture

November 17, 2016 at 09:38 am

Well, I'd be surprised if the Packers didn't at least reach out to the Browns prior to the trade deadline in regards to a late round draft pick (perhaps a conditional 7th) for the services of T.Williams who may have been able to hit the ground running. However, maybe they did and the Browns wanted more than what the Packers were willing to offer, but we'll never know because of how the Packers like to operate with the utmost amount of discretion.

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dobber's picture

November 17, 2016 at 08:17 am

On the plus side: the Vikings apparently had a claim in on him, too, but the Packers had higher priority. Any time you can keep a player away from a rival that might help them is a good thing...but then, Minny's OL is atrocious and he likely wouldn't find any running room there.

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packer132's picture

November 16, 2016 at 06:59 pm

You can't fill all the holes. Good move by Thompson as a running back was a huge need now. Otherwise the defense is in Aaron's face every play knowing its a pass with no ground game. Its a game by game season now, and just need to win at Washington before looking ahead. I believe the Pack will get it together and come out with a win.

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NickPerry's picture

November 17, 2016 at 06:10 am

A win at Washington would be huge for this team right now. It's as close to a "Must Win" as this team has had in quite sometime. The Packers are 3-4 in the NFC with all losses coming against what may be playoff teams. Another loss this weekend would be yet another head to head loss if it comes down to a tiebreaker. Washington has an excellent offense, a great TE, and now seem committed to one RB. I'm afraid this is going to be much of the same for the Packers when on Defense. It will all be up to the offense as usual if they have a chance to beat Washington.

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dobber's picture

November 17, 2016 at 08:06 am

So close to a "must win" that it really is a "must win".

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PETER MAIZ's picture

November 17, 2016 at 03:55 pm

I agree, without a running game, Rodgers gets slammed way too much.

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Packer_Pete's picture

November 16, 2016 at 08:11 pm

Man, I get that RB is a need. But frickin' Christine Michael? Dude is smaller than I am... Played in a total of 31 games in 4.5 seasons now, 6 TDs... Wow a real stud Ted got there again...
There is a reason Seattle doesn't want him anymore. And even though Rob Schneider makes terrible movies (except for European Gigolo that actually was funny), he is a good GM

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 16, 2016 at 09:31 pm

Michael has averaged 4.0 yards per carry and has 6 rushing TDs this season. That is with Seattle whose offensive line is worse then Green Bay's. At least before Green Bay's injuries.
He should be able to at least provide a rushing threat.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

November 16, 2016 at 10:13 pm

At the combine, Micheal was 5'10", 220, ran a 4.54 forty, 43" vertical, 27 reps, and a 6.69 3 cone. Sounds like he has adequate size and is a fine athlete.

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Handsback's picture

November 16, 2016 at 10:07 pm

Much ado about nothing....

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JEast54's picture

November 17, 2016 at 12:53 am

MM always says he wants to establish a run game but he never does or sticks to that plan. That's why I believe Lacy's future with the Pack is clouded. MM never gave Lacy a shot at the beginning of the year but he did the best he could with what he was given on the 71 carries for 360 yards.

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Bearmeat's picture

November 17, 2016 at 05:31 am

I wonder why Seattle cut him? If I were them, I'd have put him on IR rather than risk him helping one of my biggest rivals. They have to have known that GB picking him up was a distinct possibility. Or maybe they don't see us as a threat this year? We have been pretty bad.

For that matter, why didn't we do the same with Sitton?

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Donster's picture

November 17, 2016 at 07:04 am

Sadly, no one views the Packers as a threat right now. Seattle for instance, knows, as of today, who the threats are that could keep them from the NFC title. Arizona, Dallas, Atlanta, Washington, Philly and NY Giants.

The Packers right now are a wounded animal, and every team that is going to play them the next few weeks are licking their chops, knowing they have the opportunity to not only beat GB, but humiliate them. I for one, hope those teams thinking they can beat the Packers easily will at the end of the game be the ones that are beaten and even humiliated.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

November 17, 2016 at 07:24 am

"I wonder why Seattle cut him?"

I don't know the specifics of this release but his MO is being very immature and not taking coaching or being a professional at all. Basically he's "Not Packer people". I didn't expect them to pick him up. Hopefully he cleans up his act in boring Green Bay and this is successful.

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dobber's picture

November 17, 2016 at 08:13 am

He couldn't beat out Darren McFadden in Dallas last year. He has to realize that he's about to wash out of the league and this might be his last stop. Has the tools to be a very good back if he does.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/christine-michael?id=2539322

He got the ball this year in Seattle, but has been limited in the pass game. Not much of a blocker out of the backfield, but as I understand that's as much about effort as anything else. He's strictly a run-down guy who will come off the field on 3rd down.

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TKWorldWide's picture

November 17, 2016 at 05:56 am

Hey Zach!
What happened to Rob?

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

November 17, 2016 at 07:25 am

Be nice :)

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TKWorldWide's picture

November 17, 2016 at 07:59 am

Ha!
The chain yanking continues!

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Tundraboy's picture

November 17, 2016 at 07:11 am

Call me jaded but I sure hope he has "good practices" . Otherwise another player that will barely play. Go Starks

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TKWorldWide's picture

November 17, 2016 at 08:00 am

You're jaded.

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Tundraboy's picture

November 17, 2016 at 09:34 am

Yah I know, but can you really blame me.?

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TKWorldWide's picture

November 17, 2016 at 11:53 am

No.

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stockholder's picture

November 17, 2016 at 08:11 am

Disappointed!

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TarynsEyes's picture

November 17, 2016 at 08:19 am

A couple of games ago it was said by one Jersey Al and agreed with my many here that Don Jackson looked impressive with his 1st carry for 7 yds and the next 5 for 3 totalling 6 for 10. I laughed and was awarded the usual adverse replys. Where is Jackson....are we saving him for the playoffs.....because that would be impressive.

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Razer's picture

November 17, 2016 at 10:59 am

Apparently he sustained a knee injury in practice. Not sure what to think anymore. Like you, I am having trouble staying positive and finding the good things in this season. Maybe Kris-tin will surprise us all. Keep your head up.

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jfajas's picture

November 17, 2016 at 11:44 am

Unless he can knock the opposing QB, tackle well and defend passes, I don´t see the point...

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dschwalm's picture

November 17, 2016 at 12:27 pm

I guess the reason TT pursued a RB instead of an experienced CB is either because there are NONE available, OR MM and TT have confidence in our stellar defensive backfield~~

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al bundy's picture

November 17, 2016 at 11:01 pm

Your not getting experienced corners just like baseball teams dont give up to pitchers so others can grab them up and use them against you. No your stuck with a group of horrible dbacks: slow, poor tacklers, terrible in coverage. They have no clue.

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al bundy's picture

November 17, 2016 at 10:59 pm

Packer Fans. Ted T has totally screwed you. Going into the season with two running backs and 7 receivers? And one of the two backs has an eating habit. He was so over weight his ankles gave out.
This guy is loves food a hell of a lot more then he loves Green Bay.

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PETER MAIZ's picture

November 19, 2016 at 05:21 am

There is a saying that applies to McCarthy. He just reminded the fans about what a stellar career he's had with the Packers. Well, this year will perhaps be a disaster for the Packers and 2017 doesn't look so hot under his mandate.
Insofar as he has reminded us of his stellar performance, there is an old saying in Spanish, "dime de que presumes y te dire que te hace falta". Translation: "Tell me what you brag about and I'll tell you what you lack".

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