GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Christine Michael plans to spend as much time as possible with Aaron Rodgers or Rodgers’ backup in an effort to learn the Green Bay Packers' offense.
He just wasn’t quite sure of that No. 2 quarterback’s name.
“Hutley? Healey?” Michael asked.
That would be Brett Hundley.
“Get with him man and figure this thing out, figure this thing out. Get with some of the other running backs, receiver guys, offensive linemen, try to cram as much as possible man, and have fun while doing it,” the Packers' newest running back said Thursday.
Give Michael a pass for not knowing everything about the Packers’ depth chart considering he was fresh off a red-eye flight that left Seattle at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday and arrived in Chicago on Thursday morning. He changed planes at O’Hare and made it to Lambeau Field shortly before Thursday's practice at 11:45 a.m. local time. It was a whirlwind since the Seahawks released him on Tuesday and the Packers claimed him off waivers on Wednesday.
"The flight was the least of my worries," Michael said. "I was just ready to get up here as soon as possible. Grab my playbook, get going, treat my body up well, meet the guys. Just call this place home. Call this place home and just run with it."
By the time he settled in after Thursday’s practice, he said he felt a mix of exhaustion and adrenaline.
“That's the exact thing,” he said. “Excited and tired from that flight from that seven-hour flight. But I'm here now.”
How -- and how quickly -- Michael integrates himself into the Packers’ system will determine whether he can stop the revolving door at running back that has slowed the offense this season.
The knock on Michael has been a lack of attention to detail. It may have contributed to his demise in Seattle -- twice -- and Dallas. The Seahawks drafted him in the second round in 2013 -- one spot after the Packers picked Eddie Lacy -- but traded him to the Cowboys in 2015 and then re-signed him after Dallas let him go.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy insisted Thursday that none of Michael’s past transgressions concerned him. Still, it’s worth wondering why Michael never lived up to his billing as a talented, powerful running back.
“That’s a great question,” Michael said. “I don’t know. I put a lot into, when the Seahawks brought me back, I put a lot into making sure I’m doing everything right, being on time, being a good team player, running the ball, just trying to be a good team player.”
“Definitely had to take a step back and learn from some of the older guys who were around,” he added later. “Ask more questions, get myself more involved, take my job more seriously. That’s what I’ve been doing this time around, especially going into this 2016 season. Just being an all-out professional, taking my job seriously and trying to be the best me possible.”
The Packers have tried to integrate other running backs off the street this season and none of them worked. Jhurell Pressley was claimed off waivers before the season opener but was cut nine days later. Knile Davis came in a trade from the Chiefs but was released after five carries for 5 yards in two games.
Now it’s Michael’s turn, even if it would be unrealistic to expect him to be able to play Sunday at Washington. He went through at least a portion of practice on Thursday.
“Some things are familiar [for] me,” he said. “Some things have differently terminology here and there. I don't think there's too much that I can't handle. Just got to get in the playbook, just got to do my job. That's a part of it, just doing your job.”