Packers Brought In Christine Michaels And Byron Bell

The Green Bay Packers are perfectly willing to scrape the bottom of the free agent barrel for that prospective diamond in the rough.

Or warm body, if you like.

Two such guys who might fall into either category are running back Christine Michael and tackle Byron Bell. The Packers had both in for free agent visits on Wednesday.

Michael, as you surely know, finished the 2016 season on the Packers’ roster after Green Bay was awarded him off waivers from Seattle. Michael finished the Packers’ part of his year with 31 carries for 114 yards, a 3.7-yard average — an average that wouldn’t have even been that good if it weren’t for a 42-yard scamper against the Bears.

Michael did have 469 yards on 117 carries (4.0 per carry) in the nine games he played with the Seahawks.

If you’ve seen him play, you know the story. Straight ahead, 100 miles per hour at all times. The Packers do need depth at the position, however.

Bell is perhaps a little more interesting.

He is a former undrafted free agent who played four seasons with Carolina, racking up 41 starts at right tackle in his first three seasons. In 2014, he started all 16 games at left tackle and then signed as a free agent with the Tennessee Titans. Bell started 16 games in 2015 and then dislocated his ankle during OTAs in 2016. He missed that entire season.

If Bell’s ankle isn’t mangled, he could be an intriguing signing for the Packers. Maybe they would move him to guard like they did with Don Barclay and let those two go at it for T.J. Lang’s old spot in training camp. At the very least, providing he’s recovered, Bell would add depth at a position where the Packers need it.