The Facts: RBs coach Sherman Smith insists that this time, there really is a change in Michael. "He was grateful to get another chance because he thought when the Redskins released him that his career was over with," Smith said. "He thought he was going back to Texas. And he just came back and said, 'You know what? I had a sense of entitlement. I've just learned that I've got to mature and I've got to do better.' He came in last year and earned a world of trust from myself and the rest of the coaches and the players."

Diehards Line: This summer, with Thomas Rawls on the PUP list and C.J. Prosise and Zac Brooks dealing with hamstring injuries, Michael has been the first running back on the field with the starters every day at practice, with fifth-round pick Alex Collins rotating But with Michael, it's not just about running the ball. It's about trusting that he knows his assignments. For example, in the past when Smith would call on Michael during a meeting and ask him to explain his role in a specific protection scheme, the running back didn't consistently have the answer. But that hasn't been the case since Michael returned to the Seahawks, Smith said. In three regular-season games with the Seahawks at the end of last year, Michael ran for 192 yards and averaged 4.92 YPC. He averaged 3.41 yards after contact, which was the best of any back during that span according to ESPN Stats & Information. Meanwhile, Rawls is said to be day-to-day and should be ready for the regular season. If he looks close to being the same guy he was as a rookie, Rawls is going to be the primary ball carrier. But if he has a setback or needs time to get back to 100 percent, the Seahawks are more confident that Michael can be trusted to play a significant role.