Charles Woodson, Oakland Raiders Agree to One-Year Deal
By Nick Avila
One more year! Oakland Raiders fans should be exclaiming those three words because Charles Woodson and the Raiders have agreed to another one-year contract — his third one-year deal since returning to Oakland in 2013. Said Woodson:
"“The fight is to bring the Raiders back, and I want to be part of that. That’s why I keep signing on.” – Charles Woodson"
Woodson, who was a first round draft pick out of Michigan by the Raiders in 1998, played for the Green Bay Packers from 2006-12 before returning to Oakland to presumably, finish out his career. Woodson, who turns 39 in October, has more than held his own since returning to a Raiders squad that has fallen on hard times, racking up 97 tackles in 2013 and 111 last season, according to Pro Football Reference.
He also added four picks and eight passes defensed last year as he fought not only the wide receivers, but Father Time. Woodson was released by the Packers in 2012 in part, because of re-occurring injuries to his collar-bone. But he has been as solid as they come for the Raiders, playing in all 32 games in his two seasons back in the East Bay.
Woodson showed even more signs of his somehow renewed youthful vigor when he returned three punts for the Raiders last season and averaged 9.3 yards per return — the second highest average of his career, behind only his 11.8 yard average in 2001.
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Woodson was an alternate to the recently concluded Pro Bowl, which could be seen as a snub to some, especially to Raiders fans. Woodson, after all, boasted almost identical, if not more impressive stats than Tashaun Gipson, Glover Quin, Earl Thomas and Eric Weddle, who were all Pro Bowl selections.
But his return in 2015 wasn’t 100 percent. After a stellar, healthy 2014 season though, many expected that C-Wood would indeed return for another season with the Silver and Black. With young studs like Khalil Mack and Justin Ellis earning Pro Football Writers Association NFL All-Rookie Team nods, the Raiders have some bright spots for the future. But, you can’t overstate what a veteran presence like Woodson’s does to help the Raiders young and still developing defensive backs such as D.J. Hayden, 24, Brandian Ross, 25, and Travis Carrie, 24.
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As the Raiders continue to move forward with their search for a defensive coordinator, they made it well known they wanted the future Hall of Famer back when they signed Marcus Robertson as their defensive backs coach. It was Woodson after all, who said that having Robertson on new head coach Jack Del Rio‘s staff would be a stipulation of his return. Woodson praised Robertson for helping him excel at the safety position after transitioning from cornerback.
Last season, Woodson became the first player in NFL history to earn 20 sacks and 50 interceptions; his 60 interceptions are currently the most by an active player. Raider fans are hoping that the age of 39 is as good to Woodson as 38 was. And who knows, maybe fans will be just as happy when he’s signing on for a 2016 season in which the vet would be 40.
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