Free agent defensive back Charles Woodson has signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Raiders, returning to the team that drafted him, and for whom he stared as a cornerback from 1998-2005.
Woodson’s deal is worth a maximum of $4.3 million and includes a $700,000 signing bonus according to various reports.
Woodson was drafted by the Raiders, 4th overall in the 1998 NFL draft, following his Heisman Trophy, Rose Bowl, National Championship winning season at Michigan. He made an immediate impact, becoming NFL Defensive Rookie of the year, and an All-Pro caliber cornerback immediately. He would recieve All-Pro honours in each of his first three years as a Raider, and would be a Pro-Bowler in each of his first four seasons.
Woodson, now 36, was released by the Green Bay Packers following the 2012 season, in a cost cutting move. The veteran defensive back, he now plays safety, acknowledged that he didn’t have a lot of teams offering him a contract to continue his NFL career. Woodson originally left Oakland as a free agent in 2006, winning Superbowl XLV, and the 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the year while in Green Bay. All in all, he would get four more All-Pro nominations, and play in 4 more Probowls as a member of the Packers.
Woodson has 55 career interceptions, 17 sacks, 24 forced fumbles and 11 interception returns for touchdowns in 206 career games.
The Raiders current general manager, Reggie McKenzie is very familiar with Woodson, being a member of the Packers front office until the end of the 2011 season. He certainly knows what the former Packer can bring on the field, even if his skills are somewhat diminished at this point in his career. Woodson missed 9 games last year due to a broken collarbone, and there is some concern over how long his body will hold up given his age, and the amount of football he has played over the years. However, his veteran leadership will be extremely valuable to a rebuilding Raiders team this year. He can certainly teach the young Raiders the way a true professional conducts himself on and off the field in the NFL.
The Raiders are a very different team than the one which Woodson left, as kicker Sebastian Janikowski is the only remaining teammate from his Oakland days.
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