Charles Woodson has been toying on the edge of retirement for a few seasons. However, the cornerback is coming off one of his better seasons in awhile and up until now has denied the idea of his career ending. Woodson is approaching free agency once again and while he knows age certainly does not help him, he is hoping to sign a favorable contract in what might be his last season. If that does not happen, Woodson has accepted the idea of calling it quits.
Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie and head coach Dennis Allen have expressed interest re-signing Woodson for another season after he proved to be a reliable veteran in a backfield of youth. Woodson started every game in 2013 and still looked as dominating as ever. Because of his solid season, Woodson is expecting a solid contract in free agency over the veteran's minimum. However, if the numbers do not add up, he will retire.
"If the right numbers don't come across, for myself and from the team's standpoint, then it is a serious consideration at this point that I could have played my last season in the NFL," Woodson said, via the San Francisco Chronicle. "So that's definitely something that I think about. I do plan on playing another year. Hopefully, something can get done with the Raiders. But if not then I've got to take a real hard look at this last year being the last one."
Allen recently spoke with the media during the recent NFL scouting combine and referred to Woodson as one of Oakland's top priorities in free agency. They praised everything the veteran has done for the team and remain hopeful that a deal can get done. However, top priority does not always mean top dollar and the Raiders have a lot of pressing needs to get to when it comes to their team. Woodson will not get anything more than a one-year deal.
The cornerback will likely at least try and test the market if the Raiders do not offer something interesting. Woodson has ruled out a return to the Green Bay Packers where he spent his prime years playing. When asked about the idea from ESPN's Jason Wilde, Woodson simply laughed it off saying the team had plenty of safeties already.
Woodson could see his career in the NFL take a similar turn to his former teammate, Nnamdi Asomugha. The veteran accepted a contract with the San Francisco 49ers where he underwhelmed and was eventually released. After not getting any attention during the middle of the season, Asomugha opted for retirement. It is unclear if anyone other than the Raiders would take on Woodson.