The Oakland Raiders made several offseason moves to hopefully better the team and set the franchise up for success long term. With the addition of Matt Flynn at quarterback and key skill players, the offense is set. However, the biggest move came when the Raiders opted to sign long-time defensive star, Charles Woodson. The free agent started his career in Oakland and plans to end it there. With a championship under his belt, Woodson is already making an impact on the young defensive unit.
Woodson is well aware that all eyes are on him when he steps out onto the field. The veteran's ability to still be an impactful player was put into question during most of the offseason, prolonging the former Defensive Player of the Year from signing early. It has been a long time since the Raiders drafted the Heisman Trophy winner back in 1998. Oakland is hopeful that Woodson still has some of the No. 4 draft pick talent left in the tank for the team.
"Everybody wants to see how I'm going to come out here and work and practice and the last few weeks I've showed them what kind of player I am and why I have been around this long," Woodson said as the Raiders wrap up camp.
Woodson has been at every practice since signing with the team in May. After ending a seven-year run with the Green Bay Packers, Oakland was not necessarily Woodson's first choice of teams. He was hopeful to sign with a Super Bowl contending team, but decided on helping the Raiders rebuild instead. Since then, he has been on the field as much as possible, learning the defense and building chemistry with the teammates around him.
Woodson will openly admit that he thought retirement was his only option at certain points in the offseason. The market was soft for veteran players and Woodson was learning that the hard way. But, general manager Reggie McKenzie's familiarity with Woodson during his time in Green Bay helped the cornerback return home to the team where he spent the first eight years of his career.
Head coach Dennis Allen has been falling head over heels for Woodson since he arrived in Oakland. He thinks the cornerback's experience will payoff for the young defensive unit.
"Wood's been great. He's done everything that we've asked him to do. He's really exactly what we felt we were going to be able to get in a player like that; a Hall of Fame-caliber player that's made a lot of plays on the football field over his career," Allen said.
