A make contact with the Oakland Raiders might not bring Charles Woodson any nearer to another Super Bowl, but signing with that franchise that originally drafted him will be a fitting conclusion to her Hall of Fame career.
Once a key part of the Raiders' revival in the early 2000s, Woodson could now help accelerate a more daunting rebuild by contributing a veteran defender with championship experience with the locker room.
A great return appears to already take the works. The Raiders need reportedly joined the fray for Woodson, who has otherwise gotten mostly scant interest as a free agent this offseason.
Ian Rapoport of AMERICAN FOOTBAL Network reported Friday that will Oakland has invited the 36-year-old defensive back to get a visit on Tuesday. Rapoport also reports of the fact that Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Carolina Panthers sleep in play for Woodson.
If playing for the contender is truly Woodson's prime deciding factor, the Broncos, Giants and Panthers can each present rosters nearer to playing in the Super Bowl than that with the Raiders. And although Woodson proclaimed on NFL Network this particular week (per Pro Footballing Talk) that he'd play for anyone now, you'd have to believe his preference will still lean the way of the better roster.
It is additionally very possible that this Raiders would balk at stepping into even a mini-bidding warfare for Woodson, given ones own current salary cap circumstances. According to Over a Cap, Oakland has slightly below $4 million in cap room for the 2013 season.
However if the Raiders could both convince Woodson to all over again play for a rebuilding project within the Bay Area and agree with contract numbers, such a reunion may be mutually beneficial.
Woodson could play a maximum availablility of snaps in 2013 for a roster riddled with holes, while the Raiders would purchase a veteran leader— and one familiar with general manager Reggie McKenzie— that can help guide a franchise relating to the rebound.
Back in 1998, a struggling Raiders franchise drafted Woodson together with the fourth overall pick. A Heisman Trophy winner with Michigan, Woodson entered the NFL with just as much fanfare and natural talent as any cornerback since Deion Sanders within the late 1980s.
Simply by 2001, Woodson had definitely walked the walk with Oakland. He was branded to four Pro Containers and three All-Pro clubs in his first five years, and the Raiders enhanced from 4-12 in 1997 to be able to 8-8 in both 1998 and 1999.
After a run with just three playoff appearances in 14 years ahead of 2000 season, the Raiders were finally back amongst the NFL elite.
The post-Super Toilet bowl hangover hit Oakland tricky, as the Raiders triumphed in just 13 games over the next three seasons. Woodson's attitude deteriorated as the losses piled up. By 2006, Woodson and the Raiders were happy to move on.
After signing a free-agent deal with the Green Bay Packers in the spring following 2005, Woodson would go on to win a Defensive Player for the Year award in this year and his first Super Bowl ring in February of 2011.
Today, Woodson has a an opportunity to bring all the maturation and wisdom he accumulated in Green Bay to your franchise still searching due to the own identity. The Raiders might not turn into a perennial playoff contender under Woodson's watch, but they can help point the Oakland locker room in the direction during his keeping NFL career.
Keep in the mind, the Raiders will enter 2013 over the heels of 10 immediately non-winning seasons. There's bit of harm in McKenzie adding some winning culture so that you can his rebuilding effort.
Woodson would likely alternatively play for Super Bowls at the end of his Hall involving Fame career, but there will probably be sentimental value in time for Oakland and helping the Raiders climb due to cellar once again.
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