Raiders safety Charles Woodson will be back for 18th season

[Auggie]

Woodson said he would take some time in the offseason to see how his 38-year-old body was holding up before deciding whether he would come back for an 18th season. Well, it took him only about three weeks, so he must be feeling great.

The safety signed a one-year contract extension with the Raiders on Monday. Woodson led Oakland in tackles and interceptions and was the only member of the starting secondary to play in all 16 games. He was set to become a free agent in March but the writing was on the wall last week that he would be back. Woodson had said at the end of last season that he would come back only if the team retained then-assistant defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson.

Robertson was not only retained last week — the only assistant back from last year’s staff — but also was promoted to defensive backs coach by new head coach Jack Del Rio.

Woodson credited Robertson for helping improve his play at safety after years as a standout cornerback.

MORE: http://www.sfgate.com/raiders/article/Raiders-safety-Charles-Woodson-will-be-back-for-6041637.php

Marcus Robertson must be a heck of a coach to be teaching new tricks to an old dog like Woodson.

According to the link, Woodson played all 16 games this season and was on the field for a team-high 1,100 snaps. He led Oakland with 160 tackles, including 105 solo tackles, and four interceptions. He also added nine passes defensed, one fumble recovery and one sack. The only defensive back to start a game at age 39 or older is Hall of Famer Darrell Green, who played until he was 42.

[Scuba]

1. Woodson may be the classiest guy to ever lace on a pair of cleats.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4691757

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Charles Woodson wants to be known as more than a football player. Donating $2 million to the new University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital and Women's Hospital gives him a chance to do that. The school announced Woodson's gift on Thanksgiving before he played for the Green Bay Packers against the Detroit Lions.

Then, he intercepted two passes -- returning one for a score -- forced a fumble, recovered it and had a sack. "It was a good day," Woodson said after Green Bay's 34-12 win in Detroit.

His donation will support pediatric research by The Charles Woodson Clinical Research Fund in the $754-million, 1.1-million square foot hospital scheduled to open in 2012.

"He's really studied and tried to understand what the issues are in doing research in pediatrics," Dr. Valerie Castle said. "What most people don't know is that less than 10 percent of the National Institute of Health budget goes toward research in pediatric disease.

[JonLP24]

2. The Cardinals had the #3 overall pick in the '98 draft

There were 2 players I wanted them to draft bad. Either Charles Woodson or Randy Moss but they drafted Andre Wadsworth. At-least they traded out of the Ryan Leaf sweepstakes plus they got Eric Metcalf & David Boston (99 San Diego draft pick) out of the deal.

Andre Wadsworth held out because he wanted to paid as much as QB. Well negotiations centered on being the #3 and the contracts Manning & Leaf received but free agent deals, D-lineman average salaries aren't close to the QB.