Hints That Charles Woodson's Time in Green Bay Has Ended
From all indications, it appears the Green Bay Packers will release the veteran defensive back and will save in excess of $9 million in salary cap space.
A social media post from TwentyFour Wines, which is owned by Green Bay Packers defensive back Charles Woodson, hints that the 36 year old safety's time in Green Bay may have come to a close.
Thank you Green Bay it was a great run! twitter.com/TwentyFourWine…
— Rick Ruiz (@TwentyFourWines) February 15, 2013
Whether Woodson has been released or retired is unclear, but it would appear that release is the more likely scenario. After the Packers' playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Woodson indicated that he still intended to play in 2013.
With a salary cap figure in excess of $9 million due in 2013 and $10 million in 2014, it was probably inevitable that some sort of money-saving move was made by the Packers for a player who is no longer athletic as he once was.
The only question was probably whether the Packers would ask Woodson to restructure his contract or release him. There has been no indication that Woodson has either been offered or declined a restructured contract.
Even under a restructured contract, Woodson likely still would have commanded several million dollars, and that may have been a figure the Packers were not willing to play for a player whose speed and skills are in decline.
The question now is, what the Packers do at the safety position? Morgan Burnett seems to have one job in his grasp and under control, but the other candidates for a starting job currently on the roster are M.D. Jennings and Jerron McMillian.
Both Jennings and McMillian have potential, but neither has proven themself to the point that they're the unquestioned starter of the future at safety in Green Bay.
Perhaps the Packers could target a safety in the NFL Draft in April. Another possibility is 2012 undrafted rookie Sean Richardson, but after undergoing neck surgery in the offseason, his future playing football is no given.
There is little doubt that Casey Hayward will remain in the slot cornerback role he took over from Woodson late this past season.
Woodson is a probable Pro Football Hall of Fame and was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2009.
He's been a postseason captain for the Packers for the past several seasons and will be remembered for his inspiring speeches to the team during their 2010 Super Bowl run.
One more report from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network...
Carl Poston, Charles Woodson's agent, tells me: "They're getting ready to release him. It's part of the business."
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 15, 2013
Cheesehead TV will have more on Charles Woodson as it becomes available.
Comments (22)
February 15, 2013 at 10:53 am
Can we start arguing about whether Woodson goes in the Ring of Honor yet?
February 15, 2013 at 01:11 pm
+1. My thoughts exactly before I got down to your post.
February 16, 2013 at 05:38 pm
He's in and I think that side of the argument wins pretty easily. He was a Defensive Player of the Year and an emotional leader on a Super Bowl team.
February 15, 2013 at 10:55 am
This certainly is not a surprise considering how much he cost. Add that to the fact that GB's secondary seemed to do alright in coverage in his absence and this is a no brainer especially since the run d was bad with or without him
February 15, 2013 at 10:55 am
In seriousness, Woodson was one of my all-time favorites. But he's nowhere near the same player - so this is hardly a surprise. The Packers didn't really seem to miss him when he was out last year. But this moves safety up the draft needs list a bit.
February 15, 2013 at 11:03 am
Had to be done. I've had my quibbles with CWoods play over the past few years, but what concerns me the most is what appears to be a chronic shoulder problem. Whether he plays again for GB or another team, I don't think he'll hold up, health wise, an entire season as a starter.
Nonetheless, he definitely was a difference maker early in his stint with GB.
February 15, 2013 at 11:04 am
It is amazing that he was DPOY just a few years ago, and now his play has declined so fast that he's gone.
February 15, 2013 at 11:42 am
Crazy how I went from really not liking #21 in his first year with the Pack to absolutely loving him for a good number of years. I'll never forget that game against the Cowboys in '09.
However, can't blame the Pack at all with this move as it was painfully evident that he had lost more than a step in the last 2 years (let alone the twice broken collarbone).
February 15, 2013 at 11:47 am
Good move. Smart move. When he was good... He was a joy to watch... That hasn't been the case since '10... Good luck to ya Charles!
GBP 4 LIFE
February 15, 2013 at 11:51 am
I'm excited to see Woodson as a talking head on Sundays for years to come. He was a fantastic Packer and I'll always be grateful for watching him play. Still. I think the goal here is to turn one year of the turning 37 year old player into 3 years of Sam Shields during his peak before we cut ties with him when he plays his way into a bigger contract somewhere else at age 28.
February 15, 2013 at 11:53 am
Bummer. I thought they'd restructure his contract. We have A LOT of needs in the draft. Ted gets it right more than he gets it wrong though.
February 15, 2013 at 12:14 pm
Being from Michigan I've rooted for him in the Maze and Blue; then stationed in the Navy in Oakland I followed him, then moved to Minnesota and rooted for him on the Packers ( no Vikings fan baby), so this is kind of sad.
He's a class act that's for sure and I hope he does the right thing and hangs em up. Its time. Ya sticking around for 10 mil is tempting all right but that isn't what football should be about.
Time to say adios.
February 15, 2013 at 02:27 pm
Fairly bold move for the Pack, but it was the correct move. In order to compete this year, I think we need at least one or two more bold moves before it is all said and done. Hawk would be an obvious choice to release if his contract didn't have so much dead money. His play has certainly not lived up to his paycheck. Finally, I think Tramon may have to be released or at least demoted, as the quality of his play has also declined through injury.
February 15, 2013 at 02:30 pm
I very much doubt Tramon will be cut - and the Packers have already said there will be an open competition next year at CB.
February 15, 2013 at 03:44 pm
Sad to see another great Packer take off, but agree it was the correct move. News of my two favorite Packers of all time departing my favorite team in a span of two weeks is hard to handle, but likely inevitable going into this off-season.
As a previous poster mentioned, we were lucky to have the luxury of watching him play. In his prime, and even after, he was a joy to watch on the field.
Things change.
February 15, 2013 at 03:45 pm
Loved Charles' desire to stick his nose in there in the run defense. We have good young coverage corners on the roster. We were really young this year without Wood in there. I think we're going to be fantastic in the secondary next year, but we do have to part with Hawk, or at least make him take a MAJOR pay cut. He probably would agree to it, 'cause I don't see that there is really any demand for him otherwise. As Vic says, it's a young man's game.
February 15, 2013 at 03:50 pm
The President don't want to come see us at the Superbowl "We'll go see him,Whitehouse on 3"
February 15, 2013 at 04:16 pm
11-5 without him in the line-up for most of that time and the secondary was actually better for the most part. All good things come to an end. Thanks for the memories!
February 15, 2013 at 08:42 pm
Woodson served himself first and the Packers second, as long as there was something in it for him. Then, he would lead. He performed wonderfully for many years, but decided to give up on football. No? Then why has his performance declined? Performance? No? Ok. Then why would he be worth $5 to any other team. Because he's good? OK. Do you see where I am going with this?
February 16, 2013 at 07:20 am
Read this site every day for years now. Never posted here before but this comment was so ridiculous I thought maybe I was reading profootballtalk.
Not even where to start except of all the reasons for his performance decline, giving up on football is not on the list.
Do I see where you are going with this? I'm not sure you even do....
February 16, 2013 at 09:11 am
1. No one sees where you're going with this.
2. Woodson is one of the greatest philanthropists in professional sports, so you might want to back off the whole "Woodson is so self serving" angle.
3. Woodson is one of the greatest Packers of all time, show some respect.
February 16, 2013 at 12:40 am
Bold move, but I can see it.
TT has a big challenge coming, losing
front office. contracts of A-rod, Matthews, BJ,
coming up, please pull a rabbit out of your hat TT!