DE PERE Its the most unlikely of unions between Packers All-Pro cornerback Charles Woodson and small-town Green Bay.
But there was Woodson on Tuesday night at the Swan Club, mingling with fans, putting his dinner on hold to sign autographs, accepting the well-deserved Professional Achievement Award at the Lee Remmel Sports Awards banquet and feeling right at home.
Its similar to how I grew up, where I grew up, a small town, a town even smaller than Green Bay, Woodson said before the banquet.
Just a great community, great people. They care about one another, and Im trying to feed off of that as a player. Ive been able to feed off of that and have some good years here.
Woodson was being modest. He has enjoyed some great years here, and he has two Pro Bowl berths and an NFL Defensive Player of the Year award to prove it.
Woodson couldnt have dreamed things would work out so well, or that he would be embraced so warmly by the community.
I didnt expect to come here, so I couldnt expect how its turned out, he said. Its been great. Everyone around this community has been great and accepting of me so its a big deal for me.
It is well documented that Woodson didnt want anything to do with the Packers when he became an unrestricted free agent following the 2005 season. But when no other team wanted Woodson, he reluctantly signed with the Packers.
That Woodson has enjoyed four of the best years of his illustrious career has made Packers General Manager Ted Thompson look like a genius. Thompson and the Packers were willing to take a risk that few others considered, and the payoff has been enormous.
I have a lot of respect for Ted, Woodson said. I know he had to feel something in his heart about me to dismiss everything that was said about me coming from Oakland, so I appreciate that and I appreciate him bringing me to this community.
After playing eight seasons with the Raiders, many teams considered Woodson injury prone and difficult to coach. Woodson was stunned when the Packers made the only legitimate offer.
I was disappointed at first, even disappointed once I got here, he said. It took a while for me to adjust and realize what I had in coming here.
He worked out some early differences with Packers coach Mike McCarthy and has been a model player and citizen in the locker room.
What people might not know is he is a very special teammate, said Thompson, who was Woodsons presenter at the banquet. He cares about his team. Hes always there for them and hell do whatever it takes to help that team win. Hes a respected player in the locker room.
Woodson also is respected on the field, where he has become a turnover machine with 28 interceptions, eight forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in four seasons in Green Bay.
Any time I go out on the field, I try to attack the football, Woodson said. Whether its a tackle or my man is getting the ball thrown to him, I try to attack the football.
In his short time here, Woodson broke the franchise record for defensive touchdowns (eight) and has become the kind of impact defensive player the Packers havent had since Reggie White in the 1990s.
Woodson has flourished in the 3-4 defense, but he said its not so much the scheme as it is what the coaches allow him to do.
The most important part is the way (defensive coordinator) Dom Capers has been able to use me, Woodson said. Moving me around, allowing me to survey the field, survey the offense, and just go out there and make plays. It doesnt matter what defense it is, it just depends on whether or not the coach is willing to do that, and he is.
He loves the coaching, fans and football-steeped franchise located in the smallest NFL city. The only thing missing now for Woodson is a Super Bowl championship. The way everything else has fallen into place, maybe thats next on his list.
Weve got a lot of good guys back and we feel like we can make a run for it this year, Woodson said.
Stranger things have happened to Woodson in Green Bay.