Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago
After the trials and tribulations of this season, there's a certain ironic appropriateness to the way two of our older veterans who most desperately wanted that ring -- Woodson and Driver -- both ended up on the sidelines in tears.
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wpr
  • wpr
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14 years ago
It is amazing what this guy has gone thru. he is a warrior. 

Without pushing the product or making even a single pitch, Charles Woodson has become the ideal spokesman for a venture commissioner Roger Goodell forbids him from talking about: TwentyFour by Charles Woodson, the Napa Valley wine label that the cornerback-turned-entrepreneur introduced in 2008. For NFL players, endorsing alcohol is a no-no. But Woodson, the 13-year veteran in search of his first Super Bowl ring, is proof that some NFL players, like fine wine, improve with time.

Woodson's dominance defies conventional wisdom on cornerbacks, who make a living by backpedaling two steps faster than receivers can run forward. At a geriatric 34, he's playing as well he did in the prime of his careerarguably better. Swirl this around like a fine cabernet: One season after intercepting a career-high nine passes and being named the '09 Defensive Player of the Year (over the then 24-year-old Darrelle Revis), the 1997 Heisman Trophy winner morphed into a pseudo-linebacker in Green Bay's bruising 3--4 scheme, amassing 76 tackles and forcing five fumbles, both career highs. In his five years with the Pack, Woodson has pulled down nearly twice as many picks (30) as he had in eight distinguished seasons with the Raiders (17). "In this league they bring in younger guys all the time to either replace you or beat you," Woodson says. "For me just to stick around, I have to get better every year."

Woodson is the cornerstone of a secondary that allowed eight fewer touchdowns (16) than it had interceptions (24) this season, the league's best differential and perhaps the Packers' key to victory in Super Bowl XLV. The Steelers are often portrayed as a ground-and-pound offense, but in Super Bowls XL and XLIII, Pittsburgh hoisted the Lombardi Trophy behind MVP performances from wide receivers. Don't assume Ben Roethlisberger & Co. will be able to exploit the Packers in the same way. "The level at which we play, the speed with which we play," Woodson says, "there's not a weakness in our secondary."

Credit Woodson with molding the Packers' young talent through countless hours of film study and infusing in them an unwavering confidence. For Green Bay there was no greater concern coming into the season than the secondary, which Kurt Warner shredded for 379 yards and five touchdowns in last year's NFC wild-card round. Three weeks earlier Roethlisberger had thrown for 503 yards on the Pack, the 10th 500-yard game in NFL history. The difference this year? The emergence of fifth-year corner Tramon Williams (six picks, plus three in the postseason) and rookie Sam Shields (two picks, plus two more against Chicago in the NFC title game), which enabled Woodson to patrol closer to the line of scrimmage, blitz more often, spy QBs and line up at corner, safety, nickelback and even linebackerthe perfect threat to keep Roethlisberger's head on a swivel come Sunday. And in the second year under defensive coordinator Dom Capers, the secondary never allowed more than two touchdowns in a single game; all but one opponent was held to fewer than 27 points. "A large part of it has to do with the development of the young guys," Woodson says. "I haven't lost a step. I'm able to adapt. I'm playing this way so we can get our best guys on the field."

Just how baby-faced are Woodson's sidekicks? When Shields was 12 he unwrapped Woodson's number 24 Raiders jersey on Christmas morning and "cried because I was so happy." In high school and college Williams had Woodson's poster taped up in his locker. Now they're blossoming into stars under the tutelage of an idol whom they affectionately call "Old Otis"a nod to the overzealous gray-haired security guard from the sitcom Martin. "He's the wise one, and the young hungry guys are falling in line behind the leader," says safety Nick Collins, 27, himself a three-time Pro Bowl pick. "That's why we've been so successful this year."

Of all the things they've learned from Woodsonhow to break down film, how to anticipate where the ball will be thrown based on field position, formation, personnel and receiver splitsthey know this best: The sum of his accolades hardly compares to his desire for a ring. "It would really validate my career," says Woodson, who came up short in his only other appearance, the Raiders' 48--21 loss to Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII.

And what would a ring mean to Woodson's legacy? Deion Sanders and Ty Law have five Super Bowl titles between them. Sanders went to eight Pro Bowls, one more than Woodson; Law two fewer. Their names belong in a debate that Woodson feels he should be a part of. "My last few years in Oakland, I could play great and nobody would really care," he says. "Your name is left out of the conversation of best ever because your team is terrible."

New team, new role. Can one win change the discussion? Does he already belong?

"He's not slowing down at all," Williams says. "He's getting better and better with age." For connoisseurs of Packers football, there's no finer wine.

SI.com wrote:


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zombieslayer
14 years ago

After the trials and tribulations of this season, there's a certain ironic appropriateness to the way two of our older veterans who most desperately wanted that ring -- Woodson and Driver -- both ended up on the sidelines in tears.

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:



Most importantly, they stepped on the field and contributed. Driver was rallying up the fans after he came out of the game.
My man Donald Driver
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2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago
Yes, Driver never changed into street clothes. I was impressed by that.
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Porforis
14 years ago
Not only is Woodson a complete player, he is a LEADER. Not to beat a dead Bear or anything, but unlike Cutler or other players that sulk on the sidelines, Woodson was emotional and contributed to the team in any way he could. He was still a leader, just on the sidelines.

Class act, I hope he retires a Packer. He may have spent more time in Oakland but he's been instrumental to the success of this team.
zombieslayer
14 years ago
Porforis - I can't speak for Woody, but I'm pretty sure he'll retire a Packer. His best years were obviously with the Packers (check the stats). Plus, he got a lot more love as a Packer.
My man Donald Driver
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(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
Cheesey
14 years ago
Did you guys see how, when he was trying to cheer on the team, he winced in pain while on the sidelines? You could see how badly he wanted to be on the field.
But he was one of the main reasons we got to where we are. Whether he could finish the game or not. Same with DD.
I'm SO happy for those guys!
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RainX
14 years ago
Props to Woodson and Shields for getting us as far as they did. Before this game, if you would have told me we would have effectively lost both Woodson and Shields before the end of the first half and still would have been able to come out a winner, even with what the team has overcome injury wise this season, I still might not have believed it. Bush and Lee did enough to get the job done.

Fortunately the boys effectively have the next 5 months to get healthy before (hopefully) training camp starts.
blank
14 years ago
Do we know what his healing time is estimated at? I wonder if he'll be ready to go for the start of next season...

Full radiological union is typically achieved in 16 weeks for adult surgical patients, and shorter times are achieved by teenagers and young children. In patients who participated in prescribed physical therapy, 85-100% mobility returned in 69 months, with full strength returning in 912 months.


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zombieslayer
14 years ago

Props to Woodson and Shields for getting us as far as they did. Before this game, if you would have told me we would have effectively lost both Woodson and Shields before the end of the first half and still would have been able to come out a winner, even with what the team has overcome injury wise this season, I still might not have believed it. Bush and Lee did enough to get the job done.

Fortunately the boys effectively have the next 5 months to get healthy before (hopefully) training camp starts.

"RainX" wrote:



Bush got burned for one TD but other than that, he played his heart out. Almost got a sack on Ben R which would have been sweet.

Amazing we had several starters getting knocked out of the game and the only reason it was close was because of our mistakes. This team is awesome.
My man Donald Driver
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(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
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