Green Bay --- After seven years and 100 games, Charles Woodson's illustrious career in Green Bay is coming to an end. The Packers have decided to release the veteran safety, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. Earlier Friday, the account for Woodson's wine company also tweeted a good-bye.
The news does not come as a complete surprise. This was one area in which Packers general manager Ted Thompson could save a lot of money in the salary cap. Turning 37 years old in October, Woodson has suffered two broken collarbones on the back end of his career.
And in his 16th NFL season, Woodson was due a base salary of $6.5 million with a roster bonus of $2.5 million the first day of training camp. That's a lot of money to pay an aging player who isn't the same dynamic force at safety that he was at cornerback. The emergence of rookie Casey Hayward in the slot likely made Green Bay's decision easier. Green Bay also played without Woodson for nine games last year. While he sat out with a broken collarbone, M.D. Jennings and Jerron McMillian started alongside Morgan Burnett at safety.
Maybe the Packers stick with these two, and Sean Richardson returning from injury. The Packers could also sign or draft a safety.
Either way, there's no denying that Woodson has been one of the premier ballhawks in the league since signing with the Packers in 2006. With Green Bay, Woodson has 38 interceptions, 99 pass break-ups and 11.5 sacks. He was also named the 2009 defensive player of the year.
Whether this was an outright release by the Packers or Woodson was not willing to take a paycut is unknown.
Just last week, Woodson's agent expressed some optimism that Woodson would return with the Packers. Not so anymore. Carl Poston told Rapoport that "They're getting ready to release him. It's part of the business." Echoing what he said a week ago, the agent also indicated that Woodson isn't ready to retire, saying, "I just talked to him. He sounds like he has a lot of football left."