[img_r]http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/includes/news_items/40/4303/woodsoncloseup.jpg[/img_r]GREEN BAY Charles Woodson has told the story over and over and over again.
How he never wanted to play in Green Bay. How it stung him that the Packers were the only team that really wanted him in free agency during the winter of 2006. How bad his attitude was and how he butted heads with then-rookie head coach Mike McCarthy that first year. And how, bit by bit, his feelings about the NFLs tiniest outpost changed, how the place grew on him and became home to him.
Its been a long journey. Not only being here, in Green Bay, but just a long career that started in Oakland, the Packers 33-year-old cornerback said Thursday after signing a two-year extension while having three years left on his existing deal that will keep him in Green Bay through 2014, when he turns 38. The mission at this point is to retire here. Its a big deal.
Woodson, whose original contract with the Packers was a seven-year, $39 million deal that maxed out at $52 million, was scheduled to make a combined $21 million in 2010, 11 and 12. Now, hell reportedly make $33 million over that span, and would make a total of $55 million over the next five years.
But whats more remarkable than the change in Woodsons attitude toward Green Bay is the way Woodson has changed himself.
His renaissance on the field has been obvious. He has resurrected himself as one of the games greatest defensive players after his once-promising eight-year career in Oakland disintegrated, earning the NFLs Defensive Player of the Year award last season, when he had nine interceptions (tied for most in the NFL), a career-high 81 tackles (61 solo), two sacks, 21 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three defensive touchdowns.
But its been off the field where he has changed most, going from a lifestyle of hard-partying and heavy-drinking to being a husband, father and philanthropist.
In Oakland, Woodson now admits, he would go out drinking, stay out all night, then show up for meetings and practice the next day without having slept. In December 2004, he was arrested along with ex-Packers safety Marques Anderson, then his Raiders teammate, for public intoxication when the two men wouldnt get out of the back seat of a womans car at 4 oclock in the morning.
That guy back then was just young, man, Woodson said Thursday. I enjoyed life all the time. I got myself into some situations where I was out too late, doing whatever, making bad decisions.
It was that lifestyle that made Woodson untouchable to most NFL teams in free agency, more so than the injuries he suffered toward the end of his time in Oakland.
For what he was early in his career, his performance wasnt what you expect from someone in his prime. He looked like a declining player, an AFC executive told Yahoo! Sports in January. When he was a free agent, you were evaluating other factors as well. And he wasnt a guy who was going to be good for your program. He had an attitude problem. He had other problems. It wasnt a secret.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy admits that he and Woodson had a rough start in 2006, but McCarthy has also watched Woodsons transformation from a front-row seat. Seeing him thrive in defensive coordinator Dom Capers 3-4 scheme has been one thing; seeing him become a better man has been all the more impressive.
Year 1 (with him) was different than Year 5, McCarthy said. He has really grown in the community. I know he likes it here. It has been neat to watch him go through some exciting things in his personal life, but he has been an outstanding football player for us since Day 1.
I know we dont have (season-long) team captains, but he is very well-respected in the locker room and has done a great job for the Green Bay Packers.
Woodson said talks on an extension began a while back, long before New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis four-year, $46 million deal. An NFL source said talks began in June.
I expressed to my agent, This is where I want to be, lets see if we can put something together and try to put a deal together to end it here, Woodson said. So thats what we did.
Asked if there was a moment when his attitude toward Green Bay and playing for the Packers changed, Woodson replied, It took a while. But once I came around, I came around hard
It was a gradual thing, the more people that I met around here in the community and just throughout Wisconsin, and just playing here with the guys that we have and the organization and the way they take care of their players. Once I realized what I had here in Green Bay, then it was a done deal from there.
Now, Woodson, who turns 34 on Oct. 7, credits his wife April and son Charles Jr. the couples second son is due in November and his move to Green Bay for helping him leave his Oakland ways behind him. When he first signed with the Packers in 2006, he skipped the entire offseason program, vacationing in Europe during organized team activity practices; this past offseason, he stayed in Green Bay throughout, attending OTAs even though he wasnt practicing. He could often be found with April and Charles Jr. at the Bay Park Square Mall, just down Oneida Street from Lambeau Field.
Thats good, clean fun, Woodson said with a laugh. In Oakland, I was into other forms of fun, you know? Being here, (and it) not being in a big city, where theres always something going on that you can be into, that takes part in it. But being married, having a son, going home after work ... If I was in Oakland, (expletive), who knows where Id go after work? It might not be home.
When I signed the deal here, I dont know if I even really thought past three years. Maybe. I dont know. Never to the point where I was going to be signing an extension here in Green Bay. When I first got here, I figured Id be here maybe a couple years, then Id be somewhere else.
But life takes you down some different roads sometimes, roads that you cant explain. And this has turned out to be a great road.