Charles Woodson happy to end his career at Raiders

Charles Woodson almost ended his career at the Denver Broncos.

Allow it to be absorbed.

“I’m really happy I didn’t do that,” said Woodson in a telephone interview with Silver and Black Pride on Friday.

“I don’t think Raider Nation would ever forgive me if I entered the Oakland Coliseum wearing that Broncos uniform … I ended up where I was supposed to be and I’m very happy about it.”

Woodson ended his 18-season career in the NFL where he was supposed to be, and on Saturday he will most likely go where he was meant to be – the Professional Football Hall of Fame. Woodson is expected to be elected to the Canton, Ohio museum when the vote is announced Saturday night.

Woodson spent most of his career with the Oakland Raiders – who recruited him as the fourth overall choice in 1998 – and he became the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Woodson left for the Green Bay Packers in 2006, where he won the NFL Defense of the Year Award and a Super Bowl ring.

He then returned to Raiders in 2013, where he spent the last three seasons of his career. As he reflects with the HOF approaching, Woodson feels that the return to the Raiders was one of the best decisions he has ever made.

Woodson visited Denver in 2013 and seriously considered joining Peyton Manning (his classmate and his expected HOF classmate as well) there. Still, it didn’t work and the Raiders called Woodson.

When Woodson visited Raiders in the spring of 2013, several fans greeted him at the team’s facilities and stayed there until he signed back with the team.

“I will never forget that,” said Woodson. “They weren’t going to let me out of that building until I signed it back.

“These three seasons have really closed my career in the right way. If I didn’t come back. I think there would be a love-hate relationship for the fans. But it was the right decision and I will always be part of Raider Nation. “

Although Woodson, 44, will always be a Raider, he will probably be a Hall of Fame forever from Saturday.

Hall of Fame is a different breed. Not only are they the best players, but they are also usually stars in the locker room, in the movie theater, in the media room and outside the premises. They are a cut above the rest. Woodson fits this mold perfectly.

“Most of the Hall of Fame members I’ve met have a quality that has to do with confidence,” said Woodson.

“They have confidence in themselves, whatever the task. Whatever the purpose, these guys are willing to do the dirty work to do it, so to speak. I feel that this is the quality that Hall of Fame members have. “

Woodson said his mentality of becoming a big hit was forged when he was in kindergarten in his hometown, Fremont, Ohio. Her teacher once told the class that they were all special people and that they should always live like this.

“It really worked for me,” said Woodson. “I think about that day a lot.”

As he is likely to celebrate his election to the Hall of Fame, Woodson will participate in the 7th Annual Culinary Starter on Saturday, ahead of Super Bowl LV. The culinary social fundraising event benefits the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), the Ryan Nece Foundation and All Stars Helping Kids. This year in Tampa, guests are invited to join the hosts and cook on the live broadcast and virtual benefit while raising money for these charities that help tackle child food insecurity across the country.

Woodson, who operates his Intercept wine and his new bourbon brand Woodson Whiskey, will participate in the virtual event organized by Sage Steele and Liam Mayclem. Marshall Faulk, Ronnie Lott and Ryan Nece will also showcase their culinary skills with famous chefs Charlie Palmer, Michael Mina and Adam Sobel.

Certainly, everyone in the Raider Nation will be raising a glass to their newest Hall of Fame on Saturday night.