Raiders’ Charles Woodson to retire, play final home game vs. Chargers

On December 21, 2015 Oakland Raiders S, Charles Woodson announced he will be retiring from football following the completion of the 2015 season. Going 6-8. the Raiders are two games ahead of the Chargers in the AFC West, and a victory on Thursday for Oakland would guarantee a last-place finish for San Diego.

Woodson is tied for the most career defensive touchdowns with 13 and is sixth on the all-time interceptions list with 65. He’s an 8-time Pro Bowler and three-time first team All-Pro, who has played for the Raiders in 11 of his 18 seasons: From 1998 to 2005 before going to the Packers and winning a Super Bowl, and since 2012 with the Raiders again. “Where it’s going, it would be great to grow with this group of guys”, he later added.

“Then getting in front of your team-mates and so many of them were talking with me about next year”.

It wasn’t until Week 4 of the National Football League regular season that Abbrederis got his shot after being signed off the practice squad.

Two teams that also clinched playoff berths, the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks, are also playing Sunday. “So yeah, I feel very good about the way I performed, not only this year, but my whole career”.

Woodson said he told owner Mark Davis, McKenzie and coach Jack Del Rio of his decision earlier Monday. The game will be charged with emotion as his teammates try to send their captain out on a high note.

“Honestly, I think physically I could do it”, he said. But mentally, it’s not there. Something that would surely give goosebumps to those in the Raider Nation who remember the days where Woodson was a unsafe weapon on special teams and took the odd snap on offense.

Gannon said he regards Woodson as the best cornerback he faced during the six years they played together based on the way he defended two eventual Hall of Fame receivers in practice. That era may be coming to an end as the Raiders could be playing their final game ever in Oakland on Thursday, Dec. 24, against San Diego.

When Woodson won the Heisman award in 1997 for MI, he did it primarily as a defensive player, but the Wolverines did use him on offense as well.

What was one of the most imposing stadiums during the Raiders first stint there from 1966-81, has been far less intimidating since the team returned in 1995.

Dontrelle Inman came back for 70+ yards after a frightening neck injury looked like it would hold him out for a considerable amount of time.

“That day was pretty awesome to come here and pull up and see all of the Raider fans still having love for me”, he said. “That was really cool”. After Oakland got a timeout before a penalty could be called or Kansas City could exploit a nine-man defense, the Raiders got one last stop and sealed their first win of the season.

Through eight games Abbrederis has accumulated 106 yards on eight receptions, which includes a four reception – 57 yards effort against the Detroit Lions in Week 10. He already has a Napa Valley winery, TwentyFour Wines, and plans to spend time with his family, which includes his wife, April, and sons, Charles Jr. and Chase.