Zero2Cool
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Posted: Sept. 30, 2006
On the Packers
Bob McGinn
Green Bay - For now, at least, the megabucks signing of Charles Woodson hasn't come back to haunt the Green Bay Packers.
But as the weeks and months, perhaps even seasons, of the Woodson chapter begin to unfold, the hunch is that general manager Ted Thompson ultimately will wish that he had spent his money on somebody else.
Woodson is making a king's ransom. The seven-year, $39.034 million deal that he and agent Carl Poston extracted from Thompson three days before the draft provides him with $9.9 million guaranteed this season. He counts $6.709 million against the Packers' salary cap, second only to Brett Favre at $12.6 million.
For that, the Packers hoped that Woodson would be a proverbial shut-down cornerback, a possible contributor on offense and special teams, and a positive presence in the locker room.
What they've gotten so far is a middle-of-the-road starting cornerback by National Football League standards, an adequate punt returner and someone who does his job but isn't about to make an emotional or tutorial commitment to the organization or his teammates.
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Based on interviews last week with a dozen people from Woodson's past and across the NFL, the picture that emerges is Woodson as a football mercenary. The first defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy will show up and punch a clock, practice and play on Sunday. Just don't expect him to lead, take part in any non-mandatory off-season activities or expend much energy worrying about the state of the team.
"Such a complex guy," said a coach who has worked with Woodson in the past. "He's going to be Charles. He can be charming, he can be fun, he can be funny. At the same time, he can be isolated, he can be sullen, he can be a pain."
Woodson is in the twilight of his nine-year career. Although he suffered a pair of broken legs in the last four years as well as other injuries, his speed isn't bad. His short-area quickness, at least based on his inability to cover Detroit's Mike Furrey out of the slot last week, is highly questionable.
With his 30th birthday later this week, Woodson's future isn't bright. The Packers certainly didn't shell out $8.36 million in bonus money this year for one year of starting service. But after three games the jury's out. If his performance slips over the next 13 weeks, the Packers will have a decision to make regarding his future.
Some NFL officials say Woodson's future should be at safety. He has the size, and as a hard-hitting cornerback might be physical enough to handle the rough stuff inside.
But some players who have made a similar move - Ronnie Lott and Rod Woodson come to mind - were great leaders and keen students of the game. That isn't Woodson. The idea of him directing a secondary might sound good but in reality it might not work.
Signing Woodson was completely out of character for Thompson. His blueprint for rebuilding is acquiring additional draft choices, then developing them. He might have dipped his toe a time or two into unrestricted free agency but had no interest in taking the big-money plunge.
Thompson, however, probably was feeling some heat from those who saw the Packers with a load of cap room and wondered why he was managing the loot as if it were his own.
Thompson did add Ryan Pickett and Marquand Manuel in mid-March, but only after electing not to enter the big-money battles for linebacker Will Witherspoon and center-guard LeCharles Bentley in the first two days of the signing period. Both would have filled major needs.
Witherspoon, who went from Carolina to St. Louis for a $9 million signing bonus, has been a terrific player and leader thus far for the Rams. Bentley, who moved from New Orleans to Cleveland for $11.25 million in bonuses, blew out his knee in the first practice.
On March 20, the Packers watched Minnesota take advantage of the miscalculation made by Seattle in tagging guard Steve Hutchinson as a transition player rather than a franchise player. If you're going to dole out $16 million in bonus money for a guard, as the Vikings did, it needs to be the perfect player.
Hutchinson has been exceptional for the Vikings just as he would have been exceptional in Green Bay. Only his value here would have been more pronounced because of the two games against Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams.
But Thompson wouldn't pay Mike Wahle even half that much a year earlier. If Hutchinson was in Green Bay, the Packers would have a running game and the entire offense would have a different feel.
On April 22, Thompson caught a break when linebacker LaVar Arrington cast his lot with the Giants, not the Packers. Arrington has been a good leader, but his knees look shot, he seems lost in coverage and he's missing tackles. Four days later, Thompson shuffled the money from one Poston client and gave it to another, Woodson, dismissing the possibility of signing the other available veteran cornerback, Ty Law.
Woodson showed up for the mandatory minicamp but then let the Packers know who was in charge by leaving town immediately and not returning until the start of training camp. He reported in shape, practiced and made just enough plays to lull the Packers into thinking they might have struck it rich.
That all changed on the Monday night in Cincinnati. Not only was Woodson embarrassed by T.J. Houshmandzadeh, he brought shame to himself by quitting on two plays after being beaten.
Two scouts said it looked like Woodson wasn't even trying that night. As alarming as his refusal to finish plays was, it was only an exhibition game. But then almost the same thing happened in the fourth quarter at Ford Field, when Furrey burned Woodson by 5 yards with a stutter step on a shallow crossing route.
Woodson actually broke stride as Furrey approached the sideline, in effect letting teammates get him down. Fortunately for the Packers, a late lunge by Brady Poppinga got Furrey out of bounds or the 25-yard gain might have been a lot more.
Woodson's actions fly in the face of what all NFL coaches hold near and dear. One scout said Woodson has never been much in catch-up and chalked it up to almost being in a fog. Others who have seen the plays in question say they go right to what makes Woodson an enigma and the pernicious effect money can have on some aging players.
By year's end, Woodson will have been paid about $50 million for playing football.
"You've got to give him time," a personnel director for a recent Packers' opponent said. "But he doesn't play with a motor. He kind of just drifts. Does he like football?"
It's hard to say. Woodson had some fine years early at Oakland. Jon Gruden challenged him, and he responded. He was never as good as Mike Haynes, but with his phenomenal talent and youthful exuberance few of Woodson's contemporaries played the position better.
But later, under coaches Bill Callahan and Norv Turner, Woodson almost seemed to be bored on the field. The Raiders hit the skids. Injuries befell him.
He had some off-field problems as well. Sources say Woodson was a "semi-malcontent" who broke curfew more than once for alcohol-related violations.
"He's the type of guy who was so gifted that he never really kept in shape and worked hard," another personnel director said. "He's just not a go-getter. He's got all the typical stuff you don't really want to deal with unless you're a good team and he has no choice but to conform. Like Baltimore."
The staff in Green Bay also has been finding out how stubborn Woodson can be when it comes to his role in certain coverages and defenses. Let's just say that he was and never will be an easy player to coach. He much prefers doing things his way.
As far as taking young players under his wing, that definitely isn't Woodson. The Packers hoped that a blood-and-guts competitor such as Al Harris would bring his running-mate into the mix. Instead, Woodson seems to have little interaction with Harris or any other players, for that matter.
Woodson is a polite loner. He will remove his headphones to answer questions. But as Mike McCarthy put it last month, "He's kind of real to himself."
For a $37 million investment, all teams would seek someone that impressionable young players could look to emulate. Woodson isn't that guy and doesn't pretend to be that guy.
To a degree, he was the same way at Michigan. Great player, below average teammate.
It's hard to say if the Packers made the right phone calls last spring. Not to minimize Thompson's role as the decision-maker, but he's also reliant on his pro scouting department for sound background information.
But there should have been no surprises.
Six months ago, the plus column on Woodson would have included rare size, good hitter and rare athletic ability, at least at one time. The minus column should have included poor off-season work habits, long injury history, tough to coach and a potential problem in the locker room.
Maybe the Packers are satisfied. They don't have to start Ahmad Carroll. Woodson has stayed healthy and plays every down, generally at respectable level. And the money had to be spent on someone.
A veteran team needing one more cover guy to win it all probably would have been the ideal fit for Woodson. Coming off 4-12 and with rebuilding on the brain, the Packers didn't seem to fit then and really don't now.
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I said he didn't look like he was trying too. He looked pathetic!!Two scouts said it looked like Woodson wasn't even trying that night. As alarming as his refusal to finish plays was, it was only an exhibition game. But then almost the same thing happened in the fourth quarter at Ford Field, when Furrey burned Woodson by 5 yards with a stutter step on a shallow crossing route.
I mentioned this after the game and possibly during the game. It was pathetic. He slowed down a bit then sped up then slowed down. It was classic Ahmad Carroll give up on the play crap.Woodson actually broke stride as Furrey approached the sideline, in effect letting teammates get him down. Fortunately for the Packers, a late lunge by Brady Poppinga got Furrey out of bounds or the 25-yard gain might have been a lot more.
Anothing thing of note on Woodson when he was asked why he chose Green Bay, his answer was "money".
