Woodson Accepts He’s Staying With Raiders

NAPA, Calif. —  Charles Woodson held out all training camp last summer, pinning his hopes on the elusive long-term contract he’s sought for years.

This year, he knew better.

“We just felt that we would come in and sign a tender and get it out of the way,” Woodson said Friday at the Oakland Raiders’ first practice, making his first public comments since a 35-10 loss at Atlanta on Dec. 12.

“As far as trades were concerned, there was never any real talk about it. All that stuff is pretty much a smoke screen. The most important thing is I’m here in camp and getting ready to go.”

Woodson figures he would have been foolish not to sign a one-year tender for $10.5 million and stay put for another season, despite his desire to be the highest-paid cornerback in the league.

Woodson, also the Raiders’ franchise player last season, received a 20-percent raise over his salary of nearly $8.8 million a year ago.

When he signed the tender Feb. 25, the Raiders released a statement saying they expected to deal the four-time Pro Bowler. That turned out only to be wishful thinking.

“The actions of agent Carl Poston and Charles Woodson tell us that they must have reached a long-term deal with a team and we expect a trade very soon,” the statement said.

Now, the 28-year-old Woodson, entering his eighth NFL season, is anxious to help the Raiders turn things around and boost the image of a defense that has been slammed for its recent poor play. The unit was among the worst in the NFL last season.

He wants to forget about everything else for now.

“I don’t really worry about it because I just play the game of football, so it really doesn’t matter if I play here in Oakland or anywhere else,” said Woodson, the 1997 Heisman Trophy winner for Michigan. “I know I can go out there and do the best that I can do. So, it don’t bother me.”

Woodson was sidelined for the final three games last season with an injured knee. He finished with 74 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception.

Among the Raiders’ most talented and popular players, Woodson has battled injuries and clashed with management and coaches in recent years. In addition, he was arrested in downtown Oakland in December for investigation of public intoxication.

Coach Norv Turner met briefly with Woodson after Friday morning’s walkthrough.

“Charles is in great condition,” Turner said. “He does a great job in the offseason of getting himself ready, and we didn’t have him a year ago in training camp. He’s ready to go.”

Woodson and teammate Marques Anderson were arrested early Dec. 21 after refusing to leave the back seat of a woman’s car, and both were jailed briefly.

Police said Woodson and Anderson were uncooperative, had problems maintaining their balance, had bloodshot watery eyes and a strong odor of alcohol. They were acting in a belligerent manner, police said.