Woodson Still Admired By Michigan Fans, The Lions, Too
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) - Charles Woodson has quite a fan club in Michigan.
In addition to the people who still fondly remember the Heisman Trophy winner helping the Wolverines win a national championship in 1997, the Oakland Raiders safety has admirers among the Detroit Lions.
"I'm excited to be on the same field as him," Detroit safety Glover Quin said. "Excited to shake his hand and tell him how much I appreciate his career.
"Hopefully, I can get his jersey."
Quin said Woodson is arguably the best defensive back in NFL history because his all-around talents are more impressive than what former greats such as Deion Sanders or Ed Reed were able to do. Quin marveled at how well Woodson has made the transition from cornerback to nickel back to safety while continuing to make plays in coverage, against the run and as a threat to blitz.
"He has done it all," Quin said.
Some thought Woodson might be done in the NFL when Green Bay cut him in 2013, and he had to wait three-plus months to get a job. Oakland, which happened to draft Woodson No. 4 overall in 1998, signed him as a free agent and has extended his career with a pair of one-year contracts.
"The things that you hear about not being able to do this or not being what you were 10, 11 years ago, which nobody is who they were 10 or 11 years ago," Woodson said. "So you hear all those things and you draw a little bit from it."
The 39-year-old Woodson is in fact doing what he didn't do a decade ago, and he's playing against professionals young enough to be his children.
"He's older than my mom," Lions cornerback Darius Slay said.
Woodson has five interceptions, tied for the most in the NFL. He finished his rookie season with five interceptions and didn't surpass that total until 2008 in his first year with the Packers. In 18 seasons, Woodson has 65 interceptions to tie Ken Riley for fifth all-time.
Like the wine he sells, Woodson seems to getting better in some ways with age.
"It's all in the grapes," he said. "I keep telling everybody."
Here are some things to watch when Detroit (2-7) tries to win a second straight game Sunday at home against Oakland (4-5), which is trying to avoid a season-high, three-game losing streak:
AIR SHOW: The Lions are a one-dimensional team on offense, leaning heavily on passing because they're the worst rushing team in the NFL. Matthew Stafford might like what he sees when he drops back because the Raiders rank 31st against the pass. Oakland, meanwhile, also seems set up for success through the air with Derek Carr throwing to rookie receiver Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. The Lions have put two starting cornerbacks on injured reserve the past two weeks, Rashean Mathis and Josh Wilson, and signed a player, Bill Bentley, who was out of work since they cut him in June.
JUST FOR KICKS: The NFL has gotten what it wanted with a rule change, making it tougher for teams to make extra-point kicks. Instead of the kicks being an afterthought, they are potentially compelling with snaps starting at the 15. "Anything that makes your job harder, I'm not a fan of," Detroit's Matt Prater acknowledged. Teams are making 94.8 percent of their extra-point kicks after converting on 99.3 percent last year, according to STATS, and Prater is tied with San Diego's Josh Lambo and Jacksonville's Jason Myers for an NFL-high three misses. Prater help make last week's 18-16 win at Green Bay dramatic because he missed two extra points.
REPLACING ALDON: The Raiders might have a harder time getting to Stafford because of the yearlong suspension imposed linebacker Aldon Smith, who was second on the team with 3 1/2 sacks.
GOOD COMPANY: Carr became the sixth quarterback to throw at least 20 passes in each of his first two seasons. He joined Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson and Andy Dalton in the select club. Carr has thrown for at least 300 yards and two TDs the past three games and can be the first Raider quarterback ever to do that in four straight.
PUT ME IN, COACH: Lions rookie RB Ameer Abdullah returned a kick 104 yards last week against the Packers, and is averaging an NFL-high 31.9 yards on kickoff returns. He ran for a 24-yard touchdown and had a 36-yard catch in his debut, but the Lions are struggling to get him the ball on offense. Abdullah has 14 carries over last three games after career-high 14 attempts in a win over Chicago
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