Defensive back Charles Woodson signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday evening to return to the team that drafted him No. 4 overall in 1998.
Woodson, who spent the last seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers, spent the first eight years of his career in Oakland, and now it appears likely he will end his career there, as well.
According to Woodson’s agent, Carl Poston, Woodson’s contract is worth up to $4.3 million and includes a $700,000 signing bonus.
Woodson visited the Denver Broncos last week but left without a deal. On Tuesday he arrived in Alameda, and Raiders’ general manager Reggie McKenzie, who previously was with the Packers, didn’t allow Woodson to leave empty handed.
Raiders fans might have helped Woodson make up his mind. When Woodson arrived at the team facility, he was met by at least 100 fans who cheered and chanted his name, several with Woodson’s No. 24 Raiders jersey, still waiting outside the building when Woodson signed his contract.
Woodson previously expressed interest in signing with a contending team. The Raiders might be a long shot to make the playoffs, but perhaps personal interests outweighed an easier path to a second Super Bowl ring. Woodson owns TwentyFour Wines in Napa, where the Raiders hold training camp.
