
ALAMEDA –- Raiders safety Charles Woodson seems destined for the Pro Bowl. The 39-year old won the fan vote at strong safety, which counts for a third of the Pro Bowl selection process.
Voting from players and coaches account for the other two thirds. Players voted early this week, and they can’t vote for players on their own team.
Edge rusher Khalil Mack will certainly get a boost from his peers, who witnessed his late-season sack surge that included nine in the last three weeks. That’s a positive, because Mack finished fifth in the fan vote.
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Woodson was first and Marcel Reece was second at the fullback spot. Despite a lack of snaps, Reece seems likely to make his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl.
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Quarterback Derek Carr is sixth in the fan voting. Center Rodney Hudson is seventh and punter Marquette King is fifth. He certainly deserves to go with the season he’s having.
Woodson’s presence atop the polls is deserved. He has five interceptions, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
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He said last week it would be an honor to earn a spot in the NFL’s all-star game at age 39.
“It would mean something,” Woodson said. “I’m a player people consider to be done a few years ago. To be in year 18, and to have that possibly is pretty big. Do you play for those things? Not necessarily. But, when you go out and work hard, you kind of are. What it feel good to have that happen? Absolutely.”
A Pro Bowl honor obviously proves he is still playing well, but it wouldn’t impact his decision to return for a 19th season.
“That won’t have anything to do with it,” Woodson said.