Raiders' Woodson: Playing at 39 ‘amazing even to me'

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ALAMEDA – Tight end Martellus Bennett had become an annoyingly frequent target in Sunday’s game at Chicago. Raiders veteran safety Charles Woodson understood that fact as he sat back in pass coverage late in the fourth quarter, creating just enough space to make Bennett seem open.

Quarterback Jay Cutler took the bait. Woodson sprung to action when ball took flight, intercepting the pass that could’ve become a touchdown.

It was a perfect setup and execution, with veteran’s savvy and young man’s athleticism. That’s what makes Woodson the player he’s become. His talent has never been questioned during a Hall of Fame career.

But the man turned 39 on Wednesday. He’s still playing defensive back at a high level. With a bum shoulder.

Even that seems surprising to the ageless wonder.

“I don’t think I would have said I’d still be playing football,” Woodson said on a birthday spent at the office. “I don’t know what I’d be doing if I had retired, but I never looked that far in the future. To even think I’d play past 10 years seems crazy, so to be at 18 years is amazing even to me.”

Woodson has played the last three seasons in Oakland, on one-year contracts that leave his options open. If he doesn’t feel good at season’s end or wants to devote focus elsewhere, he’s free to follow other pursuits. He feels good and keeps coming back, which has been a positive for the Raiders secondary, and its latest attempt to build for the future.

Woodson wants nothing more than to leave the franchise that drafted him nearly two decades ago in good shape. That’s why he’s become a good leader by example, showing up for every practice this offseason. He didn’t even take veteran’s rest during training camp. He skips Wednesday work to maintain his shoulder’s integrity, but remains an active leader and inspiration for this group.

“It’s pretty impressive to see what he’s done,” head coach Jack Del Rio said. “Charles is the ultimate professional. The way he takes care of his body and the commitment level that he has, the great competitor that he is, it’s amazing to watch.”

Woodson has interceptions in consecutive weeks and his 62 career interceptions rank No. 9 all-time. He has other turnover records to his name, and is a marvel rarely seen at his position. Woodson, Indianapolis quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and Denver signal caller Peyton Manning are the only members of the 1998 draft class still playing.

Quarterbacking is one thing. Playing defensive back at his age is a rare occurrence.

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“Charles is a great athlete, smart, obviously keeps himself in great shape,” Manning said in a conference call. “It’s real credit to him. Knowing the kind of athlete he was coming out of college, it really doesn’t surprise me that he’s still going strong.”

The old guys will compete against each other yet again on Sunday, when the Raiders and Broncos square off Sunday at O.co Coliseum. Woodson has a ton of interceptions, but still hasn’t picked of Manning.

“I don’t want to put too much on it about it being me and Peyton,” Woodson said. “Every time I step on the field, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing. I want to get an interception and this week would be no different. Would it be great to intercept Peyton? No question about it, but this is about wins and losses so it’s more important for us to get the win. Jack’s talked about us winning the division since he came here and that’s what our mission is to try and win the division. This is going to be a tough division match up for us and we want to get the win.”

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