Woodson's farewell could be Raiders' last game in Oakland

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OAKLAND –- When the defense is announced at Raiders home games, Charles Woodson is always the last man out the tunnel. That was the case late last year, when the 0-10 Raiders played Kansas City on a Thursday night.

He ran through the smoke, turned toward the crowd and raised curve hands together to form an “O” above his head.

Woodson wasn’t showing love for the Raiders. That was for Oakland.

It’s uncertain if that was the first time Woodson flashed the sign, but it certainly wasn’t the last. It shows up after big plays -– the 39-year old makes a lot of them -– and honors the fan base that has treated him so well for so long.

“It’s a pride thing,” Woodson said. “These are great fans and they really, really love their team. They’re just itching for the team to be back relevant again and get back into the playoffs. They want something to identify with their players. That’s where the ‘O’ came from, just to have something that they can identify with, something that they can be prideful about. It’s great for me to come out before the game and throw the ‘O’ up, or after a big play. To see basically the whole crowd do it, there is no feeling like that.”

That connection will never be stronger than Thursday night against San Diego, when Woodson plays he final home game. He announced his retirement on Monday to set up this emotional goodbye.

[BAIR: Raiders' Charles Woodson confident, secure in decision to retire]

The players feel a responsibility to send Woodson out with a win. They would also like to do the same for these fans, who have unconditionally supported them through a long, hard winter.

In a cruel twist, there’s a real possibility the Raiders could relocate to Los Angeles before next season, just as Derek Carr, Khalil Mack and Jack Del Rio are starting to thaw this deep freeze.

The Raiders have partnered with the San Diego Chargers on a stadium proposal in Carson, competing with an Inglewood proposal fronted by St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke. The league is expected to vote on Los Angeles relocation during a Jan. 12-13 owners meeting in Houston. If the Raiders are approved to relocate to the Los Angeles market for a second time in 33 years, Thursday will be the last game they’ll ever play in Oakland.

“You try not to think about it because you have no control over it, but it’s been fun playing here,” fullback and team captain Marcel Reece said. “Our fans are second to none. The atmosphere on game day is unmatched. We’re human, and it’s hard not to wonder if this is the last one.

“When I talk to the guys on Thursday, I’m going to say this: ‘If it is the last game in Oakland, let’s make it the best.’”

[RELATED: Report: NFL open to helping with Raiders stadium development]

Thursday’s game is the last home contest for any of the three teams eyeing the L.A. market. St. Louis fans expressed anger than the Rams long to leave despite an increasingly viable stadium proposal in their city. 

Fans in San Diego expressed sadness that a team would consider leaving after 55 years in the market, and shared an emotional farewell with their star players.

Thursday’s pervading emotion remains unclear. Fan clubs are passing out “Stay in Oakland” signs before the game, and there will be chants to that effect during the contest. Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf urged fans to “keep the faith” in an interview with Bay City News Service. The city won’t be able to block a relocation application with a viable stadium proposal and are miles behind other cities trying to keep their teams, but Schaaf continues to push for a new venue that will keep the Raiders in the East Bay long term.

This fan base had the Raiders ripped from them in 1982, got them back in 1995 and are in jeopardy of losing them again this year.

[RELATED: Charles Woodson: Two football lives that made an all-time great]

They know for sure they’re losing Woodson, this city’s favorite football son. It’s possible they’re losing the team for good, while playing the franchise that could help them move. It’s going to be an emotional night for all involved.

“It’s going to be sad just for myself, and it will be sad for the fans (if the Raiders leave),” Woodson said. “They love this team. They love the Raiders. They identify with the Oakland Raiders. It’s happened to them before. It would be tough to actually have that happen a second time around.”

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