Charles Woodson, the Green Bay Packers’ veteran defensive stalwart, was released by the team Friday, his agent, Carl Poston, told NFL.com.
“It’s part of the business,” Poston said. “I just talked to him. He sounds like he has a lot of football left. He’d like to play for a contender, win another Super Bowl.”
Woodson was set to make $9 million in 2013 and would’ve counted for $10 million against the Packers’ salary cap.
He signed a five-year, $55-million deal before the 2010 season. He missed nine games last season because of a broken right collarbone, but played in two playoff games.
“We had a good run,” Woodson told ESPN 540 in Wisconsin via text message.
Woodson was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1998. He spent the first eight years of his career with the Oakland Raiders, who drafted him out of Michigan with the No. 4 overall pick.
He’s the only player in NFL history with touchdowns off interceptions in six straight seasons, a feat he pulled off from 2006-11, and leads the league with nine touchdowns off interceptions since 2006.
Woodson, 36, was productive for the Packers, but they have some tough decisions to make this offseason to manage the salary cap. Despite his age and recent injury, Woodson likely will be an in-demand free agent. He was injured last October, but bounced back in time to defend two passes in the playoffs.
“Charles has been a stud in this league for 15 years, so whenever he’s on the field with us, he’s always a huge threat,” Packer linebacker A.J. Hawk said in January. “Not only is he a threat to make huge plays throughout the game, but quarterbacks, I think they know where he’s at every single play. He seems to know what receivers are running before they do. And I think he has an intimidation factor as well.”
