Charles Woodson Al Davis

After the 2003 season, it could have happened. After the 2004 season, it should have happened. And now, following the 2005 season, it has happened. The and their 1998 first-round draft selection, Charles Woodson, have parted ways. After two consecutive franchise tags, Al Davis has put down his signing pen, finally deciding to let the deadline pass.Woodson, who cost Oakland $10.537 million in 2005, accounted for nearly one eighth of the entire Raiders' team salary. Despite the steep salary, Woodson was unable to complete a single 16-game season in his last four years under contract-playing just 42 games out of the 64 the team played from 2002-2005.The franchise tag deadline, ending on Thursday, is reportedly not going to be utilized by Al Davis as a $12.6 million clasp over Woodson. In 2004, Davis slapped an $8.78 million tag on Woodson following a respectable 69-tackle and three interception season. In 2005, he employed the tag once more-this time following a season where Woodson registered 73 tackles and one interception. Although the former Heisman Trophy winner proved to be very consistent in run support year-in and year-out, he registered just seven interceptions in his last five years in Oakland. Furthermore, his pass deflection total didn't exceed double digits after he successfully did so in his first two seasons in the NFL. In essence, as Woodson's contract grew larger, his utility and dependability shrunk. In last year's campaign, Woodson saw just six games of action before suffering a fractured fibula. In those six games, he tallied 30 tackles, three pass deflections, and one Hail Mary interception. Woodson's spokesperson, Carl Poston, has not spoken with any member of the Raiders' front office thus far this offseason.With the departure of Charles Woodson, the youth of 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
the defense will be given the opportunity to pickup where they left off last season. For the final ten games of 2005, the defense was without Woodson, so the permanent separation should not hit the Raiders' camp with great deal of ferocity.Will Kerry Collins permanently hang his jersey next to Woodson's?