Silver Minings: An appreciation of the great Charles Woodson

Charles Woodson leaves field in final game | Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Do you remember Woodson’s first NFL game? He sure does

The NFL celebrated Charles Woodson in a cool video this week.

While it was a really nice history lesson, it also serves as a life lesson: Never give up.

Woodson came into the NFL as a much ballyhooed prospect. After all, he won the 1997 Heisman Trophy and he was a legendary figure at Michigan. The Raiders took with the No. 4 overall pick in 1998.

But Woodson’s career got off to a rocky start. The Chiefs and receiver Andre Rison torched him in his first game.

Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

Of course, Woodson bounced back just fine. He went on to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award 11 years later with Green Bay and won a Super Bowl with the Packers as the video shows.

Now, Woodson who played 11 of his 18 NFL seasons with the Raiders, including the final three seasons, is a sure future Hall of Famer.

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Again, never give up.

In other Raiders’ links:

• Position battles: PFF looks at 2020 camp battles for all 32 teams.
• Raiders’ Way: The Las Vegas Review Journal has a look at the Raiders’ new practice facility in Henderson, Nevada.
• Rising star: The NFLPA believes Raiders’ top pick, receiver Henry Ruggs III, is a rising star.
• Get pumped: The Raiders’ website has a hype video for the 2020 rookie class.
• Funny stuff: Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr shared a great video by comedian and friend of the Raiders, Frank Caliendo.