NFL Rumors: Green Bay Packers Would Be Foolish to Let Charles Woodson Go

This isn’t a joke. The Green Bay Packers would be making an enormous mistake if they let cornerback Charles Woodson walk away over a $4 million bonus.

Despite having the worst pass defense in the NFL, the majority of that blame does not fall on the shoulders of Woodson. This was a group effort. Add the inexperience and injuries to the fact that every team was forced to pass against them, and of course the numbers will look inflated.

The team won’t deny that, besides a slight decline in performance, Woodson has been the most consistent member of the secondary and one of the leaders of the team. You can’t put a price on a guy that can get his troops ready for war.

NBC Pro Football talk has an interesting take on Woodson and his $4 million bonus:

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Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel notes that Woodson is due a $4 million roster bonus within the first month of the new league year. On the surface, it’s a no-brainer to keep Woodson. He’s a team leader, a starter, and provides a lot of intangible. Still, Woodson is due over $11 million in total pay in 2012, which is a high number for a player coming off two good-but-not great years.

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While many may argue that his coverage skills are fading, he is still better than any other corner on the Packers. Letting him walk away without a viable replacement is irresponsible.

If Green Bay drafts a replacement and hits free agency hard for cornerbacks, I could see them letting Woodson go, but that’s not how they run the franchise. Woodson should stay in Green Bay for one more season and then call it quits.

With management and everyone on board with one last season for Woodson and a few of the older players, the Packers should hit free agency hard this season and add the pieces to the defense to make the pressure on the offense easier to deal with.

Led by Woodson and Matthews, the right mix of utility players could lead the Packers back to a Super Bowl. Still need a run game, too.

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