Smart move before the ship has completely sank... http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2969523 12-year veteran expects to discuss details with team owner Jones today IRVING - On a pleasant November afternoon about six week ago, safety Darren Woodson walked into an empty locker room. As Woodson slowly removed the tape from his ankles, the 12-year veteran knew he had worn the silver helmet adorned with the blue star for the final time. "I was supposed to go out and watch the rest of practice," he said. "But I sat at my locker, and I just knew it. All the emotions hit me at once. It wasn't like I broke down and cried, but I knew this could be it." Woodson, 35, told the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the season. Woodson said he expects to meet with owner Jerry Jones today to formally discuss his retirement. He was scheduled to earn $4.3 million next season and will count $1.6 million against the 2005 salary cap. He ends his career as the club's all-time leading tackler with 1,350. He played in five Pro Bowls, was named first-team All-Pro four times and entered this season as one of only four active safeties with 20 interceptions and 10 sacks. More importantly, he earned three Super Bowl rings with the Cowboys. "It's hard to make a decision to not play because I've been playing since I was 8 years old," Woodson said. "It's a huge part of my life, but one thing football has never done is define me. My family is what defines me. "One thing I wanted to do was walk away on my own terms and end my career as a Dallas Cowboy. It's time for me to transform a part of my life. It's just time." Woodson did not play this season after having surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back shortly before training camp. The Cowboys placed him on the physically unable to perform list at the start of the season, giving them 11 weeks to place him on the active roster or injured reserve. After several weeks of consistent improvement, Woodson's body betrayed him. "I was doing a footwork drill with (associate trainer) Britt Brown, and I don't know what happened," Woodson said. "I just knew I wasn't moving the right way. I looked at Britt, and I saw it in his eyes. "I just knew I wasn't going to play. The deadline was so close. I saw it wasn't going to happen." The Cowboys drafted Woodson out of Arizona State in the second round (37th overall) of the 1992 draft. Coach Jimmy Johnson thought his combination of size (6-1, 219 pounds), speed and intelligence would allow him to seamlessly shift to safety. "It's rare for a safety to be able to run the way he did," said Cowboy pro and scouting director Larry Lacewell. "Most of them as big as Woodson can't run that fast." Woodson started two games as a rookie before becoming a full-time starter in 1993. Until this season, he had missed only 14 games.
He should have grown out dreadlocks and waited to make this announcement at training camp. More fun that way. And more time with Mr. Wallace on 60 Minutes.
Good for him. We don't need an injured quitter on our team anyway. Things get tough and the tough get retiring. Don't let the locker room door hit you on the way out. Bada boom!!! No, you can't keep your jersey or your helmet. Get the frack out of here, old man. Just kidding. He will be missed. Tear. Now, back to more Cowboys suckedness for years to come. Yippee kay yay!
We is/was a great player, period...You can definitely tell without him the "D" isn't the same...Borderline HOF pick, but will be remembered as one of the great Dallas Cowboys...
Ya, you know... AMERICA'S TEAM. Woodson will be missed. I'm just happy he went the Michael Irvin/ Troy Aikman rout rather than Emmitt.
Emmitt still wanted to play, ande he still could, the other two had to retire. Smith has almost 900 yards and 9 touchdowns.
I know what the situation was. I'm glad the situation wasn't that he could still play and he decided to leave because he would be a backup. Thanks for the update, though.
