Woodson didn’t show up for the media session. “I had to let him know how it felt to just watch him play ball and do the things he was doing.” “I was telling him last night, I couldn’t wait to bump into him,” said Reed, the former Baltimore Ravens safety. He’s the gold standard for an entire generation of defensive backs.Įd Reed, only a few years younger, talked about watching Woodson at Michigan when Reed was still in high school. On the right occasion, he might even pounce and do some hunting of his own. Like a male lion, he made a career out of patrolling the edges, defending his territory, ready to strike at anyone who tried to infiltrate the pride. There was some disappointment, because Woodson is a big ticket. They just knew the seat with the name tag labeled CHARLES WOODSON was empty. No one was quite sure where he was, or if he was coming, or what was going on. Woodson had gotten in late the previous night after working “Monday Night Football” in Philadelphia. Looks like everyone is here except … Charles. As all this was going on, and as the ballroom filled and grew louder, a couple of media relations workers scanned down a list. Kerry Collins even opened up about his battle with alcohol. Calvin Johnson smiled and laughed and patted people on the back. Ed Reed strutted in wearing all black and exuding his usual swagger. Mack Brown held court with reporters from all over the country, and Frank Beamer shared old stories with a close circle of writers. The day began with an hour-long media session featuring all the inductees in this year’s star-studded hall of fame class. No better example than Tuesday in New York. He can also be introverted and reclusive, a hard man to get ahold of despite his very public persona. Woodson is outspoken and occasionally braggadocios. He’s an NFL analyst for ESPN, so he’s still on TV and in public all the time. Woodson is charismatic and charming when he wants to be. This week is full of standing and smiling for photos, of looking into cameras and saying cute things about his career at Michigan. He’s proud of this honor and his career - but this whole event, with all the chit-chat and the awards dinner? It isn’t really his type of thing. It’s one more honor for a legendary Michigan career, one defined by vivid images of hoisting the Heisman Trophy and biting down on the stem of a rose after sealing a trip to Pasadena. Woodson is here because he’s getting inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. “Their sense of family, the fact they’re the king of the jungle. NEW YORK - We’re standing at the back of a glittering ballroom at the Hilton in Midtown Manhattan, and Charles Woodson is talking about lions.
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