Green Bay Packers

Raiders legend Charles Woodson enjoys making Packers 'eat their words'

Published Dec. 15, 2015 11:31 a.m. ET

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Oakland Raiders legend Charles Woodson is playing his safety role better than ever at age 39.

It's a point of pride for the 18-year veteran -- particularly as he heads into a Sunday showdown with the team he won a Super Bowl with, the Green Bay Packers.

Woodson via Jason Wilde of ESPN.com: “Father Time is definitely undefeated, that's for sure. But does it feel good to have some people eat their words about what they said about me as a player? Yeah, that's fun.”

The Packers cited Woodson's age and durabilty when they released him in 2013. But the 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year has overcome both obstacles in his second stint in Oakland; Woodson hasn't missed a start this year and is tied for third in the league in interceptions with five.

Woodson might be the one that got away from Green Bay. Head coach Mike McCarthy called No. 24 a "generational player" this week. And the Packers reportedly still use Woodson's highlight reels from 2006-12 as a teaching tool for young defensive backs.

"I mean, a guy that can (still) cover the way he can cover, can rush the passer, can tackle, can cause fumbles, can sack the quarterback -- there’s nothing he can’t do," Packers cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt told ESPN. "He left the hospital with that."

He left Green Bay with those skills intact, too. Woodson admits he would've stayed in Titletown if he could have -- but he's back in Silver and Black now.

"It definitely stung, because I did anticipate finishing my career there (in Green Bay)," Woodson told ESPN. "So when you get the call and it's officially over, yeah, that definitely hurts."