Raiders' secondary could be nearly full strength against Jets
By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer January 7, 2003
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- Oakland's secondary could look nearly normal for the first time in weeks Sunday when the Raiders begin their Super Bowl quest at home against the New York Jets.
Charles Woodson could be back from surgery Dec. 24 for a cracked fibula in his right leg and Tory James, who had the same operation on his right fibula earlier in the season, will start.
Woodson, a four-time Pro Bowl pick missed eight regular-season games this year, five with a broken right shoulder and three with the injured leg.
But he has said there's no way he'll sit out now -- not with so much at stake. Because the Raiders (11-5) earned the AFC's top seed and a bye, Woodson had an extra week to get healthy.
James, also a cornerback, experienced a quick recovery from the same injury, prompting doctors to give Woodson a medical go-ahead.
All of this has Pro Bowl safety Rod Woodson a very happy man this week.
``It means for me less communication,'' he said. ``I can kind of rest and go back to reading quarterbacks. I'm not worried about this football team or our secondary at all.''
Rod Woodson has been charged with keeping the secondary together as new faces filled in almost weekly. He is the only one in the unit to start every game this season.
Coach Bill Callahan said he would evaluate Charles Woodson's status during practice this week, but in the past Callahan has left the decision on whether to play primarily up to Woodson.
``It's never any fun watching your team from the sidelines,'' Charles Woodson said recently. ``It's an empty feeling sitting with fans and cheering and not being able to be out there on the field. It's not fun at all.''
The Raiders will need a healthy secondary to contend with Jets quarterback Chad Pennington, the top-rated passer in the AFC.
These two teams will play for the fourth time in 53 weeks.
The Raiders eliminated the Jets in the AFC wild-card round last January, a week after losing the regular-season finale to New York. Oakland beat the Jets 26-20 at home Dec. 2.
Some of Oakland's players are irritated by hints that the Jets are on more of a roll than the Raiders.
New York has outscored its opponents 113-34 in winning its last three games, including 41-0 over Indianapolis in a wild-card game last week. The Jets have won eight of their last 10 overall.
Oakland won seven of its last eight, following a four-game losing streak, to win its third straight AFC West title. The Raiders defeated Kansas City 24-0 to end the season.
``I think we're on a roll, aren't we?'' Raiders offensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy said. ``Just because we didn't have a game last week doesn't mean we're cooling off.''
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