The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some of the best players to ever suit up in the NFL play for the organization. The halls of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton are lined with players that have donned the black and gold, and most of those players played on the defensive side of the ball. One of the best cornerbacks in NFL history was Rod Woodson, and he played the first 10 seasons of his career in Pittsburgh. He wound up playing for three other franchises, including the Baltimore Ravens, but that could have all been avoided had Pittsburgh seemingly treated him better in free agency.
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Steelers legendary cornerback Rod Woodson ahead of the Hall of Fame game.
Woodson was drafted in the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft, but it all came crashing down after the 1996 season. Woodson's contract was up after the season ended, and he would become an unrestricted free agent during the 1997 offseason. He had some injury concerns that hurt his value, but he was negotiating with Pittsburgh up until the 1997 NFL Draft. The Hall of Famer recently appeared on the podcast, In The Front Row With Mike Vaccaro, and he gave the story of his time ending in the Steel City.
"My plan was to stay in Pittsburgh forever," Woodson said. "I remember going through the process of having a new contract, they wanted to give me a three-year deal. I asked them to push it to five years. It's not guaranteed anyway, it helps you guys anyway in the long run since it keeps my cap number down. And the only reason I left the Steelers was because on draft day of that year, of free agency, they called me on that draft. And they were like, 'Are you gonna take our deal?' And I'm like, 'Wow. I spent 10 years with you guys. I busted my hump for you guys. I'll do anything that I can for you guys. And you give me a 45-second window?' I hung up."
Pittsburgh needed answers from Woodson before the draft so that the organization could plan ahead and get a feel for what position needed to be attacked in the event. That was no way to treat a player who has been with the organization for a decade and made such an impact, but it is a reminder that the NFL is a cold-hearted business.
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Pittsburgh Steelers' former cornerback Rod Woodson during his time as a Baltimore Raven, chasing down former Pittsburgh running back, Amos Zereoue.
The two sides could not come to an agreement on a contract prior to the 1997 NFL Draft, and negotiations were cancelled. The Steelers wound up drafting Woodson's replacement in the first round by selecting Chad Scott. Scott was a decent player in Pittsburgh for the better part of a decade, but he never became the player that Woodson was.
Woodson spent the next season with the San Francisco 49ers, and he then signed a three-year deal with Baltimore the following year. He then finished his career with the then-Oakland Raiders. Pittsburgh probably should have found a way to re-sign Woodson, as the defender made four more Pro Bowls after leaving the organization.
Steelers Have A Tendency To Treat Impactful Players Poorly
Pittsburgh doesn't have the best history when it comes to the end of their legendary players' careers. When Troy Polamalu retired, he wanted to play another season. However, the organization basically told him he would be released if he did not agree to retire. Something similar happened with Hines Ward as well. The overall play of these athletes certainly declined as they neared the end of their careers, but the Steelers forcing them into retirement or threatening their roster spot is something highly questionable to this day.
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Former Steelers CB Rod Woodson.
Pittsburgh is one of the best organizations in all of sports, and maybe part of that is because they are not afraid to do the hard things, which could include treating its best players seemingly poorly.
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