By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com
Former Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson was doing some reminiscing on Thursday afternoon, recalling some of the good times he had during his 10 years playing for the Steelers and it being about those he played with more than the wins and losses.
"It was being around a group of guys for 10 years because we never had any real knuckleheads here," said Woodson. "We had some characters. We had some colorful guys but we never had trouble in the locker room. That's hard to find in sports; that's hard to find in football, but it's easy to find in Pittsburgh. A lot of men of character, integrity, and I'm just honored to be a part of that."
Woodson was honored by the team before the Steelers-Titans game as they unveiled his Hall of Fame locker in the Coca-Cola Great Hall at Heinz Field. The locker is filled with memories from his career, from his jersey to photos, including one of him decked out in a Superman costume that once appeared on the cover of Steelers Digest.
"We can't take any pictures of that because my kids can't see it because they'll make fun of me forever," said Woodson.
Steelers president Art Rooney, II unveiled the locker along with Woodson, and Dan Rooney, Sr. was also on hand, returning from his Ambassador duties in Ireland for the home opener.
"If anyone deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, it's Rod Woodson," said Dan Rooney, Sr. "Rod, from the first day he came to the Steelers, was outstanding and set the tone for the rest of the team. He has been that way all along. I am honored to say he was a Steeler, is a good friend and he did everything right and he still does."
Woodson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in August as a member of the Class of 2009 and while he played for three other teams after he left Pittsburgh, his heart always remained with the team that drafted him.
"It's been a whirlwind but being here kind of solidifies my part of being a Steeler," said Woodson. "I didn't end with the Steelers but I think when you spend 10 years in one place, especially with the Pittsburgh Steelers, you're always a Steeler, so it's truly an honor. Having that locker here…to me it's all surreal kind of like the Hall of Fame."
Being back in Pittsburgh reminded Woodson of what makes the Steelers organization what it is, as he praised them for being the "best run" organization in the NFL, crediting the Rooney family for that.
"You've got to understand who the Rooney's are, as a family and what they believe in and their understanding of running an organization," said Woodson. "It's a well-oiled machine. A lot of people have come through here as players and they've left but the mainstay has been the Rooney family. They run it a certain way and having six Super Bowl trophies in your lobby, you're doing something right."
