WOODSON DECRIES LEAGUE'S POLICIES ON DRUG TESTING

Raiders Corner Says The Process Is 'Ridiculous'

NAPA -- The Oakland Raiders lined up in support of defensive tackle Darrell
Russell on Tuesday.

Cornerback Charles Woodson went a step further, criticizing the NFL
substance abuse policy for being invasive and unfair.

"It's just a sad state of affairs for him to have to go through that,"
Woodson said. "The guy comes out here, works hard every day and has to have
his career put on hold by a few guys in New York, or San Diego or wherever
the drug testing people are. ... He didn't flunk a drug test. He just so
happened to miss one.

"He had something to take care of, and they suspend him."

Like Russell, Woodson is in the second stage of the program. Russell,
according to agent Leigh Steinberg, advanced to stage 2 after testing
positive for marijuana through second-hand smoke.

Woodson went to stage 2 after a DUI conviction in May 2000. The NFL policy
does not differentiate between drugs, alcohol or performance enhancing drugs
such as steroids.

Once in stage 2, players must submit to between two and 10 drug tests per
month at the request of league enforcement agents.

"It's a process where at any time during the off-season, you leave a state
or your home, you've got to call them, let them know where you're going to
be, how long you're going to be there, leave them a phone number and tell
them when you're coming back," Woodson said. "They treat you like you're 10
years old. It's ridiculous. It's like you're out on parole."

Woodson expressed remorse and regret following his arrest, but feels the
NFL's way of dealing with his transgression is too severe.

"You have to call these guys wherever you go and check in. You've got to
check in with a psychiatrist like you've got a mental problem or something,
and it's just too much.

"If I really felt I needed it, then OK. But I'm not crazy. I might drink at
times, but I drink like any other normal person would drink, not because I'm
depressed or because I have a problem. It's just a process Darrell Russell
shouldn't be going through or I shouldn't be going through."

While Russell and Steinberg said the suspension came about for missing a
test, Woodson said he hasn't had any close calls in that regard.

"I haven't really run into that situation yet," Woodson said. "Mine have run
pretty smooth."

Raiders defensive end and NFL Players Association president Trace Armstrong
declined to get into specifics of the case, citing Russell's right to
confidentiality.

But as diplomatically as possible, Armstrong stood behind the drug policy,
which was derived through collective bargaining.

"The policy was developed by the association and the league," Armstrong
said. "We consulted leading specialists in the world in this area and the
policy is the policy. Guys know the rules once you get in. That's pretty
much all I have to say about it."