Charles Woodson to Start Against Packers

It didn’t take Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, the fourth choice in this year’s NFL draft, long to crack the Oakland starting lineup at left cornerback.

Raider Coach Jon Gruden said Woodson will start Sunday’s exhibition game at Green Bay, giving the rookie a chance to be tested by the Packers’ top offensive unit, including quarterback Brett Favre and receivers Antonio Freeman and Derrick Mayes.

“Green Bay on the road against Brett Favre, it doesn’t get harder than that for a cornerback,” Gruden said in Napa.

James Trapp started at the position in the exhibition opener.

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Former Minnesota Viking defensive end Fernando Smith joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, signing a one-year, $1.6-million contract.

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The Tennessee Oilers’ first home exhibition game in Vanderbilt Stadium will be blacked out to Nashville television viewers because it is not a sellout. Only about 30,000 of the 41,000 tickets for Saturday’s game against the Washington Redskins were sold by 1 p.m. Wednesday, the NFL’s blackout deadline. . . .The Cincinnati Bengals released linebacker Jerry Olsavsky, 31, who dislocated his right wrist early in training camp. . . .A November public vote on a proposed new home for the Arizona Cardinals in suburban Mesa is off, team and city officials announced, saying they needed more time on the $1.1 billion Rio Salado Crossing project. . . .Arena League refugee Oronde Gadsden caught a 30-yard touchdown pass and a two-point conversion from Damon Huard with 1:13 to play, helping the Dolphins (2-0) rally to a 14-13 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-2) at Miami.

NFC / Deion’s Offensive Chances Diminish

A broken rib will keep cornerback Deion Sanders out of the Dallas Cowboys’ final three exhibition games and could dim his chances of playing offense this year, Coach Chan Gailey said.

Gailey had planned for Sanders to spend the rest of the exhibition games working at wide receiver, but Sanders hasn’t had a chance to work out under Gailey or run through his new playbook.

“We’ll just have to see how it all falls together,” Gailey said.

Sanders was injured Tuesday in a scrimmage against the New Orleans Saints at Wichita Falls, Texas, where Cowboy owner Jerry Jones said Thursday that his team will return to for training camp next season.

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Saint wide receiver Keith Poole, 24, was charged with obstructing a police officer and battery with a dangerous weapon in La Crosse, Wis., for allegedly striking a man with a golf club during an early morning fight and fleeing from police.

Both charges are misdemeanors, with the second carrying a maximum punishment of 15 months in jail. Poole is scheduled in court Sept. 10.

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Chicago Bear first-round draft pick Curtis Enis said in Houston that he will sit out the season if he doesn’t get what he considers a fair contract.