Contract stalemate with kicker?
Sebastian Janikowski has been the Raiders’ kicker practically forever, or at least since then-owner Al Davis boldly made him the 17th overall pick in the 2000 draft. Janikowski’s loud career numbers: 268 games, 414 field goals and 1,799 points, all while wearing the Silver and Black.
But could a financial squabble prompt the Raiders to cast him aside before Sunday’s season opener at Tennessee?
Janikowski and the Raiders are locked in a contract stalemate, according to an ESPN report. The team asked him to restructure his contract, and he apparently refused.
Janikowski, 39, is scheduled to make slightly more than $4 million this season, the final year of a four-year, $15.1 million deal.
Part of Janikowski’s salary became guaranteed Tuesday, when 1 p.m. passed and he was still on the roster. He returned to the locker room with his teammates after practice in Alameda, then departed soon thereafter without speaking to reporters.
His full salary would become guaranteed if he remains on the roster at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Raiders, preparing for the possibility of starting the season without Janikowski, worked out three kickers Monday, also according to ESPN: Mike Nugent, Josh Lambo and Marshall Koehn. Cal alum Giorgio Tavecchio kicked for Oakland during the preseason, but he hurt his chances by missing a field-goal attempt and extra-point try.
Nugent has kicked for the Bengals the past seven years, Lambo spent the past two seasons with the Chargers, and Koehn was with the Vikings in training camp.
Janikowski missed the final two exhibition games; there was no word at the time about an ailment, but he’s reportedly nursing a back injury. He was listed as the kicker on the depth chart released by the team Tuesday, though much could change before Sunday’s kickoff.
For his career, Janikowski has made 80.4 percent of his field-goal attempts. His efficiency from 50-plus yards dropped last season (3-for-8), but he converted 26 of 27 attempts from 49 yards or closer.
As Janikowski twists in uncertainty, the Raiders made news on other fronts Tuesday. They placed rookie safety Obi Melifonwu and guard/tackle Denver Kirkland on the reserve/injured list, sidelining both players at least eight weeks.
Melifonwu, a second-round draft choice from Connecticut, was bothered by an ankle injury during training camp and recently had knee surgery, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Kirkland has an unspecified leg injury.
The Raiders did receive encouraging news about David Amerson, probably their best cornerback. Amerson, who sustained a concussion during Week 3 of the preseason, went through the league’s concussion protocol and expects to play Sunday against the Titans.
“I’m clear, if I’m not mistaken,” he said. “Yeah, I think I’m good.” Briefly: The Raiders signed safety Erik Harris to replace Melifonwu. Harris, 27, played for the Saints last season and for Hamilton of the Canadian Football League the previous three years. … Oakland also re-signed linebacker Xavier Woodson-Luster, an undrafted free agent who spent training camp with the Raiders and was waived Saturday. … Quarterback Derek Carr, center Rodney Hudson, defensive end Khalil Mack and safety Reggie Nelson were voted team captains.