Plenty of leg left for Janikowski
Raiders’ kicker wouldn’t mind being around for move to Las Vegas
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Sebastian Janikowski has seen a lot.
The Poland native joined the Raiders in 2000 as the first kicker to be drafted in the first round since 1979. He began his career on three straight playoff teams, the last of which appeared in a Super Bowl. He then endured the Raiders’ franchiselong drought of 13 years without a winning record, a stretch that saw seven head coaches fired before it was snapped in 2016.
Being a Las Vegas Raider could be added to the list.
“I hope so,” he said Wednesday. “I mean, that’s my goal. That’s not my decision.”
Janikowski, 39, does not plan to retire anytime soon. He still boasts a strong leg, and he plays a position that ages more gracefully than arguably any other in the league. While most on the Raiders’ 90-man roster won’t be with the club come its scheduled relocation in 2020, Janikowski plans to be a Raider “until they kick me out,” he said.
A couple factors will dictate that.
The first is business-oriented.
Janikowski is not cheap; quality veterans seldom are. He’s entering the final season of a four-year, $15.1 million deal. No NFL kicker owns a higher salary for 2017 than the $4.05 million Janikowski
is set to earn. The Raiders clearly value his proven leg, particularly as they project to be an annual playoff contender that finds itself in high-leverage situations.
There is, however, a cost for everything.
Any new contract for Janikowski in 2018 is expected to come at a more team-friendly price. The Raiders have a cash budget to consider in the coming