The Raiders' Sebastian Janikowski reportedly signed a four-year contract that will make him the NFL’s highest-paid kicker.
The contract reportedly calls for Janikowski, left, to earn as much as $16 million, including $9 million guaranteed. That matches the terms of the contract the Raiders gave to Shane Lechler in 2009 in making him the league’s highest-paid punter.
Janikowski, who turns 32 on March 2, reportedly would have become an unrestricted free agent if the Raiders did not sign him to a contract or place the transition or franchise tag on him by Feb. 25.
Paul Healy, Janikowski’s agent, told the Oakland Tribune on Feb. 16: “He is the best kicker in the NFL, and the Raiders have recognized that fact by rewarding him with this monstrous contract.”
On raiders.com, the team's Web site, the Raiders said on Feb. 16 that Janikowski re-signed.
Janikowski is coming off the best season of his 10-year NFL career. He converted 26 of 29 field-goal attempts during the 2009 season, including a career-best 61-yarder against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 27. It’s the fourth-longest field goal in NFL history. His three misses this past season were from 45 yards, 57 and 66.
In the past two seasons, Janikowski has made 41 of 44 kicks inside of 50 yards. The former Florida State star became the club’s career scoring leader in 2008 and has 1,000 career points.
In his 10 NFL seasons, Janikowski has converted 78.4 percent of his field goal attempts (229 of 292) and 313 of 316 extra-point attempts. He scored 95 points in 2009.
Oakland Tribune
