The Oakland Raiders began their off-season shopping on Tuesday by retaining their place-kicker Sebastian Janikowski.
Reports indicate that the Silver & Black have inked Janikowski to the richest deal ever given to a NFL kicker. The deal is reportedly worth $16 million with $9 million in guarantees for 4-years.
Janikowski enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2009, nailing 26 field goals in 29 attempts, including a Raider record 61-yarder in Cleveland. The former 1st round pick was highly efficient missing only one kick under 49-yards while showing off his powerful left leg going 6-of-8 from 50+ yards out.
SBReport.net reported back on February 3rd that talks had begun with Janikowski’s representatives in order to keep him from ever hitting the free-agent waters and that Oakland was willing to open up the check book to their long-time kicker.
Back in 2004, Oakland inked him to a five-year extension that paid him $10.5 million and included $2.8 million in guaranteed money. At the time, Janikowski was the highest paid kicker in league history.
The soon to be 32-yard old has spent all of his 10-campaigns with the Raiders and holds the team record for most career points (1,000).
