The Raiders have holes on both sides of the ball, but there's zero concern over Oakland's kicker.
Sebastian Janikowski on Friday signed a new five-year contract with the franchise that picked him 17th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported, per a source involved in the negotiations. The team later announced the move.
The contract is worth just under $19 million, with an average of $3.8 million per year, according to Rapoport. The deal includes $8 million in guarantees over the first two years and will ensure that Janikowski continues as the highest-paid kicker or punter in the league.
Janikowski turned 35 in March, but he's a solid bet to play for seasons to come. Entering his 14th campaign with Oakland, the hulking 6-foot-1, 258-pound kicker already stands as the team's all-time leading scorer with 1,318 points.
The Seabass won hearts (at least in Oakland) with his booming, league record-tying 63-yard field goal against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 12, 2011. Janikowski also booted a 61-yarder against the Cleveland Browns back on Dec. 27, 2009. He's led the Raiders in scoring in each of his 13 seasons.
Janikowski shows little sign of slowing down. There were plenty of giggles and taunts when Al Davis made a kicker his top pick so many Aprils ago. It was an unorthodox move, no doubt, but Janikowski persevered. And today, the glorious Seabass got paid.
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