The league average for kickers is around $1 million a year.
Janikowski's new contract is four times that amount, at 4 years, $16 million. He is guaranteed to see $9 million.
10 years ago Janikowski was selected by the Raiders in the first round of the 2000 draft (he was the first specialty player selected in the first round of the draft in 21 years). This risky move then has obviously paid off.
Entering his 11th season, Janikowski has proven to be one of the best kickers in the league. In his career he has scored 1,000 points by converting 78% of his field goals and missing only 3 of his 316 extra point attempts.
His 2009 season was arguably the best of his career. He made 26 of 29 field goals without missing under 45 yards, which included 6 field goals of 50+ yards. He kicked a 61 yard field goal in '09 that was not only a career long, but also the 4th longest kick in NFL history. Janikowski made all 17 PAT attempts on the season, and had 17 touchbacks on 58 kickoffs, the sixth best mark in the league.
Obviously Janikowski has proven his deservance of an enormous contract.
Green Bay Packers' linebacker Clay Matthews had this to say on Twitter today:
ClayMatthews52: I might start pullin double duty... 1st LB slash kicker!!
No comments:
Post a Comment