On Wednesday night ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the contractual differences between Sebastian Janikowski and the Raiders were finally “resolved” in the form of a $1 million paycut.
Oakland restructured Sebastian Janikowski’s contract, lowering his $4.05M salary to $3M fully guaranteed, per source. Also $250K for 83% FGs
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 7, 2017
For players, the 11th-hour stunt pulled by the Raiders is one that happens all too often. Reportedly, the team wanted Janikowski to accept a $1 million paycut from his $4 million salary and put the squeeze on their 17-year tenured kicker less than a week before the season opener. In the stealthy process, the team even flew in three kickers for workouts – essentially doubling down on their threat to leave Janikowski on the tarmac when they fly to Tennessee.
What’s more, the Raiders almost never divulge injury information, but to save $1 million on Janikowski’s deal they not only advertised his health, they added how “awful” he looked earlier in the day.
#Raiders worked out three kickers today, as K Sebastian Janikowski’s back continues to give him issues. Source said he looked “awful” today.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 5, 2017
Who knows, maybe ‘Seabass’ needed a kick in the pants, but his contract ordeal serves as another reminder that when teams have leverage, they’re more than happy to rip up a contract and re-negotiate a deal against the clock… and spew the messy details in the process.
Maybe we shouldn’t be appalled when players do the same.
twitter: @raidersbeat
If teams pay for what happen in the past J brown should be highest paid running back this year. Janikowski after 17 years is showing and slowing what age does to us all. As a Raider fan I will remember him along with the other great Raiders in the past. Hall of Fame he has a problem getting there because he was a Raider like Stabler and L Hayes. All 3 were great