Raiders’ Janikowski hopes to still be kicking in Las Vegas

By Jimmy Durkin, East Bay Times (TNS)

Thursday, June 15, 2017 | 11:38 a.m.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Sebastian Janikowski doesn't see himself slowing down at age 39. In fact, he hopes to have at least four more years left in him.

"Until they kick me out," Janikowski said Wednesday of how long he'd like to keep playing.

Asked specifically if he hopes to still be kicking when the Raiders relocate to Las Vegas, which is estimated to be in 2020, he said, "I hope so. I mean, that's my goal. It's not my decision."

Janikowski is entering the final year of his contract that will pay him just over $4 million this season. He's the second-highest paid kicker in the league at a position teams don't tend to invest a ton of money.

The former first-round pick from way back in 2000 owns the NFL record for field goals of 50 yards or longer and said he keeps finding ways to improve his game. The biggest, he said, has been the introduction of film study that special teams coordinator Brad Seely brought when he joined the staff three years ago.

"You study more with Brad, we always watch film," Janikowski said. "I never watched film in my life."

Through film study, he can check to make sure his plant foot is in the right location.

"If you're too close, you're always going to push it or hook it," Janikowski said of his kicks.

He's learned that you have to prepare much differently as he gets older.

"At 24, I can do a lot of things," Janikowski said. "You've got to hit the weight room, you've got to work out better."

Seely sees that extra work that Janikowski has dedicated himself toward doing.

"He takes care of his body, he works really hard in practice," Seely said. "He wants to be good at his craft and I can't say enough about him."

Janikowski also seems to be energized by the presence of Marshawn Lynch. The first practice of the year with Lynch he was chopping it up with Lynch and Donald Penn in the stretching lines and then on Wednesday, he opened his news conference by responding to a question using one of Lynch's favorite lines.

"I'm just here so I won't get fined," Janikowski said, drawing laughs.

Of Lynch, he added: "Beast mode, man. Crazy good. I can't wait. I can't wait to see him play."

After finally seeing the Raiders make the playoffs last season for the first time since making it his first three years in the league, Janikowski won't be satisfied with a simple return trip this year.

"We can make the playoffs, but the goal is to win the whole thing," Janikowski said. "Playoffs is not going to be good enough for us. I'm shooting for the ultimate goal, a championship."