Oakland Raiders: 5 Players The Team Should Consider Pink-Slipping
By Kevin Saito
This would probably be one of the most difficult cuts McKenzie would ever have to make. It’s also one that probably needs to be made.
For 17 seasons, the man known as the Polish Cannon has been knocking the ball through the uprights for the Raiders. He’s been a steadfast and loyal Raider through all of the losing seasons and in a perfect world, he’d be on the field when the Silver and Black finally hoist the Lombardi Trophy again.
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Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world we live in and 39 year old kicker, whose accuracy has hovered in the low-80 percent range the last few seasons, and is due to make a little more than $4 million dollars this season is probably a kicker this team can’t afford to keep.
Not when there are younger, more cost effective options out there. Options such as Giorgio Tavecchio, who has spent the last few years with the team during training camp and has seemingly proven to have the ability to step into the role of the team’s placekicker.
Or if not Tavecchio, then somebody else – somebody who doesn’t command a $4 million dollar salary.
Again, taken individually, Janikowski’s salary doesn’t break the bank. But when you combine the money he’s making, along with the money the team would save by pink-slipping the other four players on this list, you’re talking about a pretty healthy chunk of change.
The man known as Seabass has been a true Raider through and through. His emotional value to this team can hardly be overstated. But you have to take the emotion out of the decision and unfortunately, the results on the field are diminishing and it is perhaps, time for the franchise to move forward without him.
Savings: $4.05 million