Method to the Raiders madness.
Oakland could have kept Janikowski with a franchise tag, at a cost of only $2.8M for 2010. The Raiders could have had him at that price in 2010 and then franchised him again in 2011 (assuming there’s football) for 120 percent of that number.
After two years of franchise tags, they would have had to place the league-high tender on him, a number probably over $20M, which they never would have done. But for two years, at least, they could have retained his services for around $6M.
However by paying him a contract teams that need an upgrade at their FG kicker position like Dallas, Washington, Arizona, Houston and maybe even San Diego whose Nate Kaeding a Pro Bowl selection this season and signed through 2012 may have worn out his welcome by choking twice at home eliminating the highly thought of Chargers from the playoffs both times are out of luck.
Personally I don't see the Chargers dumping Kaeding in any case. He is seeing a sports psychologist to try and overcome his playoffs yips and has 2 years left on a 6 year $12.65 million dollar contract to boot. Replacing him now would cost the Chargers the rest of that contract (unless they can trade him) and whatever his replacement will cost them. They are in a pickle that will haunt them next year when they return to the playoffs as AFC West champs (no way Denver, KC or Oakland beats them for the spot).
Back to Janikowski and the Raiders now no other PK needy team will be able to snatch the unrestricted free agent Janikowski up for substantial money anyway.
With Jano signed for 4 years the Raiders turn in a different direction and franchise tag free agent All Pro caliber DE Richard Seymour. The veteran pro bowler and 3 time Super Bowl winner is an attractive free agent on the radar of a lot of teams. (the Patriots obviously knew this when they traded him for Oakland's first round pick in the 2011 draft).
Bottom line by paying it's franchise leading scorer who at 31 is still young for a kicker and is coming off an excellent year they will be able to also keep Seymour in their defensive line for another year or maybe two if they franchise him in 2011 or sign him to a real contract in the next 12 months.
Even by using the Tag on Seymour as a Defensive end he gets $13.4M. The Raiders have no option other than signing him (unlikely) or tagging him or they will have given up their 2011 #1 pick (could be in the top 5) for a single season with Seymour on their roster.
Their hands were tied if they wanted to keep Janikowski - they had to pay him or lose either him or Seymour. As it is they are already out the draft pick they sent to Foxboro.
To justify all of this spending they have to put together an offense this season. Right now while in good shape at RB they have big problems at QB.
Bruce Gradkowski will compete (and win) for the starting job with JaMarcus Russell, whose horrible work ethic doomed his chances of being the man in Oakland.
Neither player is the solution at quarterback IMO. The Raiders wont go far if Gradkowski's career completion percentage of 53.3 and yards per attempt average of 5.4. doesn't improve to at least Kyle Orton or Matt Cassel levels. Finding a Patrick Rivers would take a miracle or a trade of Nnamdi Asomugha who might be able to (dare I say it) go heads up for Jay Cutler. Hey I said miracle..Maybe the Falcons would consider sending Matt Ryan for Asomugha and take their chances with Chris Redmond until something better comes along. Redman played OK in 2 starts last year when Ryan was hurt. I am dreaming now I know.
The Raiders hired former Ravens QBs coach Hue Jackson as offensive coordinator and signed him to a three-year contract.
Hue is a pass first and run second guy and should be a big improvement over HC Tom Cable who is supposedly returning but turning over the O to Hue. With Hue signed for 3 years he may bring disgruntled Ravens backup QB Troy Smith to Oakland to join the battle for the starting QB job..
Anyway you look at it, the Raiders need QB help to justify spending big bucks on Seymour and Janikowski. Here is a team that beats Pittsburgh and Denver and loses to Washington and Cleveland in the month of December 2009. Go figure.
wil.
hno:
