pbmax
04-18-2020, 08:29 AM
https://theathletic.com/1743143/2020/04/17/raiders-draft-kicker-sebastian-janikowski-in-first-round-20-years-ago/
Prominent NFL players Rae Carruth and Ray Lewis faced murder charges in early 2000, spurring a directive from commissioner Paul Tagliabue for teams to reemphasize screening for character in the evaluation process. Janikowski’s indiscretions seemed to be mostly of the frat-boy variety, but they were serious enough entering the draft that deportation to his native Poland was a possibility. That meant absolutely nothing to the NFL owner who kept at least one middle finger raised in the direction of the league office at all times.
Lombardi: Al could give a shit about that. He could care less.
Kebric: Three of us scouted Janikowski and we all gave him a second-round grade. We just didn’t feel we could give him a first-round grade. He had off-field problems, was arrested, could have been deported. I actually found my report on him from Florida State. This is what they said about him: tough, competitor, enjoys pressure; born in Poland, has been in U.S. five years, father lives here, mother still lives in Poland; likes to drink, party; hit a male Florida State cheerleader in a bar, no charges brought; doesn’t like school or go to class; suspended academically. It went on and on.
Bob Casullo, former Raiders special teams coach: I had coached at Georgia Tech against Janikowski. Mr. Davis grilled me on him, and I told him I had never seen a guy like this. I mean, you close your eyes and just listen to him kick a ball, it sounds different. So, they sent me down to Florida State and the day I was there, Janikowski wasn’t there. I really didn’t know what to do. Long story short, I get to go to the emperor’s palace and I was thrilled. I mean, I got to meet Bobby Bowden. He never said anything bad about Sebastian. He just said, “He’s is his own guy, we kind of let him do his own thing and he’s been very good for us, and you know, you’re going to have to watch over him, but all in all, exactly what you see — he is as good as there is.”
I went back and met with Al Davis and told him what Bobby Bowden felt. And he said, “How was Janikowski?” I said, “Never got to see him — he wasn’t there.” Al goes, “Did you have a problem with that?” I said, “Not really. I don’t know where he was. Could have been in class.” Which I knew wasn’t true, but to be honest with you, I wanted the kid.
Prominent NFL players Rae Carruth and Ray Lewis faced murder charges in early 2000, spurring a directive from commissioner Paul Tagliabue for teams to reemphasize screening for character in the evaluation process. Janikowski’s indiscretions seemed to be mostly of the frat-boy variety, but they were serious enough entering the draft that deportation to his native Poland was a possibility. That meant absolutely nothing to the NFL owner who kept at least one middle finger raised in the direction of the league office at all times.
Lombardi: Al could give a shit about that. He could care less.
Kebric: Three of us scouted Janikowski and we all gave him a second-round grade. We just didn’t feel we could give him a first-round grade. He had off-field problems, was arrested, could have been deported. I actually found my report on him from Florida State. This is what they said about him: tough, competitor, enjoys pressure; born in Poland, has been in U.S. five years, father lives here, mother still lives in Poland; likes to drink, party; hit a male Florida State cheerleader in a bar, no charges brought; doesn’t like school or go to class; suspended academically. It went on and on.
Bob Casullo, former Raiders special teams coach: I had coached at Georgia Tech against Janikowski. Mr. Davis grilled me on him, and I told him I had never seen a guy like this. I mean, you close your eyes and just listen to him kick a ball, it sounds different. So, they sent me down to Florida State and the day I was there, Janikowski wasn’t there. I really didn’t know what to do. Long story short, I get to go to the emperor’s palace and I was thrilled. I mean, I got to meet Bobby Bowden. He never said anything bad about Sebastian. He just said, “He’s is his own guy, we kind of let him do his own thing and he’s been very good for us, and you know, you’re going to have to watch over him, but all in all, exactly what you see — he is as good as there is.”
I went back and met with Al Davis and told him what Bobby Bowden felt. And he said, “How was Janikowski?” I said, “Never got to see him — he wasn’t there.” Al goes, “Did you have a problem with that?” I said, “Not really. I don’t know where he was. Could have been in class.” Which I knew wasn’t true, but to be honest with you, I wanted the kid.