Polish-born kicker, member of the
Poland Under-17 soccer team, who played
football at
Florida State before being drafted in 2000 by the
Oakland Raiders. Build like an
offensive lineman (6' 0", 260 lbs.), he won the
Lou Groza Award for best kicker in 1998 and 1999. With their pick, the Raiders made him the first kicker drafted in the first round in 21 years.
Janikowski made off-the-field headlines for allegedly attempting to bribe a police officer after a brawl in a Tallahassee night club, and for his arrest for possession of GHB, the date-rape drug. Both offenses could have resulted in his deportation, which apparently is the only way a crime can prevent you from playing professional sports in America.