INDIANAPOLIS — Sebastian Janikowski, with his face bruised and battered because either he's a very clumsy dancer or a very careless taker of illegal substances and who fell mug-first onto a nightclub floor, is not the face of the Oakland Raiders.
Maybe, to some renegade elements of Raider fandom, Janikowski is some kind of weird folk hero. The sound a football makes coming from Janikowski's kicking foot is a resounding boom and it brought Raider fans to their feet Sunday night at the RCA Dome.
But, no, Janikowski is only the kicker for the 4-1 Raiders, who defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 23-18.
Rich Gannon, clean-shaven and serious-minded, he is the face of the Raiders.
Gannon, a 14-year NFL veteran, led the Raiders on a precise, professional final drive, the safe kind that keeps the clock running and the ball away from the opponent. This drive ended with an Oakland field goal. By the time the Colts got the ball back, they needed a touchdown and more time than they had.
Jerry Rice, always to be revered for his distinguished career as a San Francisco 49er, also is the face of the Raiders
His persistent scowl and undying need to work harder and harder, has been appreciated by the team that is the oldest, by average age, in the NFL. If Rice doesn't have the same speed and elusiveness now that he is 39 and a veteran of serious knee surgery, his hands are still sure and he was a favorite to receive Gannon's short, safe passes.
Jon Gruden, boyish looking still, even in his fourth season of working as Raider head coach, he is the face of the Raiders. He is 37, barely older than his quarterback, younger than Rice and already on the list of replacements if Notre Dame Coach Bob Davie loses his job.
Gruden never caves to any of the wild meanderings of Al Davis. Gruden has made the Raider offense disciplined, yet mobile; made the defense fierce, yet controlled. Gruden is the son of a football coach and always seems to be rumored for some plum college job. Gruden has taken the Raiders from their tradition of thuggery and introduced them to simple, solid football.
His defense made Peyton Manning look flummoxed and flappable. It made speedy wide receiver Marvin Harrison disappear, a rabbit put back into the hat.
Tim Brown, 35, having spent 14 years with the Raiders, having been loyal and having been classy in his welcoming of Rice to the other side of the Bay Area, he is the face of the Raiders.
