Seahawks cut P Ryan; Janikowski wins kicking job

The Seattle Seahawks shook up their kicking units on Monday, releasing the longest-tenured member of the team in favor of a rookie, and giving the placekicking job to one of the oldest players in the league.

First, the team released veteran punter Jon Ryan on Monday, three months after using a fifth-round draft pick on former Texas standout and Ray Guy Award winner Michael Dickson.

Then the team waived kicker Jason Myers, a free-agent pickup from Jacksonville. That move would mean 40-year-old veteran Sebastian Janikowski has won the job.

Ryan, 36, spent the past 10 seasons with the Seahawks, winning one Super Bowl title. The Canadian took to Twitter on Monday to thank the Seahawks organization and fans.

"It's been an absolute honor and privilege to play in this great city of Seattle for the past 10 years," Ryan wrote. "I never wanted this day to come but knew it would someday. Even though I'm leaving, I will always be a Seahawk. I have so many amazing memories over the past decade, from our Super Bowl 48 victory to throwing a touchdown pass in the NFC Championship, to breaking the record of how many times a person could say 'butthole' in one radio interview - it's been an amazing ride."

By releasing Ryan midway through the preseason, the Seahawks are providing him a better opportunity to latch on with another team.

Ryan has remained a highly effective punter into his mid-30s but was also due to count $2.6 million against the salary cap in 2018, and Dickson has performed well through two preseason games.

As for Janikowski, he was viewed as the favorite to win the job after the team gave him a $600,000 signing bonus when he signed in April. He sat out last season with a back injury after 17 seasons with the Oakland Raiders.

Janikowski ranks in the top 20 in NFL history in field goals made (414), extra points made (557) and points scored (1,799).

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)