NFL player contracts are routinely written for more years than either party expects them to last, but that's not the case with kicker John Kasay's new four-year extension, according to Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney.

Though Kasay turned 39 Monday, Hurney said the Panthers expect him to be kicking well into his 40s.

“If you watch him kick, he has shown no signs that he's close to not playing football anymore,” said Hurney. “He has a great work ethic and he's an extremely valuable guy to this organization in a lot of ways.”

Kasay has been perfect so far this season on field-goal attempts (16-of-16) and extra points (18 of 18). He has made 21 consecutive field goal tries dating to last season, matching the team record he set in 2002-03. Kasay was in the final year of a four-year deal he signed in 2005, but now is under contract through the 2012 season.

Neither Hurney nor Kasay, who represents himself in contract negotiations, would provide financial details of the deal.

However it's likely that the extension averages well over $2million per year. The average of the NFL's top five highest paid kickers is about $2.5million per year.

Kasay, the lone player still with the Panthers who was part of the inaugural 1995 team, said he never expected his career to last this long.

“The Richardson family, this organization, I can't say how kind they've been to me, my wife and my family,” he said.

Last week, Kasay passed Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud for eighth place on the NFL's all-time field goals list with 374 – a fact that he insisted he did not know before meeting with reporters Wednesday.

“That's not why I play,” he said. “I wasn't kicking the ball in the backyard when I was six years old for records. I did it because I enjoyed it. It's still fun for me. We kicked today and it was neat to kick the ball and watch it fly, at (age) 39. I can still do things I was doing when I was 18 years old.”

Asked about his goals, Kasay said he'd like to play long enough to fulfill his newest contract and be part of the first Panthers' team to win a Super Bowl.

“This organization is a Super Bowl franchise,” said Kasay. “I look forward to the day to have the opportunity to be on a team to give that gift to the Richardson family, which has made a huge number of sacrifices to help this city, to help this community and to help a lot of us as employees of this organization.”

Briefly

The Panthers held their only practice of the week Wednesday and players are now off until Monday.

Coach John Fox said the practice was primarily to get a look at reserve players and members of the practice squad who might be called upon to play in the second half of the season.

Fox said he put no restrictions on the players during their four-day break, other than to express his usual expectations to “be safe and be smart.”

“I trust them,” he said. “You earn trust. It's not given to you. I think they've earned that, so we'll see how they handle it.”

Offensive tackle Jeff Otah and center Ryan Kalil said they hope to be ready to play when the Panthers return to the field Nov.9 in Oakland. Both have been nursing high ankle sprains.

Wide receiver D.J. Hackett (knee) might also be ready to be return, but isn't assured of being active against the Raiders because of the recent play of second-year receiver Dwayne Jarrett.