Max Zendejas
| No. 14, 8 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Placekicker | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: | September 2, 1963 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Curimeo, Mexico | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 184 lb (83 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Don Antonio Lugo | ||||||||
| College: | Arizona | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: |
1986 / Round: 4 / Pick: 100 (by the Dallas Cowboys) | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Roster status: | Retired | ||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Maximmillian Javier Zendejas (born September 2, 1963) is a Mexican former placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and the Green Bay Packers.
Early years
Zendejas was born in Curimeo, Mexico, before his parents moved to Chino, California, where he attended Don Antonio Lugo High School.
He accepted a scholarship from the University of Arizona where he became a four-year starter. As a freshman in 1982, he made a 48-yard field goal with 6 seconds remaining in a 16-13 win over then No. 9 University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.[1] The next year he kicked a 45-yard field with 3 seconds left to beat Arizona State University 18-17 in Tempe, Arizona.[2]
In 1985, he was chosen as the team's most valuable player and also the Sun Bowl MVP. He received honorable-mention All-American honors in 1983 and 1985.[3][4]
Zendejas graduated after breaking almost every kicking record in school history, including career field goals (79), career points (360), career field goal percentage (.738), consecutive field goals made (11), season field goals (22) and career field goals over 50 yards (13).[5] He finished tied for third on the NCAA career field goal list (77) and fourth on the career scoring list (360).
In 1999, he was inducted into the University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Zendejas was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (100th overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft, because the team was concerned about Rafael Septien's recurring back problems.[6] A healthy Septien won the preseason competition and Zendejas was waived on September first.[7]
Washington Redskins
On October 13, 1986, he was signed as a free agent by the Washington Redskins to take over Mark Moseley's role, who at the time was a 16-year veteran and the oldest kicker in the National Football League.[8] Although he helped the Redskins qualify for the playoffs by making a 27-yard field goal with four seconds left in a 20-17 win over the St. Louis Cardinals,[9] after missing five field goals and five extra point conversions in nine games, he was replaced with Jess Atkinson and was put on the injured reserve list with one week left in the regular season.[10] He was released on August 20, 1987.[11]
Green Bay Packers
After the players went on a strike on the third week of the 1987 season, those games were canceled (reducing the 16 game season to 15) and the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. Zendejas was signed to be a part of the Green Bay Packers replacement team and was kept for the rest of the season, after making all of his 7 field goal attempts.[12]
In 1988, he tied a franchise record with four field goals in a victory over the Minnesota Vikings on October 16.[13] He was released on October 25, after making 9 of 16 attempts and missing the game tying field goal against the Washington Redskins with 11 seconds left in regulation.[14]
Indianapolis Colts
On July 24, 1990, he was signed by the Indianapolis Colts, who were protecting themselves in the case of a Dean Biasucci holdout.[15] He was waived on August 21.[16]
London Monarchs
In 1991, he was drafted by the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football,[17] but was cut on March 17.[18]
Personal life
His brothers Luis and Joaquin also played professional football.[5][19] His nephew, Alex Zendejas Jr. was also a placekicker for the University of Arizona.
References
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19821017&id=QYURAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KOIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6790,3980251
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19831127&id=NdgeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kmgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2024,5224570
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=892&dat=19831206&id=kqRaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2k8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3598,1035972
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=943&dat=19851229&id=VW1IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qlYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1136,18715
- 1 2 John Moredich, "Zendejas (name familiar?) wants to kick for UA", The Tucson Citizen, 6 August 2007, retrieved 07-09-2009
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19860504&id=RY1dAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a1wNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5303,1061056
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19860903&id=ibVdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6V0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3149,354193
- ↑ "Redskins Cut Mark Moseley". Los Angeles Times. October 14, 1986.
- ↑ "PRO FOOTBALL : Redskins Gain Spot in Playoffs : Zendejas' Late Kick Trips Cardinals, 20-17". Los Angeles Times. December 1, 1986.
- ↑ "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times. December 17, 1986.
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19870821&id=nvtNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j4sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2275,3665376
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19871119&id=3EMxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nxIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4665,3801570
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?=1964&dat=19881017&id=8AkjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PMwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5386,2887902
- ↑ "Zendejas Is Given Boot by Green Bay". Los Angeles Times. October 26, 1988.
- ↑ "SIDELINES : Colts Sign Kicker Max Zendejas". Los Angeles Times. July 25, 1990.
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1980&dat=19900822&id=i4YiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QaoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4449,4926261
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1980&dat=19910316&id=roUiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xKkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1289,4146870
- ↑ "Zendejas cut again". Wilmington Morning Star. 19 March 1991.
- ↑ "Brothers who played Pro Football" (PDF). Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2008-07-30.