THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 11, 1995 TAG: 9510110517
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Long : 146 lines
Clearly, former NFL great Mark Moseley didn't lace up his old Washington Redskins kicking shoes and dress out for the semi-pro Fredericksburg Generals of the Mason-Dixon League because he needed the money.
Minor-league players' salaries are capped at zero.
It also seems clear that Moseley didn't end his eight-year football retirement because he missed the roar of the crowd. The 2,000 or so fans who regularly attend Generals home games make their share of noise, but it hardly compares to the 55,000-plus at RFK Stadium.
Moreover, after watching him slip on ``Pop Warner'' shoulder pads - the kind which often are accompanied by the label ``not recommended for competitive play'' - go ahead and rule out Moseley returning because he missed the contact.
Could it be then that Moseley, the 16-year NFL veteran, the only kicker to be named that league's player of the year and the holder of most of the Redskins' kicking records, has come back to the sport simply because he loves to kick a football?
What a concept.
``People are going to make a lot out of this, I realize that,'' said Moseley, the last of the NFL's straight-on kickers. ``But I'm out here because I like to kick. This is fun. It's that simple.''
Simple also describes the way Moseley, at age 47, has resurrected the Generals' once-pathetic kicking game. In Moseley's three games - including a 28-20 victory over the Hampton Roads Sharks at CEL Field - he has made nine of his 11 extra-point attempts. Former Generals' placekicker Richie Altstaetter had been 0 for 8. Moseley has also made two field goals, something the Generals didn't even try before Moseley came on board.
Furthermore, he's brought a trickle of publicity and a taste of glamour to minor-league football. The Generals' coaches and players are happily basking in Moseley's reflected glory.
``I'll be the answer to a trivia question,'' said Generals coach Jamie King, who said he grew up idolizing Moseley. ``I can see it now. I'll be sitting in a bar telling people, `Yeah, I coached Mark Moseley.' They'll be like, `Sure buddy. Have another beer.' ''
Moseley, who runs his own travel business, didn't exactly give up kicking entirely when he retired from the Cleveland Browns in 1987 after 13 years with the Redskins and one each with Houston and Philadelphia. Moseley has goalposts at his Manassas home and has worked out often with his son, Chip, a 132-pound sophomore at Stonewall Jackson High who has already made a 54-yarder this season.
Moseley also runs his own kicking camp during the summer, in addition to serving as a guest instructor for King's camp.
And he claims a strict regimen of running and lifting weights which has him within a couple of pounds of his 205-pound NFL playing weight and in the best shape of his life, although how much that has to do with being a successful kicker is debatable.
But it wasn't until King placed a ``frantic'' call for Moseley's help a few weeks ago that the kicker actually considered returning to competition.
``I was hoping he would come down and assist our kicker,'' King said. ``When he said he'd be willing to kick himself I just about dropped the phone.''
Giddy with excitement, King secured Moseley's old Redskins helmet, removed the single gold bar - that served as its facemask - ``my hand was trembling when I did it,'' King said - and screwed it on a gray and blue Generals helmet. ``For old times' sake,'' King said.
King also broke out a No. 3 jersey - Moseley's NFL number.
``I have to admit I miss being out there,'' Moseley said. ``Not the pressure from the fans and the media that comes with being in the NFL. I certainly don't miss that. Just being out there, trying to get the job done.''
More than 200 fans showed up for Moseley's first Fredericksburg practice, a higher-than-normal 2,000 for his first game and an estimated 8,000 at CEL Field for the Generals-Sharks clash, although how much Moseley's appearance had to do with the Sharks' crowd is arguable since little mention was made of his presence locally.
``That's not Mark Moseley the Redskin, is it?'' asked a spectator leaning against the fence encircling CEL Field as Moseley warmed up prior to the game.
``It is? Son of a gun. Say, what's he doing here?''
Although Moseley gets no money from the Generals, his joining the team has had some financial benefits. He has done some paid appearances for two of the team's sponsors. He's also been approached by a company that would like him to star in an exercise video.
In addition to jump-starting both the Generals' kicking game and the team's publicity value, King said Moseley's presence has also given his players a first-hand look at how a successful NFL player goes about his business.
For example, some 2 1/2 hours before kickoff recently and before most of his new teammates had even gotten into uniform, Moseley was already dressed out and warming up with snapper Brian Cave and holder David Hughes.
``My game has always been about perfection,'' Moseley said. ``People expect me to make every kick. I expect a lot of myself, too.
If his pregame workout was any indication, Moseley hasn't lost much from his Redskin days. He began with a few 20-yard extra point attempts, balls ripped through Hughes' hold as though they were launched from a cannon. Only one of his eight attempts missed, a wicked liner that crashed off the right upright with such force it bounced all the way back to where Moseley was standing.
Then he moved back in 5-yard increments, with a stiff wind at his back, and continued to connect with amazing regularity. The further back he goes, the more his line drives become lofting, majestic kicks, descending to earth more like punts than field-goal attempts.
``Yep, he's still got it,'' a beaming Cave said.
On 45-yard field-goal attempts, however, Moseley finally began to struggle. His first kick fell about 5 yards short. His second never got more than about 4 feet off the ground and probably would have smacked a lineman in the back of the helmet had it been kicked in a game. Two more attempts also miss badly.
Moseley stood quietly for a moment, then instructed Cave and Hughes to set up toward the opposite goalposts. His first kick, attempted from 52 yards out, soared over the goalposts and settled on a track some 15 yards beyond.
``Mark's leg might get a little tired because he hasn't done this in awhile,'' King said. ``But I guarantee you there aren't but about three or four kickers in the NFL better than him right now. If (Redskins kicker) Eddie Murray pulled a hamstring tomorrow, Mark could step right in with no problem.''
Moseley is also confident he could perform in the NFL today.
``No question about it,'' he said. ``Let's face it, there aren't a lot of great kickers around. When I left, I was just mentally burned out by the expectations of the fans and the press. I knew it was time to get out.
``That's why I'm excited about this. You come out, play a little ... it's fun again.''
It's also why, regardless of how successfully he fares with the Generals, Moseley said he wouldn't dream of plotting a return to the NFL.
``I don't want to get back in that fishbowl again,'' Moseley said as he jogged toward the locker room. Then, as he gazed around at the nearly empty stands at CEL Field, he added, ``This is a big enough fishbowl for me.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
HUY NGUYEN/Staff
Fredericksburg Generals kicker Mark Moseley: ``I'm out here because
I like to kick. This is fun. It's that simple.''
Photos
HUY NGUYEN/Staff
Mark Moseley has found life with the Fredericksburg Generals a good
fit.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
Mark Moseley, who spent 13 years with the Redskins and still holds
several club kicking records, was the only kicker named the NFL's
MVP.
by CNB