There’s a Kicker to Raider-Redskin Game : Mark Moseley Is Attempting to Fend Off a Challenge by Tony Zendejas

The Raiders, hard-pressed to provide a controversy of their own in this preseason, have done the next best thing and imported one from the East Coast.

It belongs to the Washington Redskins and centers on the placekicking position, where Mark Moseley and Tony Zendejas are waging an old-fashioned fight, complete with bruised feelings, cold shoulders and self-inflicted wounds.

Moseley is 37, the old pro, a veteran of 11 Redskin seasons and two Super Bowls. He has kicked 235 field goals for them--24 in 31 tries last season, including 22 of 24 from inside the 40-yard line.

Zendejas was one of your Los Angeles Express favorites until a few weeks ago. He is 25 and the elder statesman of the fabulous kicking Zendejas family of Chino, where he was followed by cousins Luis of the Arizona Outlaws and Max, a senior at Arizona, and brother Marty, a sophomore at Nevada Reno.

Today at 1, when the Redskins play the Raiders in the Coliseum, Moseley and Zendejas will alternate kicks. So far, Moseley is 1 for 2 in the exhibition season, and Zendejas is 0 for 1.

But the complete box score is longer than that:

July 2--Zendejas signs a Redskin contract, not long after playing his final USFL game at Pierce College. His contract includes a reported $150,000 signing bonus, $100,000 of it up front, the other $50,000 guaranteed but deferred.

Shortly thereafter--Moseley, stung, is lifting weights with offensive line coach Joe Bugel and takes a playful punch at a machine, saying: “Take this, Tony Zendejas.” He breaks a bone in his right hand.

July 27--Zendejas arrives in camp and announces his goal is to be All-Pro.

July 29--Moseley signs a three-year, $730,000 contract. None of it is guaranteed.

Moseley reports to camp with his right hand wrapped, says he’ll leave the talking to Zendejas.

Shortly thereafter--Zendejas reports stomach problems, first thought to be ulcers. Later, he says it was just something that disagreed with his stomach. Like Moseley’s arrival?

Aug. 3--Moseley doesn’t kick in a scrimmage against the New York Jets because of a sore right thigh. Zendejas does and goes 6 for 6 on field goals.

Aug. 10--First exhibition against the Atlanta Falcons. Zendejas misses from 43 yards. Moseley misses from 39 but hits from 35.

“This is the first one I’ve had like this,” Zendejas said a couple of days ago. “It’s going pretty good. You know, Mark is a very good kicker. It’s very competitive. I think it’s going to go down to the last game.

“A little cool? Well . . .

“We, uh, I guess we’re both taking it the same way,” Zendejas said. “We don’t look like we’re really worried. But I know deep down, we’re both worried.

“Talk? Uh, not much. That’s pretty hard. We’re always doing things together. We’re over there kicking, we go to the locker room at the same time. It’s pretty hard sometimes. We’re friendly toward each other, but there’s not much to say.

“When I said I wanted to be All-Pro, that’s just my ultimate goal. In college, I wanted to be All-American. With the Express, I wanted to be All-Pro. I’ve always believed in setting my goals high.

“I guess he (Moseley) just took offense at the Redskins bringing in another kicker to try to take his job away. He didn’t like that, at all. He didn’t like the signing bonus.”

For the Raiders, 0-1 in the exhibition season after losing, 28-21, to the 49ers last week, the summer rolls serenely on, with all potential flash points quiet.

Holdouts?

The Marcus Allen renegotiation was completed by Al Davis on the eve of camp. Allen came in a few hours late without a contract and signed for $3.75 million a week later, quietly.

Todd Christensen’s renegotiation was completed just before camp opened.

Jessie Hester held out for four days but was still among the first 10 No. 1 picks to sign.

Bob Nelson’s holdout lasted a week and was settled quietly.

Position battles?

Dave Dalby, challenged after 10 unbroken seasons as the starting center by the transfer of Don Mosebar from guard, said he’d help Mosebar as much as he could. So far, Dalby still seems to be the man. Said executive assistant Al LoCasale on last week’s telecast: “We’re in no hurry.”

Cliff Branch, challenged at 37 by the draft of wide receivers as the first and second picks, showed no irritation and promised to help the rookies, as well as contend for his job. Hester named Branch as one of the players who’d helped make him feel welcome.

Tom Flores suggested a fight at inside linebacker, where Jack Squirek is challenging Nelson. Since, Squirek has begun working at outside linebacker, too, indicating that Nelson has weathered that storm. Flores says 10th-round draft pick Reggie McKenzie is still in the picture.

A quarterback controversy?

Nope. Flores says Jim Plunkett is No. 1, Marc Wilson is No. 2 and there will be no controversy. For all that stuff, you’ll have to go across the country or across town, for the moment, anyway.

Raider Notes

The exhibition will be nationally televised and blacked out in Los Angeles. . . . A year ago, these teams played a ballyhooed “Super Bowl rematch” exhibition at Washington, won, 21-20, by the Raiders. The participants took it in stride. Said John Riggins beforehand: “It’s going to be tough to get the oil into the crankcase for this one.” But Redskin Coach Joe Gibbs was motivated enough to put his first string back in during the fourth quarter. “A lot of people approach preseason differently,” Raider Coach Tom Flores said, unruffled as usual. . . .The list of Southern California Redskins coming home: kicker Tony Zendejas, QB Jay Schroeder and TE Rick Walker (UCLA), CB Vernon Dean, CB Tory Nixon and TE Don Warren (San Diego State), LB Mel Kaufman and OT Kelly Thomas (Cal Poly SLO), QB Babe Laufenberg (lives in Canoga Park), WR Mark McGrath (born in San Diego), rookie DE Aaron Moog (lives in Ontario). . . . Not likely to play much is the Riggins, who reported at midweek. The Raiders’ Todd Christensen, Kenny King and Cliff Branch are all doubtful.