Moseley Is a Success for Browns

Of all the adverse weather conditions a placekicker has to face, Mark Moseley fears wind the most.

So Moseley’s first appearance in a Cleveland Browns’ uniform proved to be more of a challenge than the numbers might indicate. He kicked field goals of 23 and 29 yards last Sunday, but the second one, with 16 seconds left in overtime, was drilled into a wind whipping off Lake Erie into the open end of Cleveland Stadium.

“The wind is the only thing that’s really bothered me in my career,” Moseley said. “I’ve played on ice fields, in snow, in six inches of rain. You name it, I’ve played in it.”

Moseley, whose straight-on kicking style is rare in a National Football League dominated by soccer-style kickers, handled Sunday’s wind flawlessly.

“I kick a very high ball, which has helped keep me from getting vey many kicks blocked,” he said. “But at the same time, it gives the wind a lot longer time to play with the ball. So I have to really hit the ball good and solid and make it go true so when it does lose some of its momentum, it’s still strong enough to carry without the wind blowing it out.”

Cleveland (9-4) signed Moseley to replace Matt Bahr, who was sidelined for the season by a knee injury.

Moseley, 38, was released by the Washington Redskins in October.

“Part of that was, I go back to the George Allen era,” Moseley said, referring to the man who was coach and general manager of the Redskins until 1978. “Now, Dave Butz is the only one of us left there from that era. They got rid of three of us this year--Joe (Theismann), John (Riggins) and myself. I think every time one of us did well, it was a thorn in their side.”

Moseley said he could tell early in last Sunday’s 13-10 victory over the Houston Oilers that he was going to be a factor.

“I’m here to win the close ones,” he said. “I knew what was going on. As the game progressed, the way the game was being played, I had a feeling that more than likely I would get a shot at it.”