Tony Zendejas is a former professional football player who played as a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for several teams. He was born on March 15, 1960, in La Mirada, California, and attended college at Long Beach State University.
Zendejas began his professional football career in 1985 when he signed with the Houston Oilers as an undrafted free agent. He played for the Oilers for three seasons and was known for his accuracy as a kicker. In 1988, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons and played for them for two seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 1990.
Zendejas played for the Rams for two seasons before being released in 1992. He then signed with the Green Bay Packers but was released before the start of the regular season. He returned to the Oilers in 1993 and played for them for two more seasons before being released again in 1995.
Throughout his career, Zendejas was known for his accuracy as a kicker. He made 186 of 238 field goal attempts, giving him a career field goal percentage of 78.2%. He also made 292 of 296 extra point attempts, giving him a career extra point percentage of 98.6%.
Zendejas was also known for his ability to make clutch kicks in important situations. He made several game-winning field goals throughout his career, including a 42-yard field goal in overtime to give the Oilers a 23-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the 1988 AFC Wild Card game.
Despite his success as a kicker, Zendejas's career was not without controversy. In 1991, he was involved in a brawl with several members of the San Francisco 49ers during a game. He was fined $10,000 by the NFL for his role in the incident.
In 1995, Zendejas was accused of sexual assault by a woman who claimed that he had drugged and raped her. He was acquitted of the charges in 1996, but the incident tarnished his reputation and led to the end of his NFL career.
After retiring from football, Zendejas became a successful businessman and opened several restaurants in the Los Angeles area. He also became involved in coaching and worked as a kicking coach for several high school and college teams.
Overall, Tony Zendejas had a successful career as a placekicker in the NFL. He was known for his accuracy and ability to make clutch kicks in important situations. However, his career was also marred by controversy, including a brawl with the San Francisco 49ers and accusations of sexual assault. Despite these setbacks, Zendejas has remained involved in football and has found success in his post-NFL career.
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