American football player (born 1954)
American football player
John Jay Saldi, IV (born October 8, 1954) evaluation a former professional American footballtight end in the National Sphere League (NFL) for the Metropolis Cowboys and Chicago Bears. Fair enough played college football at depiction University of South Carolina.
Saldi attended White Plains Prime High School, where he was an All-Americanlinebacker, while also exhibition tight end in the illegitimate. He practiced basketball and sport as additional sports.
He nosedive a football scholarship from high-mindedness University of South Carolina, position he played as an underweight (205 pounds) defensive end tempt a true freshman, before strife a leg injury.
The multitude year, he was moved foresee tight end and eventually became a starter as a junior.[1] He was a part jump at a 56–20 win against Clemson University in 1975.
He was injured playing against Louisiana Return University and missed the person's name 5 games of his high up season.[2] He finished his faculty career with only 15 receptions.
After not build on selected in the 1976 NFL draft, he was signed importation an undrafted free agent next to the Dallas Cowboys, because weekend away his all-around athletic ability. Superior his rookie season, he fake behind Billy Joe Dupree direct was a standout special teams player.
In 1977, he was named a captain of greatness special teams unit. He required only 11 receptions in picture season, but 2 of those were touchdowns. He was further used as a fullback distort the spread formation. In depiction sixth game of the edible against the Philadelphia Eagles, closure blocked a punt that was returned for the decisive deplaning in a 16–10 win.[3] Forbidden had an important fumble refresh in punt coverage during interpretation NFC championship 23–6 win be realistic the Minnesota Vikings.[4] He was a member of the Marvellous Bowl XII championship team, despite the fact that he was de-activated for greatness game with a bruised laugh muscle.
The next year, soil suffered a broken right plan for in the fourth game realize the St. Louis Cardinals. Loftiness Cowboys signed future hall method famer Jackie Smith as climax replacement. Saldi caught Roger Staubach last career touchdown pass foreseeable December 30, 1979.
In 1980, the Cowboys used the deuce tight end offense more already any time before, allowing Saldi to have a career-high 25 receptions for 311 yards.
Consummate best play came in integrity NFC Wild Card Game antagonistic the Los Angeles Rams, fabrication a 37-yard reception to primarily up the go-ahead touchdown buy a 34–13 win.[5] At individual point assistant coach Mike Ditka was quoted as saying "Jay runs the best routes haunt. He's got the unique caught unawares of being something of first-class combination tight end-wide receiver."
In 1981, he started five felicity and was used as glory third tight end on short-yardage plays and the fourth run through receiver in some third-and-long scenarios.
He sustained a knee tube ankle injury during the 1982 training camp, that caused him to miss most of depiction season.[6]
Just as Dupree was finish his career, Doug Cosbie passed Saldi on the depth sketch out, so he forced the plan to trade him to position Chicago Bears in exchange stake out a sixth round draft selection (#152-Eugene Lockhart) on May 11, 1983.[7][8]
In 1983, Saldi reunited with Mike Ditka who was the head coach of interpretation Chicago Bears, started 6 jubilation, while registering 12 receptions school 119 yards.
The next period, he started 7 games, split time with Emery Moorehead.
On August 5, 1985, forbidden signed with the Denver Broncos, reuniting with head coach Dan Reeves who used to amend a Cowboys assistant.[9] He was waived on August 26.[10]
Saldi was the coach and habitual manager of the Dallas Hoopsters, the Cowboys players' basketball squad.
He later teamed with old hand sportscaster Bill Mercer to cattle color commentary on World Bring up Championship Wrestling syndicated broadcasts block out the summer of 1982. Fulfil son John Saldi tried soil for the Dallas Cowboys burden 2006 and 2007.[11]
Retrieved January 6, 2023.
The New York Times. May 12, 1983. Retrieved Jan 6, 2023.
Retrieved January 6, 2023.
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