2012 SD Chargers Media Guide_PROOF.P - Seahawks Online ...

9 NICK NOVAKKicker Free Agent - ’116-0, 198 Maryland5th NFL SeasonAlbemarle HS3rd with ChargersCharlottesville, Va.VETERANS &RETURNING PLAYERSThe trials and tribulations of Nick Novak’s NFL career arethe kind that would discourage most, but Novak has anintense desire to succeed and he became a shining star forthe Chargers in 2011.Novak went to training camp with the Chargers in 2010,knowing chances were slim of taking the team’s kicking jobfrom Pro Bowler Nate Kaeding. The Chargers were the sixthteam Novak had spent time with after brief stints in Chicago,Dallas, Washington, Arizona and Kansas City. After he wasreleased in 2010, Novak caught on with the Florida Tuskers ofthe fledgling UFL, for whom he was named the league’s SpecialTeams MVP after hitting 15 of 18 field goals. But duringthat same season when Kaeding suffered a groin injury, theChargers attempted to sign Novak but the UFL’s rules andstipulations prevented the Chargers from doing so. When the2011 season came around, a seventh team - the New YorkJets - sought out Novak’s services, but once again he lost ahotly-contested competition, this time with veteran Nick Folk.Disappointed, Novak returned to San Diego to live andtrain. He happened to be having lunch with former NFLkicker Michael Husted the day of the Chargers’ 2011 seasonopener against Minnesota when Kaeding injured hisknee on the game’s opening kickoff. Just days later, Novakgot the call he long waited for that the Chargers wanted tosign him as the team’s replacement for Kaeding.Novak went on to enjoy a storybook season for theChargers. A career 63.3-percent field goal kicker prior to2011, Novak made his first 12 field goals for the Bolts,including two in a three-point win over Kansas City, four ina 10-point win over Miami and five in a five-point win atDenver that included a then career-long 51-yarder and aclutch 35 yarder with just 24 seconds left in the fourthquarter. Novak finished the season having made 27 of 34,while setting team records for field goals of 40 (12) and 50(4) yards or longer. After his successful run in 2011, Novakwill be back to compete again with Kaeding in 2012.Novak helped raise more than $7,500 for the AmericanCancer Society in 2011. He contributed$100 for every made field goal and thetotal was matched by both the Chargersand Novak’s agent. Novak was inspiredto help the ACS in memory of Annie Arth, a family friendwho died of ovarian and breast cancer in 2005.Novak was born in San Diego, which makes his storyeven more fascinating. He lived here until he was 13, whenhis parents relocated to work at the University of Virginia.One of Novak’s close friends growing up was KellenWinslow, Jr., son of the Chargers’ Hall of Fame tight end bythe same name. The two also share the same godmother.Novak went to the University of Maryland after a stellarhigh school football and soccer career in Virginia. He was ascholar-athlete for the Terrapins and twice beat Philip Riversand North Carolina State with late fourth-quarter kicks.This offseason, Novak participated in the NFL BusinessManagement and Entrepreneurial Program at the HarvardBusiness School. He also vacationed in Bora Bora.TRANSACTION HISTORY: Signed with Chicago, April 29,2005...waived Aug. 29...claimed by Dallas, Aug. 30 and waivedSept. 3...signed with Washington, Sept. 13 and waived Nov.5...signed with Arizona, Dec. 2...re-signed with Cardinals, April 4,2006...waived Aug. 28...signed with Washington, Oct. 11...waived Dec. 4...re-signed with Chicago, Feb. 9, 2007...waivedAug. 27...signed with Kansas City, Jan. 11, 2008...waived Oct.21...signed with Chargers, April 29, 2010...waived Sept. 4...signed with New York Jets, Feb. 9, 2011... waived Aug. 30...signed two-year deal with Chargers, Sept. 13.2011: Career-high five field goals, including 51-yarder, in 29-24 win at Denver Oct. 9...touchbacks on seven of eight kickoffsvs. Broncos...52-yarder Nov. 6 vs. Green Bay...career-long53-yarder Nov. 27 vs. Denver...45-yard field goal Dec. 18 onNBC Sunday Night Football vs. Baltimore was team-record11th make from 40 yards or longer...51-yard field goal Jan. 1Regular Seasonat Oakland was team-record fifth of season from 50+ yards.2008: Season-high four field goals Sept. 28 vs. Denver. 2006:Season-long 47-yarder Nov. 5 vs. Dallas. 2005: Game-winning39-yard field goal for Washington vs. Seattle Oct. 2.COLLEGE: Jim Tatum Award as top ACC senior student-athlete...honorablemention All-ACC in 2004...ACC all-time leaderand fifth in NCAA (393 career points) at graduation...firstteamAll-ACC in ’03 and ’02...school-record 125 points assoph...finished career 80 of 107 on FGs and 153 of 159 onPATs...redshirted in 2000...played at Maryland from 2001-04...degree in kinesiology.PERSONAL: Two-time all-state kicker at Albemarle High inCharlottesville, Va....won soccer prep state championship onteams with twin brother, Chris.Special TeamsYear Team G-S FG-Att. Pct. PAT-Att. Pct. Pts. Long Tackles2005 Washington 5-0 5-7 .714 15-15 100.0 30 40 02005 Arizona 5-0 3-3 100.0 0-0 0.0 9 35 02006 Washington 6-0 5-10 .500 10-10 100.0 25 47 02008 Kansas City 6-0 6-10 .600 7-7 100.0 25 43 22011 San Diego 15-0 27-34 .794 41-42 .976 122 53 0Totals 37-0 46-64 .719 73-74 .986 211 53 2Single-game HighsPoints — 17 at Denver Oct. 9, 2011Field Goals — 5 at Denver Oct. 9, 2011Field Goal Attempts — 5 (2 times) Last: at Kansas City Oct. 31, 2011Long — 53 vs. Denver Nov. 27, 2011Longest Attempt — 55 at Chicago Nov. 20, 2011PATs — 5 (3 times) Last: at Oakland Jan. 1, 2012PAT Attempts — 5 (4 times) Last: at Oakland Jan. 1, 2012