Sam Paulescu
{{Short description|American football player (born 1984)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Sam Paulescu
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| number = 2, 4, 1
| position = Punter
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|04|18}}
| birth_place = Fullerton, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 200
| college = Oregon State
| undraftedyear = 2006
| pastteams =
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|2006}})
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2007}})*
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2007}})
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2008}})
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2009}})
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2009}})
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2010}})
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2011}})*
| highlights =
- First-team All-Pac-10 (2005)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 20
| statlabel2 = Punts
| statvalue2 = 102
| statlabel3 = Punt yards
| statvalue3 = 4,306
| statlabel4 = Punting yard average
| statvalue4 = 42.7
| pfr = PaulSa20
}}
Samuel Paulescu ({{langx|ro|Păulescu}}; born April 18, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL) for the Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers. Paulescu also played professionally for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Early life
Born in Los Angeles, California, to Romanian immigrant parents Nick and Persida Paulescu, he was fluent in Romanian before he could speak English. Paulescu played basketball, soccer, track and football at Whittier Christian High School in La Habra, California.
He earned four letters in football and soccer, and two in track and field. In addition to kicking, Paulescu also played wide receiver, running back and defensive back. As a junior, he scored three touchdowns, intercepted two passes and kicked a prep career-best 43-yard field goal in one game. He also scored 17 goals for the soccer team.
As a senior, he was named team defensive MVP and first-team All-Olympic League as a kicker. Paulescu played in the 605 All-Star game in the summer of 2002.
College career
Paulescu accepted a football scholarship from Fullerton College under head coach Gene Murphy in 2003. As a freshman in 2002, he averaged 36.7 yards on 53 punts. His special teams coach was Jim Wren, who was USC's punter in 1996 when Mike Riley was the offensive coordinator.
As a sophomore, Paulescu was the fifth-leading scorer among California Junior College players as a kicker. He scored 73 points in 10 games (37-37 PAT, 12-17 FGs) booted a 57-yard field goal against Santa Monica College, and was perfect on all three attempts over 41 yards. He made a 25-yarder in overtime to give Fullerton a 24-21 win over Riverside City College on November 15. He averaged 45.6 yards on 46 attempts during the regular season, with a long of 84 yards, raising his average to 46.5 yards after three playoff games as a punter. He also bettered his all-time long punt with an 86-yarder against Santa Monica College in the U.S. Bank Beach Bowl on November 22.
He was selected first team All-American by J.C. Grid-Wire and by J.C. Athletic Bureau, earned first-team All-Mission Conference; first-team All-California J.C. Region IV, and first-team All-California as selected by the California Community College Football Coaches Association.
Paulescu transferred to Oregon State University, where as a junior he received honorable-mention All-Pac-10 and OSU Special Teams Co-MVP honors. He began his senior year on the Ray Guy Award watch list and averaged 43 yards per punt, ending his OSU career with 48 punts downed inside the 20-yard line – 24 each season. He was the Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week in 2005, after having six punts downed inside the 20-yard line, including two at the 1-yard line, in a win at No. 18 California. He made 21 punts of 50-plus yards during his career, including a career-best of 69 yards against Washington State University in 2004.
As a senior, he posted 56 punts for a 43-yard average and was named to the Pac-10 All-Conference first-team, marking the first punter in OSU history to earn such a distinction. He finished his college career as arguably the top punter in the program's history.
Professional career
=Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL)=
On June 21, 2006, he signed a contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, to join the team's developmental squad.{{cite web|url=https://osubeavers.com/sports/2006/6/22/207817657.aspx|title=Sam Paulescu Signs Professional Contract|work=Oregon State University|access-date=June 12, 2020}} He was released on July 23.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/475171747/|title=Canadian Football League|date=July 24, 2006 |publisher=Edmonton Journal|access-date=June 12, 2020}}
=Dallas Cowboys (first stint)=
On May 1, 2007, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys.{{cite web|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-adding-rookie-free-agents-including-qb-301656|title=Cowboys Adding Rookie Free Agents, Including QB|work=DallasCowboys.com|access-date=June 12, 2020}} He was released on August 3. He was re-signed on August 14.{{cite web|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/mid-day-report-heat-rising-with-broncos-in-town-302951|title=Mid-Day Report: Heat Rising With Broncos In Town|work=DallasCowboys.com|access-date=June 12, 2020}} He was waived before the start of the season, after not beating out Mat McBriar for the starting punting job.
=Denver Broncos=
On December 28, 2007 the Denver Broncos signed him after releasing Paul Ernster.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story?id=3171547&src=desktop&rand=ref~%7B%22ref%22%3A%22 |title=Paulescu wins punt-off to be Broncos punter against Vikings |date=December 28, 2007 |work=ESPN |access-date=June 12, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2007/12/28/perils-of-punter-paulescu/|title=Perils of punter Paulescu |work=Denver Post|date=December 28, 2007 |access-date=June 12, 2020}} Paulescu made his debut in week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings, making five punts for a total of 221 yards. He was released on August 30, 2008.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/afcwest/post/_/id/408/broncos-cut-list |title=Broncos cut list |date=August 30, 2008 |work=ESPN |access-date=June 12, 2020}}
=Dallas Cowboys (second stint)=
On October 14, 2008, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as a replacement for McBriar, who suffered a broken foot against the Arizona Cardinals and was placed on the injured reserve list.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3643996 |title=McBriar placed on injured reserve, will miss rest of season |date=October 14, 2008 |work=ESPN |access-date=June 12, 2020}} During a home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he delivered a hard tackle on returner, Clifton Smith, at midfield.{{cite web|title=Quick Take: Dallas snaps two-game losing skid|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/quick-take-dallas-snaps-two-game-losing-skid-09000d5d80bf35fa|work=NFL.com|access-date=June 2, 2020}} He was not re-signed after the season.
=Washington Redskins (first stint)=
Paulescu signed with the Washington Redskins on November 6, 2009. After punting in one game on November 8 against the Atlanta Falcons (3 punts, averaging 50 yards per punt). He was waived on November 14.
=Tampa Bay Buccaneers=
On December 1, 2009, he was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to the injury of Dirk Johnson. He was waived on April 26, 2010.{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5136695 |title=Tampa Bay releases DT Hovan |date=April 26, 2010 |work=ESPN | access-date=June 12, 2020}}
=Washington Redskins (second stint)=
On December 14, 2010, he was signed by the Washington Redskins to replace Hunter Smith, who was cut after letting the snap on a critical extra point attempt go through his hands in a 16-17 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5920281 |title=Punter/holder Hunter Smith cut |date=December 14, 2010 |work=ESPN |access-date=June 12, 2020}} He was released on July 28, 2011.{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/6814188/nfl-cuts-roundup |title=NFL cuts roundup |date=July 28, 2011 |work=ESPN | access-date=June 12, 2020}}
=San Francisco 49ers=
On August 22, 2011, Paulescu signed with the San Francisco 49ers. He was waived on August 30.{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/44048/quick-look-at-49ers-80-man-roster |title=Quick look at 49ers' 80-man roster |date=August 30, 2011 |work=ESPN | access-date=June 12, 2020}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paulescu, Sam}}
Category:Players of American football from Fullerton, California
Category:Canadian football punters
Category:Players of Canadian football from California
Category:American football punters
Category:Fullerton Hornets football players
Category:Oregon State Beavers football players
Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:Denver Broncos players
Category:Washington Redskins players
Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
Category:San Francisco 49ers players