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February 23, 2011Byron Scott Really Doesn’t Like Today’s NBA Player
February 23, 2011I first learned that Phil Dawson had been franchised by the Browns from Adam Schefter’s tweet. According to Schefter Dawson’s franchising is expected to cost the Browns $3.25 million.
Naturally, this set off a lot of emotions around Browns town; some were confused as to why the Browns would franchise a kicker, others were embarrassed because Dawson is in fact a placekicker. Some were rejoicing because the “Phranchise” (as our own Scott has coined him) is almost certainly going to be back for another year.
I will admit that I found it a bit surprising at first, but it makes some sense.
It isn’t very often that you see a team use a franchise tag on a special teamer, but that in and of itself doesn’t make it “wrong.” Sure, $3.25 million is a lot of money for a kicker, but in the scheme of things it doesn’t really matter. If there is a salary cap for the upcoming season, rest assured the Browns will be well under it. In 2009 the salary cap was about $130 million and the Browns were set to have just under $100 million on the books for next season before they made a wave of cuts that reportedly saved them an additional $15 million. So, unless you have an unhealthy obsession with Randy Lerner’s overwhelming financial health as an individual, there is no reason to care about the franchise tag.
Phil Dawson is a very good kicker. Yes, he is aging. No, he can’t hit really really long bombs like Sebastian Janikowski. Then again, Phil Dawson hit 100% of his field goals this season fron 39 yards and closer. He was 3-5 from 40-49 and 0-3 from 50-plus.
Ultimately, I just look at this like Tom Heckert and company are paying a convenience fee on top of paying Phil Dawson. As opposed to having to worry about finding a kicker for this upcoming season, now Heckert gets to procrastinate and cross at least one thing off the list. He can now continue to focus all his energy replacing the defensive line, finding additional defensive secondary help and finding weapons for Colt McCoy. All NFL teams should have problems like overpaying Phil Dawson for a season. Considering the environs that Phil Dawson has been forced to kick during his career, how much do the Steelers wish they had him locked up for too much money?
Lastly, it isn’t like the Browns desperately needed the franchise tag for anyone else. Were you eager to see them use it on Abe Elam or Seneca Wallace?
23 Comments
Is this at all a sign that contract negotiations were going poorly (surely Dawson has a right to feel snubbed, he’s been trying for a new contract for a while), and that this was the only way to sign him?
Just curious…
Does he get a “F” patch on the other side of his jersey?
Hopefully one day soon the Browns will have an integral player to franchise, not that Philly isn’t one.
I agree with the idea of a “convenience fee”..after all there are so many holes to patch and there are only so many fingers you can put in a dyke
Max, that is one of the most hilarious misspellings ever. “Dike” is the thing that keeps back floods. Might want to Google your spelling if you’re not at work.
Yeah my question would be how does Phil feel about this? He has not been very gruntled of late and despite the fact this is a good chunk of change, a lot of guys are unhappy about being franchised. And I’m not suggesting Phil would ever sabotage a game, but if there is any position that a guy could seriously screw the team by going into “eff you” mode, it’s the kicker. Probably a good idea to keep those guys happy.
Really glad to have him back though, I won’t have to buy a new jersey this year!
I don’t know max, I’ve seen some videos that would prove otherwise.
Eric… you have a Phil Dawson jersey? At first thought, that sounds ridiculous, but after further review, its genious
whats the maximum amount of fingers you can use?
Cincy and Pit have recently tagged kickers also. Granted, those guys are no longer on the team… but they both have done it. I like knowing Dawsons coming back.
alex . . . henery . . . gone . . . to . . . the . . . steelers . . . . . . probably . . .
crushed
as much as we are getting bashed nationwide for franchising the kicker this move makes absolute sense to me.
the franchise tag is often used to ensure you can keep a player without overpaying him.
Dawson is a proven accurate cold weather kicker…much needed in the AFC North. Why take the chance on finding a new younger kicker to break in on the cold weather stadium when there are so many other holes that need filled.
not to mention if i am the Steelers and Dawson hits the open market i am there at his new house with contract in hand.
intelligent moves are rare in the Cleveland sports landscape and this one should be commended.
PS – i’m making the T-shirt suggestion right now for a replica jersey sporting the number 4 and the name reading “DAWESOME”.
i call 5% of profits.
Makes perfect sense to me, too. We don’t have an impact player in their prime and at the end of their contract, so why not put off the decision for a year to see how the new CBA pans out and whether Dawson starts losing what range he has.
Re the suggestion that a disappointed Dawson might tank it, doubt it. There’s only one field goal kicker on each team, a finite number of teams and scores of young guys waiting for a shot. Would not the way for an aging kicker to audition for a multiyear contract.
I don’t know, but I can’t imagine Phil Dawson is particularly unhappy. Kickers don’t get a lot of long-term security at his age. Meanwhile he knows that for one season, he will get paid three times what he normally gets paid.
At 36 years of age he can’t possibly expect a Janikowski 4-year $16 million contract.
@ christopher- I love the T idea. I want one now.
@ Garry- Henrey wasnt coming to cleveland anyways. He’ll be a 2nd round pick, 3rd at worst… and cleveland doesnt have the luxury of spending a high pick on a K.
1st I checked the calendar to make sure it wasn’t April 1st
2nd I heard Dawson wanted to play for a contender, if this is more important to him than a million dollars I do not like the decision
3rd If you’re going to pay him $3mill this year why is there a contract dispute
Hear that?
That’s the sound of Jimmy Tressel giving this move a standing ovation down in old Columbus Town.
#18 Denny Just won the internet for today with that post. Well Done Sir!
Really happy to see this. Dawson deserves the check and I got the impression he wanted to finish his career in Cleveland. As a fan, it is nice to have someone reliable kicking for at least another year. It would be nice to see them have some success for him before he retires.
Why not sign a rookie from college for a league minimum contract? We aren’t going to win anyway.
Use the 3 million you save to LOWER THE PRICE OF BEER AT THE STADIUM.
I hope Phil is happy . I know I am because hes always been a good bad weather kicker . $3.25 million is alot for a kicker , but that will pay him something for the last few years he didn’t have a decent contract. GO BROWNS ! Glad to have you back for another year Phil Dawson .
Read all 22 comments and still cracking up at #4. One of the funnier comments I have seen that happened by accident. If that was no accident, you are a genius.
Nicely done, sir.