Written by David Regimbal

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After spending 12 years with the Cleveland Browns, kicker Phil Dawson was uncertain about his 13th season with the organization. Dawson finished last year making 23 of his 28 field goal attempts, and after the Browns 41-9 shellacking from Pittsburgh, Dawson said he was leaving his options open, "even returning to the Browns."

Unsatisfied with his contract the last few years, Dawson wanted to reevaluate his situation during the offseason, "For me, it's really going to be what's best for my family. I've earned the right to have that choice [of where to play] and I'm going to take advantage of it. I'll seek my wife's input. We'll get together, my boys are even getting old enough I'll see what they have to say about it,” He later added, “Whenever that time comes, we'll make the best decision for us."

Unfortunately no one was around to remind Dawson that he is just a kicker.

All kidding aside, the Browns new coaching staff responded by putting the franchise tag on Dawson. His contract will rise from $1 million to somewhere around $3.5 million. Any other team can match the Browns offer, but those teams would have to forfeit two first-round picks to Cleveland (under the current collective bargaining agreement).