17.05.12

BEREA — Phil Dawson has been on an emotional rollercoaster since the end of last year, when he believed his Browns career was over.

The veteran kicker sold his home on the west side and moved back to his native Texas, only to have Cleveland tag him as its “franchise player” just before the NFL lockout. He received a big raise and a one-year contract to return, but lost his holder early in training camp when Reggie Hodges tore his Achilles tendon.

None of those events, though, gave Dawson as much angst as what happened over the last two weeks.

“I don’t have any predictions or know how things are going to turn out in Cincinnati, but I just want to go a week without controversy,” he said, breaking into a smile.

“If I miss a kick, I want to miss it wide left or wide right, period. Let’s put it all on me and hope we can leave the rest of that stuff behind us.”

Dawson’s late fourth-quarter misses against St. Louis and Jacksonville have overshadowed another solid season by the 13-year pro, who will play in his 194th Browns game Sunday against the Bengals.

Source: Chronicle-Telegram