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GREEN BAY, WI - AUGUST 14: Phil Dawson #4 of the Cleveland Browns watches his game winning field goal during the NFL preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field August 14, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
By Daniel Wolf
August 15, 2010
The Cleveland Browns played what was probably one of the best preseason games ever against the Green Bay Packers.
In a game that had a regular season feel to it in the first half and toward the end of the fourth quarter too, the Browns went back to their old reliable with kicker Phil Dawson who not only tied the game on an impressive 58 yard field goal, but then won it with two seconds left from 46 yards out.
Both kicks split right down the middle of the uprights and Dawson was "Dawesome" once again.
Dawson, the final remaining member of the 1999 expansion team, has been the most reliable player on the Browns' roster for years. When the offense could not get the ball into the end zone, Dawson was always there to kick a field goal.
With the Browns' offense being mediocre for many of the 11 seasons since the rebirth of the team, Dawson has been the rock. Fans have often joked about how Dawson was the most potent part of the offense too.
The reality of the whole thing is the all those Dawson kicks over the years have only helped him become one of the most accurate and clutch kickers in the NFL right now.
Dawson wants a new contract and he is well on his way to get one and retire with the orange and brown.
Plus, he is one of the few kickers in the league who really knows how tough it can be to kick in the unpredictable weather in Cleveland.
"Kicking in Cleveland keeps you young, but gives you grey hairs too," said Dawson prior to Browns training camp starting on July 31.
Dawson is the consummate professional and he has put his contract differences aside to prove himself yet again to new team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert too.
Bottom line is that Dawson doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. He will most likely get a new deal done either in the last half of this season or definitely before free agency opens after this season's Super Bowl is over.
Dawson is a keeper and he won the Browns' first preseason game of the season on two fantastic kicks which is only the beginning of what may be many more during the 2010 regular season.
Great to have you on the team Dawson and Browns fans everywhere hope that you will get that new contract you so deserve too!
