Pilot Flying J headquarters “secured”; company under FBI investigation
April 15, 2013NBA News: Byron Scott expected to be fired by Cavs per reports
April 16, 2013We now know who will be left with the difficult task of filling Pro Bowler and franchise staple Phil Dawson’s shoes. This evening, the Browns announced that they have signed kicker Shayne Graham to a contract.
Graham is 35 and has kicked for 12 seasons with 8 different teams. His best seasons came with Cincinnati, where he played from 2003-2010, making the Pro Bowl in 2005. For his career, he has made 245-of-287 kicks (85.4%, good for 5th best all-time) and 368-of-373 PATs. In the 2010 Wild Card round, Graham missed two critical kicks for the Bengals in a 24-14 loss to the New York Jets, including a 28-yard attempt in the fourth quarter. Graham has a career-long make of 53 yards, but he is just 13-of-27 from 50+ in his career, including 4-of-9 in 2012.
Last season with the Houston Texans, Graham made 31-of-38 field goal attempts and scored a career-high 138 points, making all 45 PATs as well.
Dawson was allowed to hit the open market and signed a contract with the San Francisco 49ers after 14 seasons with the Browns. He is the franchise’s second leading scorer all-time with 1,271 points, trailing only Lou Groza. He was 29-of-31 last season in his Pro Bowl campaign, including a perfect 7-for-7 in 50+ yard attempts. Dawson is 24-of-34 from 50+ in his career.
Related: NFL Draft Rumors: Browns a “Wild Card” For QB Geno Smith
20 Comments
If you love something, let it go
Nice pickup…
I’m okay with this.
The big question is how much less did he cost than Phil?
$1.5 mil less. Dawson signed a 1 year $2.5 mil deal. This was a 1 year $1 mil deal. For a team this far under the cap, it makes so little sense unless Dawson truly wanted out to try and win before his career is over.
I think Dawson wanted to kick for a winner before he was done. 1.5 mill less but he kicked 82% with a dome as his home stadium compared to Phils 94%. Graham was solid from inside 50 though last season going 27-29. As much as I liked Phil, I think I am ready to get excited about something other than our kicking.
Oh, you mean Virginia Tech’s career scoring leader, Shayne Graham? You know that I’m all about it. Dawson was awesome, Graham should be fine.
who is 8/15 in CBS w/ 2 of them being blocked. never a “bad weather” kicker, not the strongest of legs, and has been signed/fired by 14 other teams, kicking for 10 of them. oh, and he’s 35yo.
he’s camp fodder in case we don’t find a suitable replacement. sorry, you will have to find a different Hokie to be on our team 🙂
How dare you question King Graham! No but seriously, I think you’re right on this. I really wouldn’t mind if the team drafted a stud kicker. Punter too. Just not before the 6th round please.
agreed on drafting the replacements late (or early sign UDFA).
and, there’s a reason we called him Graham Cracker when he was with the Bengals (he cracked under pressure – at CBS at least – get it…get it?!?)
Love it, although it’s also painful. True story about Shayne Graham… in order to come to play at VT, he required a scholarship for a buddy of his who was a long-snapper. Beamer gave that guy a scholarship and the two of them terrorized the Big East for 4 years together. (okay fine, maybe “terrorized” is the wrong word)
that’s awesome. so, he’s also a primadonna 🙂
Oh yes, very much so. Our kicker after him was Carter Warley, and he was very much the same way in spite of being much worse. I think Will Ferrell needs to sidle up beside these guys like in his dog training commercial and whisper into their ears “you’re a f#%&ing kicker”.
no, you have it wrong: I think it should be the next Will Ferrell movie.
{in movie-promo voice w/ soft music playing and a montage of Heisman quarterbacks}
In the land of college football, Quarterback is king. They get the fame, the glory, the girls, the Heisman trophy, and the big money in the NFL draft.
{same music, panning across countryside of outer Blacksburg}
However, in one small desolate Virginia town, special teams are the cherished prize of their team. And, the quarterback of special team’s is the kicker.
{back in black blaring as Will Ferrel enters wearing a spotted mink coat, ridiculous hat, and a pink feather boa}
Meet the king of those special team quarterbacks in the history of this team. Will Ferrell is: Legs Upright*, Hokie Kicker Extraordinaire
*copyright on that name pending as I think the Bond franchise may already own it.
I want to be offended, but it’s genius. I would see that movie and buy it on Blu-Ray.
get Beamer on the phone
So you are the one!
Winning!
Wouldn’t know that feeling haha
so we will not be wanting Smore Graham?