Dawg Pound Daily
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3 players fans wish could come out of retirement for the Cleveland Browns

By Greg Newland

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 23: Place kicker Phil Dawson #4 of the Cleveland Browns kicks a 48 yard, game-winning field goal during the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 23, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Seahawks 6-3. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 23: Place kicker Phil Dawson #4 of the Cleveland Browns kicks a 48 yard, game-winning field goal during the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 23, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Seahawks 6-3. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND – SEPTEMBER 2: Phil Dawson # 4 of the Cleveland Browns kicks a field goal against the Chicago Bears during the preseason game on September 2, 2010, at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Bears 13-10. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND – SEPTEMBER 2: Phil Dawson # 4 of the Cleveland Browns kicks a field goal against the Chicago Bears during the preseason game on September 2, 2010, at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Bears 13-10. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Kicker Phil Dawson

Not many teams would have a kicker on their list of retired players to bring back. Part of the reason Phil Dawson makes the cut is because of the lack of talent that has stuck around Cleveland. However, Dawson may go down as one of the clutchest kickers in league history, which is why he deserving to be on this list.

Dawson was an original member of the team that returned to Cleveland in 1999 and was a dominant placekicker through the 2012 season for the Browns. After 14 seasons with the Browns, Dawson would spend four years with the San Francisco 49ers and ended his career with his two final seasons as an Arizona Cardinal.

With the Browns, Dawson had a made field goal percentage of 84 percent, which included 24 makes from 50-plus yards. Let’s not forget he had a pass completion percentage of 100 percent, with a touchdown as well. His one passing attempt came on a fake field goal for a touchdown in the 2009 season.

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Perhaps the two biggest memories of Phil Dawson will be the 56-yard game-winner against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football or the “Phil Dawson Rule” kick against the Baltimore Ravens in 2007.

If you don’t recall, a Dawson kick hit the upright, then hit the rear curved support post, and ended up bouncing in front of the goal post. The kick was originally ruled no good, but after discussion, the referees decided the kick was good. The kick would force overtime and the Ravens would have to be pulled out of their locker room after believing the game was over. The Browns would go on to win the game with another Dawson field goal in overtime.

This isn’t a knock on current kicker Austin Seibert, who had a fine rookie year, but more of a sign of respect for how clutch Dawson was. Anything inside of 40 yards was basically a lock. Seibert had an 86.2 field goal percentage during his rookie year, but struggled with extra points, which can end up being costly.

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