Cleveland Browns: 10 best all-time free agent signings

Cleveland Browns No. 2 best free agent: RB, Jamal Lewis

Jamal Lewis, before joining the Browns was a one-man wrecking crew against the team he finally joined in 2007. Lewis was originally a Baltimore Ravan. After being drafted fifth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, he seemed to save his best moments against Cleveland.

In 2003, he ran wild, running for 295 yards on 30 carries and two touchdowns. He followed that up with a 205-yard performance against the Browns at the end of that season.

By 2007 he finally signed with the team he loved to destroy and had three solid seasons before he left the NFL after the 2009 season. He gained 2,806 yards with 13 touchdowns in his time with the Browns.

One highlight of his years in Cleveland was during the 2007 season when he ran for 163 in a blinding snowstorm at First Energy Stadium in a game against the Buffalo Bills. The team won 8-0 because of Lewis and the No. 1 free agent in Browns history. Who is that?

Cleveland Browns No. 1 best free agent: K, Phil Dawson

“In Phil, We Trust” should be on the statue that is built of Phil Dawson. Dawson was automatic in the kicking game and helped the Browns win games over his lengthy stay in Cleveland.

He was one of the few bright spots on teams that were very bad for years. He played for the Browns from 1999 through the 2012 season. He went 305 for 363 for a nice 84% completion rate over 14 seasons with the Browns.

Cleveland had several games that came down to his foot and Dawson usually always delivered. Back in 2007, in a game at Baltimore, he hit a 51-yard field goal to send the game to overtime.

Originally the field goal was called no good, but the NFL replay booth back in New York looked at it again and determined the football hit the crossbar and was finally deemed good. I, the author of this article was so upset that the Browns looked like they were going to lose the game, that he stormed out of the sports bar where he’d been watching the game with a group of Browns Backers in Wichita, Kansas. I learned my lesson.

In the “Snow Globe Bowl” in a game against the Buffalo Bills in a snowstorm along the shores of Lake Erie back in 2007, Dawson kicked some of the craziest wind-driven footballs to help the team claim victory 8-0.

All in all, one could always enjoy Dawson’s kicking game because it was usually the best highlight on Browns teams that weren’t that good. Sticking with a team for 14 years is also a job well done.

Here are some highlights from that snowy Buffalo Bills game in 2007.