In 2005 Phil Dawson was ‘rewarded’ for surviving his six-year stint on the circus sideshow that was (and apparently, still is) the expansion Cleveland Browns.  The tune of this ‘reward’ was a five-year, $7.1 million contract that was to run through the 2010 season.  This contract was to be paid as follows: $4.15 million over the first two years, followed by $950,000 in year three and then $1 million each in years four and five.

Notice anything?  Like most contracts the Voice has seen, it is front heavy (to appease the player) and back heavy (to make the team look generous when everyone knows the player will be long gone by the time those wages kick in). Also, there is a section in the middle that is probably where the player’s true value lies.  Notice anything else about the timing of the dispute?  Exactly.  The large payout upfront has passed and now poor Phil’s income has declined.

What seems apparent to me is that the old regime that signed Dawson to this deal did not expect him to still be around or still be producing the way that he has been.  While being 34 years of age isn’t old by kicker standards, one would suspect some drop off in production after 11 years in the league. 

If you listen to anyone who supports Dawson’s ridiculous cause they will surely tell you that what actually happened is that Dawson has gotten stronger and more accurate as the years have gone by which have led him to scoring more points and therefore an invaluable asset to the team.

What the Voice of Reason will tell you happened is that the Browns have gotten incrementally better on offense each season, thereby moving the ball a few extra yards, and creating more and more opportunities for Dawson to score.  The Browns, however, still haven’t mastered putting the ball in the end zone.  So that leads to Dawson getting additional chances to trot out onto the field, culminating in his career high for attempts last year at 36.

Dawson’s FG percentage for 2008 was 83% (down 3% from the year before) that placed him 20th in the league.  Out of the 32 teams in the league, Dawson placed in the 38th percentile (meaning 62% of other kickers in the league were better).  For comparison’s sake, scoring in the 38th percentile on the SAT wouldn’t even get you into Kent State.

As for Dawson’s newly discovered leg strength (can someone please launch an investigation to explain this – seriously?) he still only averaged 14th in gross kickoff distance (with four dome teams ahead of him) and had only 12 touchback (good for 12th in the league). 

According to USA Today’s NFL salary page, Dawson’s 2008 salary of $950,000 (approx 24th highest paid kicker) falls slightly below his production, but the first two years of his contract had him outgaining Adam Vinatieri even though he underperformed him.  So, if Dawson isn’t an elite kicker what is his motivation for wanting to be paid like one? 

Oh, that’s right – he’s old.  With new contracts come new signing bonuses and Dawson is hoping for one more large payday before he walks off into the Texas sunset.  Now, I can’t say that I blame him for trying to (further) line his pockets but when you’re a middling kicker on a struggling franchise with a new head coach, and the de facto minor league spits out 119 new candidates vying for one of 32 jobs, you have to question your expendability.

Being the Voice of Reason I realize that kicking in Cleveland Browns Stadium is a thankless task and Dawson seems to have it down to a science.  The fact that he has also been around since the reboot is not lost on me either.  But Dawson can’t expect the new front office to consider these things, as their thought process is surely similar to the analytical approach outlined above.

While I would like to see Dawson as a part of the Browns for the next two seasons (and potentially beyond) I do not think management should give in to his demands.  He’s not worth it and rewarding an average kicker for holding out will only encourage the more elite talent on the roster to follow his lead.