Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.Here we go again. The Browns will have another new kicker in 2021.
It’s one unfortunate Browns tradition that the football regime of Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski hasn’t been able to wipe out yet.
Since 14-year franchise kicker Phil Dawson was allowed to leave in free agency in 2013, the Browns have not had a kicker finish two complete seasons. They have burned through eight of them, including Cody Parkey twice. Their next kicker will be the ninth trying to fill the shoes of Dawson.
Parkey, who was 11 of 11 on field goals and PATs in the two playoff games last season, was placed on injured reserve after suffering an injury to a quad muscle in pre-game warm-ups on Sunday. Players put on IR prior to the final roster cutdown can’t be designated for return to the club.
Thus, the Browns are likely to head into what is expected to be a championship-contending season with Parkey-challenger Chase McLaughlin, who has made 22 of 28 field goals in stints with five teams in two NFL seasons.
McLaughlin was claimed via waivers from the Jets on May 11. He took an early lead on Parkey when he made 5 of 5 field goals and Parkey missed 4 of 5 in the first kicking competition on the second day of training camp. Parkey was much better after that, but the die was cast.
McLaughlin made a field goal of 37 yards in the first preseason game in Jacksonville and one of 49 yards in the second one against the Giants.
Stefanski would not declare McLaughlin the 2021 kicker just yet, however.
“Andrew and his staff will discuss those type of things,” Stefanski said. “We are all still battling for jobs on this 53. It is still a great competition at all of these positions.
“[McLaughlin] is doing a nice job. I think you guys have seen it out at practice. He did a nice job with that field goal into the Dawg Pound yesterday. He is doing a nice job and expect him to keep battling.”
Dawson was the first Browns kicker when the expansion team broke camp in 1999. Upon winning the job, Dawson was stung when he was told by coach Chris Palmer, “We’re starting with you.”
Dawson would become a franchise legend, outlasting five head coaches and breaking the Browns’ NFL franchise record for field goals held by Hall of Famer Lou Groza.
Dawson fell 79 points shy of Groza’s total points record of 1,349 when then-President Joe Banner declined to re-sign him after Dawson had earned his first Pro Bowl berth with a 29-of-31 field goal record and scored 116 points.
Since then, no kicker has come close to Dawson’s consistency, distance accuracy or longevity.
From 50 yards and longer, Dawson made 24 of 34 field goals (.706) with a long of 56 yards. His successors have combined for 8 of 19 (.421) with a long of 54.
Here’s a look at the ignominious record of Browns kickers since Dawson’s departure.
Phil Dawson, 1999-2012: 215 games, 305 of 363 FG, 350 of 358 PAT, 1,271 points.
Billy Cundiff, 2013-14: 29 games, 43 of 55 FG, 49 of 49 PAT, 189 points.
Garrett Hartley, 2014: 2 games, 3 of 3 FG, 2 of 2 PAT, 11 points.
Travis Coons, 2015: 16 games, 28 of 32 FG, 22 of 24 PAT, 106 points.
Patrick Murray, 2016: 2 games, 1 of 2 FG, 3 of 4 PAT, 6 points.
Cody Parkey, 2016 and 2020: 29 games, 39 of 47 FG, 63 of 68 PAT, 180 points.
Zane Gonzalez, 2017-18: 18 games, 17 of 25 FG, 28 of 31 PAT, 79 points.
Greg Joseph, 2018: 14 games, 17 of 20 FG, 25 of 29 PAT, 76 points.
Austin Seibert, 2019-20: 17 games, 25 of 30 FG, 30 of 36 PAT, 105 points.
Brownie bitsStefanski described cornerback Greedy Williams’ latest groin injury as “day to day” and wouldn’t concede that rookie Greg Newsome has won the second starting cornerback spot opposite Denzel Ward. “We have some time before you have to set the depth chart, before you have to set the 53 and all of those type of things. Plenty of work to do for the guys this week at practice and then with this game [in Atlanta] coming up,” he said …
Will Stefanski play the starters for one quarter, or more, in the final preseason game in Atlanta? He won’t say. “We do have a plan, and we have talked about it,” he said. “I want to continue to see where we are this week before ultimately signing off on that. I will talk to the players and then I will certainly let you guys know.” …
With the Giants departed, can receiver Odell Beckham Jr. come out now and participate in team drills for the first time in camp? “The whole point of this has been to do this thing at the appropriate speed and do it with the consultation of the medical team,” Stefanski said. “We will continue to do that. I do think that there will be a point where he is in team drills and those type of things, but we will make sure he is ready for that.” …
Stefanski said he is “hopeful” hamstring-ridden safety Grant Delpit and receiver Anthony Schwartz could rejoin team workouts this week.
