DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns sign K Shayne Graham

Sorry, I wasnt specific. I was replying directly to your situation and what you added, not necessarily the Phil situation.

Cool, sorry I misunderstood you, too. Way too easy on a message board

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n u musta started texten while u were gone.

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None of these young guys listen to messages...took the plunge n started text this year...lol my first step into the 21st century...

Arps: Yeah as stated just a reliable source on the subject. No holier than though stuff. Take it or leave it...more so to explain why I am steadfast on the Dawson not willing to sign bit.

Peen he is 38 n his leg has seem to get stronger n stronger. We are talking 3 years...not a long time for him to go south...he is in excellent shape. Guarantee on what? a 12-15 mil contract total...so they guarantee 8. Btw I'm not a basher just think it was a mistake n nobody is perfect.

Of course I hope it will be of no consequence losing him...n I mean that in regards to us needing the kick for a big game or post game...not meaning we will not be in contention the next 3 years.

Good signing.

Shayne, knowing he is filling the shoes of a Phil Dawson, hopes to make a name for himself:

http://www.ohio.com/sports/browns/browns...ksEnabled=false

"Despite his resume, Shayne Graham realized he would be kicking in Phil Dawson’s shadow when he signed a one-year, $940,000 deal with the Browns on Monday.

Graham, a veteran of 12 NFL seasons, earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2005 and ranks fifth in league history with a field-goal percentage of 85.4 (245-of-297). He’s coming off a season in which he made 37-of-44 field goals (84.1 percent) for the Houston Texans, including two playoff games.

But Graham conceded Dawson, 38, is “a legend” in Cleveland.

Dawson joined the expansion Browns in 1999 and became the face of the franchise during the past 14 years. He made the Pro Bowl last season, connecting on 29-of-31 field goals, before signing a one-year deal reportedly worth $2.25 million with the San Francisco 49ers on March 19.

Graham, 35, acknowledged getting caught up in trying to fill Dawson’s shoes wouldn’t be the right approach for him. Instead, he’ll simply try to make a name for himself in Cleveland and resist comparisons to his predecessor.

“Phil not only was a great kicker, but he was a great guy,” Graham said Thursday after the third and final practice of the team’s voluntary minicamp wrapped up at its training facility in Berea. “You don’t look to replace a guy like that. You don’t look to replace anyone. You look to make your own place, and all I can hope to do is do my best and help out the team.

“I have all the respect in the world for how Phil has kicked in these conditions and with this team. He’s been a tremendous kicker, I have a lot of respect for him and I’ve always been impressed with him. I wish him all the luck in the world where he is now. But looking out for myself, it doesn’t really change my thought process that I’m filling in for a guy that’s a legend here because all I can do is look to help my team now.”

NFL kickers know each other, and Graham is familiar with Dawson from the eight seasons he spent playing in the AFC North. Graham played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2003-09 and the Baltimore Ravens in 2011. Since he signed with the Browns, he hasn’t talked to Dawson, but he plans to do so.

“I’ll probably try to catch up with him just to try to get some advice on the area or things that he’s experienced since he’s been here,” Graham said.

In the meantime, Graham will focus on winning a job as the Browns enter phase two of their offseason-conditioning program. Their first set of organized team activities (OTAs) is set to run May 14-16. Graham is the front-runner to become the Browns’ primary kicker, though Brandon Bogotay, 23, is also on the roster.

Graham believes he had a “good” season in 2012, but he said it was not “outstanding.” He went 24-of-24 on field goals of 39 yards or less, 8-of-10 on field goals of 40-49 yards and 5-of-10 on field goals of 50 yards or longer, according to ProFootballFocus.com.

“I didn’t miss any short field goals, but I would have liked to make a couple more of those 50s that were missed,” Graham said. “No matter what happens, it’s your job to make them, so no excuses. I should have made more of them, and I just look for more chances to get a few more in the future.”

Graham knows how challenging it can be to kick in the cold, windy weather in Cleveland. Dawson is so well respected among NFL kickers partly because of the consistency he displayed in less-than-ideal conditions.

“On an away team, I think I’ve played here either eight or nine times, and I’ve had everything from beautiful weather to cold, frozen-ground weather and windy and snow and rain,” Graham said. “You name it, I’ve probably been in it in this stadium. So that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to make it easier, but it just means you have experience under your belt to know how to adapt to certain things. Playing in Cincinnati, playing for Baltimore, this is a tough division and every point matters. So I know what my role would be if I were here.”

The more I think about it, the more I think that Graham is the perfect guy to replace Dawson with. He's a veteran, who can handle replacing a legend ...... and if he struggles, then the next guy in will be replacing him .... and not Dawson.

Makes perfect sense to me.

The more I think about this signing (and getting over losing PD), the better I like it ...

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"Despite his resume, Shayne Graham realized he would be kicking in Phil Dawson’s shadow when he signed a one-year, $940,000 deal with the Browns on Monday.

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Dawson joined the expansion Browns in 1999 and became the face of the franchise during the past 14 years. He made the Pro Bowl last season, connecting on 29-of-31 field goals, before signing a one-year deal reportedly worth $2.25 million with the San Francisco 49ers on March 19.

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Banner did managed to save Jimmy Haslam $1,310,000.00, signing Graham over Dawson....


...face it, lawyers (Aubrey Harwell, Jr.) don't come cheap.

Dawson didn't want to be here...

So we didn't sign anyone over him..

Dont let facts get in the way of someone pushing an agenda.

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Banner did managed to save Jimmy Haslam $1,310,000.00, signing Graham over Dawson....


...face it, lawyers (Aubrey Harwell, Jr.) don't come cheap.

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You're actually giddy that Haslam is in trouble.

Shayne Graham has a tough job replacing Dawson. He could have a real good season but the first time he misses a a field goal inside 40 yards at home I thinks there will be a bad reaction at the stadium. If he has an average or bad season it will be Owen Marecic all over again. With that maybe it is best to bring in a seasoned vet before trying to replace Dawson with a rook.

Now that he is a Brown I hope he is everything that Dawson was for us. Dawson is just going to be a tough act to follow.

I'll bet you 20$ youre wrong and nothing at all will happen to the Browns because of this.