By Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer
BEREA, Ohio — Another year of offensive doldrums for the Browns means that every field-goal attempt by Phil Dawson takes on unusual importance.
He has responded by making every field goal he has tried -- except for two that were blocked. The blocks occurred in the same game, and Dawson atoned by belting field goals of 52 and 53 yards -- the team's only points in a classic 6-3 win against Seattle. 
That was the Browns' last victory but hardly Dawson's last hurrah. He followed with a 52-yard field goal in a 20-10 loss in San Francisco -- a tough place to kick, even on a windless, sunny day -- and then field goals of 50 and 51 yards in last week's loss at Houston.
While long field goals have become the season's most unforeseen trend, Dawson, 36, leads all kickers with six makes of 50 or more yards in six attempts. Counting a far-too-rare point after, Dawson's little right foot has accounted for 16 of the Browns' 28 points in the past three games.
When coach Pat Shurmur announced Thursday that Dawson had been sent home because of migraine headaches, a collective gasp from Browns fans was heard in the Internet and Twitter worlds.
"Now what?" they wondered. But the headaches are not expected to affect Dawson's status for Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams.
Dawson entered this season having attempted only 19 field goals from 50 or more yards and making 11 in his 12 previous years with the expansion Browns.
The day before his migraines hit, Dawson struggled to offer a reasonable explanation for his sudden burst in power and accuracy.
"I'm just making them," he said. "I mean, I don't think I'm doing anything differently. I think when coaches show confidence and throw you out there, that gives you more confidence. When you only try one or two a year, sometimes you think this is a bigger deal than it really is. But when you're out there more, you kind of get used to it and treat it like any other kick."
Shurmur said he never flinches to call on Dawson for a long attempt.
"When I look over and I say, 'Punt or field goal?' and [Dawson says], 'Let's kick it' . . . I trust him," Shurmur said. "I never had the thought process where I didn't feel comfortable. He sets the mark, and when we get to that point, we kick it. That's how much I trust him."
Just think what the Browns would be without Dawson. And hold that thought, because it could happen.
Rather appropriately, Dawson became the first player the expansion Browns tagged with the franchise designation in February. Because a long-term deal couldn't be worked out, Dawson received a guaranteed one-year salary of $3.125 million -- the average of the top-five paid kickers the previous season.
Dawson sold his house, relocated his family and was emotionally prepared to move on to free agency after last season. The franchise designation surprised him, but he had little choice but to accept the deal.
The Browns have shown no interest in re-signing him to a multiyear contract. They would have had to act before a league deadline of Sept. 19 to do so. Dawson and two other players were the only three among 14 tagged by their teams not to get new contracts.
The Browns can retain Dawson in 2012 by franchising him again. But a new rule in the collective-bargaining agreement changes the compensation formula to the highest-paid player at his position during the past five years. That will lower the franchise numbers at every position. In other words, Dawson will have to take a pay cut to return if the Browns franchise him again.
"We'll see. I'll find out in February. I'm done trying to predict," he said of his future with the Browns. "I thought I was done last year, and here I am. I'm just gonna finish this thing out, and if I make it through February without that, then I'll know I'll be a free agent and I'll tackle that and see what happens."
Kicking for the Browns has had its hardships in the expansion era. The historically bad offense and lack of winning routinely disqualify Dawson from gaining Pro Bowl recognition. Within the culture of NFL kickers, he's cast as somewhat of a sympathetic figure.
"It does get old every week, hearing the same thing from my competitors," he said. "They'll have extremely complimentary stuff to say, stuff about how I deserve the Pro Bowl."
No player has suffered the franchise's losing syndrome more than Dawson. In that regard, he is bonded to the rest of us. He feels the anger as it cranks up a notch year after year.
"[The fans are] obviously scratching their heads," he said. "They just want to see improvement. I don't blame them. The guys that have been here a while understand that. We try to communicate that to some of the newer guys."
Like most everyone else, Dawson had hopes of seeing a real turnaround this year. He's at a loss to explain the season's downward trend.
"I think I've kind of given up trying to figure out how this team works," he said. "We have good guys in here, and guys are working hard, so at some point, it's got to translate on the field."
Until the winning starts, Dawson has the usual seasonal challenges of kicking in Cleveland to keep him motivated. Plus some individual goals. He currently ranks 10th all-time in field-goal accuracy at .833. In the top 10, only Matt Stover and Ryan Longwell have more field goals made than Dawson, so he would like to surpass their percentages.
Also, he has his sights set on Lou Groza's franchise record of 1,349 points scored. Dawson is at 1,110. He will need a new contract -- and a burst of extra points -- to catch "The Toe."
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