By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The one constant for the Browns since they returned in 1999 has been kicker Phil Dawson bracing fierce winds on the lakefront and nailing his kicks. 
Fortunately for them, that won't change in 2012.
The Browns franchised Dawson for the second straight season, which will be his 14th in a Browns uniform. He will make about $3.8 million, which represents the requisite 20 percent raise for a second straight tag. Last season, he made $3.125 million.
The Browns can continue to work on a long-term deal with Dawson, 37.
But for now, they're happy to have wrapped up Mr. Automatic, who's coming off what he considered to be the best season of his career.
"I certainly gave my heart and soul to this team this year," Dawson said after the season. "I feel pretty good about how I kicked the ball. I really missed one kick all year. I feel pretty good about that. I'll let it all sink in and make that decision when the time comes."
Dawson played in all 16 games last year, converting 24-of-29 field-goal attempts and all 20 PATs for a team-high 92 points. He also made seven field goals of 50 yards or more, which tied for most in the NFL and fell one shy of the league record.
What made his season even more impressive is that he adjusted to three holders and two long-snappers after Ryan Pontbriand was released. Two of his kicks were blocked, and another was deflected after the snap went off a lineman's foot. He missed a 38-yarder but contends it was good because it sailed over the upright.
Dawson nearly tied the NFL record with eight kicks of 50 yards or more but was 1 yard shy on his final kick of the season, a 49-yarder in the season-ending loss to Pittsburgh.
"I wish I was thinking a little clearer," he said. "I might have moved it back an extra yard. One yard from history."
Dawson returned to the Browns last season despite the fact he sold his house in Westlake and moved back to Austin, Texas, where his wife, Shannon, and their three children lived during the season.
But it didn't stop Dawson from moving into second place on the Browns' career points list with 1,155, second only to Hall of Famer Lou Groza's 1,349. Dawson also stands first on the Browns' all-time field-goal list with 276, and is first in team history with an 83.1 percent conversion rate, 10th best in NFL history.
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/03/breaking_cleveland_browns_fran.html
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