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By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 05:40 p.m. EDT, Oct 14, 2009
Kicker Dawson back in locker room for first time since injury BEREA: Most NFL kickers tend to just blend in with the crowd, drawing little attention to themselves in a football locker room.
But the presence of kicker Phil Dawson was noticed by many Wednesday in the Browns locker room, as he dressed with his teammates for the first time in weeks since being sidelined with a right calf injury.
''I'm working hard to get better and excited to get back out there today,'' said Dawson, who suffered the injury in practice during Week 3 while preparing for the Baltimore Ravens.
Whether the 12-year veteran is close to being able to play is still uncertain.
''I'll be out there seeing what happens,'' Dawson said. ''[But] you'll have to ask [coach Eric] Mangini and the doctors. They're the ones that are in charge of the timetables and all of that. I'm just excited to have the chance to get out there today and be around the guys and get some work done.''
Dawson wasn't sure what was worse, actually dealing with the injury or having to watch the games from home.
''It's been tough,''' he said ''I'm not used to it. To sit there on your couch is pretty tough. You live and die with them. It's easier to be out there feeling like you're contributing than to be sitting there with absolutely nothing to offer. It makes you appreciate things.''
Dawson's favorite Browns memory remains his game-winning kick in 1999 in a 16-15 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
''The only way that could have been better was to understand the rivalry a little better,'' Dawson said. ''We were all imports at that time, we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. A decade later, that would be sweet to have something like that happen.''
Especially since the Browns have lost the past 11 games and 17 of the past 18 to the Steelers.
''They've definitely held the upper hand and you've got to give them all the credit,'' Dawson said. ''They've consistently performed at a high level, and given the rivalry, that makes it pretty tough to deal with when they consistently beat you.''
Even if he can't play Sunday, Dawson's role of veteran advice-giver might be of great help to rookie backup Billy Cundiff.
''Pittsburgh's a tough place to kick, but you can't make too big of an issue out of it,'' Dawson said. ''If you go into it thinking it's going to be a long, hard day, you kind of create a self-fulfilling prophecy. You just have to understand, there's going to be some conditions and variables you have to deal with. You try to prepare the best you can.
''[Cundiff's] done a great job. I'm really happy for him. It's good to see a guy when he gets an opportunity to step in there and do a nice job. To see the way the team's rallied around him has been fun to watch.''
Team honors
Punter Dave Zastudil was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week Wednesday for his efforts in the Browns' 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Zastudil punted nine times for 386 yards (42.9 average/42.1 net) with his longest going 57 yards at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
''I don't know if it's anything more than understanding that when the weather's bad you have to concentrate more and focus more on your technique,'' Zastudil said. ''I guess that's what I did, but it takes a little luck, too.''
Seven of Zastudil's punts were downed inside the 20, with three placed inside the 5-yard line (-1, -1, -4). Although his final punt was fumbled on the Bills' 16-yard line, it was recovered by the Browns and led to the game-winning field goal with 26 seconds remaining.
''It's a great honor, I'm humbled by it,'' said Zastudil, who is the first Browns punter to win the award since Kyle Richardson during Week 9 of the 2005 season.
''I enjoyed it on Monday and Tuesday but now it's in the past. We have a big one in Pittsburgh.''
Especially considering Pittsburgh's Heinz Field can be a difficult element to deal with all on its own.
''The field in Pittsburgh is pretty crappy,'' Zastudil said. ''It gets chewed up. You have to make sure you have the right cleats and the right footing. You have to stay short in your technique. With that open end the wind comes in and swirls.''
Zastudil's seven punts inside the 20 ties Josh Miller for third-most in an NFL game since the statistic was first recorded in 1976. Further, he is the first punter to accomplish the feat since Bryan Barker recorded eight punts inside the 20 in 1999 as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1999.
Brownies
Browns defensive lineman Shaun Rogers was excused from Wednesday's practice for personal reasons. ... Third-string quarterback Brett Ratliff and his wife had their second child, a boy named Johnny. ... After Sunday's win, Mangini handed out game balls to Zastudil, running back Jamal Lewis and defensive back Eric Wright. Practice squad member and linebacker Marcus Benard was also honored as practice player of the week.
Injury report
Defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman (groin) and tight end Steve Heiden (knee) did not participate in practice Wednesday. ... Linebacker Eric Barton (neck) and tight end Robert Royal (foot and finger) are new additions to the list of 10 players who were limited.
Stephanie Storm can be reached
at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
Kicker Dawson back in locker room for first time since injury BEREA: Most NFL kickers tend to just blend in with the crowd, drawing little attention to themselves in a football locker room.
But the presence of kicker Phil Dawson was noticed by many Wednesday in the Browns locker room, as he dressed with his teammates for the first time in weeks since being sidelined with a right calf injury.
''I'm working hard to get better and excited to get back out there today,'' said Dawson, who suffered the injury in practice during Week 3 while preparing for the Baltimore Ravens.
Whether the 12-year veteran is close to being able to play is still uncertain.
''I'll be out there seeing what happens,'' Dawson said. ''[But] you'll have to ask [coach Eric] Mangini and the doctors. They're the ones that are in charge of the timetables and all of that. I'm just excited to have the chance to get out there today and be around the guys and get some work done.''
Dawson wasn't sure what was worse, actually dealing with the injury or having to watch the games from home.
''It's been tough,''' he said ''I'm not used to it. To sit there on your couch is pretty tough. You live and die with them. It's easier to be out there feeling like you're contributing than to be sitting there with absolutely nothing to offer. It makes you appreciate things.''
Dawson's favorite Browns memory remains his game-winning kick in 1999 in a 16-15 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
''The only way that could have been better was to understand the rivalry a little better,'' Dawson said. ''We were all imports at that time, we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. A decade later, that would be sweet to have something like that happen.''
Especially since the Browns have lost the past 11 games and 17 of the past 18 to the Steelers.
''They've definitely held the upper hand and you've got to give them all the credit,'' Dawson said. ''They've consistently performed at a high level, and given the rivalry, that makes it pretty tough to deal with when they consistently beat you.''
Even if he can't play Sunday, Dawson's role of veteran advice-giver might be of great help to rookie backup Billy Cundiff.
''Pittsburgh's a tough place to kick, but you can't make too big of an issue out of it,'' Dawson said. ''If you go into it thinking it's going to be a long, hard day, you kind of create a self-fulfilling prophecy. You just have to understand, there's going to be some conditions and variables you have to deal with. You try to prepare the best you can.
''[Cundiff's] done a great job. I'm really happy for him. It's good to see a guy when he gets an opportunity to step in there and do a nice job. To see the way the team's rallied around him has been fun to watch.''
Team honors
Punter Dave Zastudil was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week Wednesday for his efforts in the Browns' 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Zastudil punted nine times for 386 yards (42.9 average/42.1 net) with his longest going 57 yards at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
''I don't know if it's anything more than understanding that when the weather's bad you have to concentrate more and focus more on your technique,'' Zastudil said. ''I guess that's what I did, but it takes a little luck, too.''
Seven of Zastudil's punts were downed inside the 20, with three placed inside the 5-yard line (-1, -1, -4). Although his final punt was fumbled on the Bills' 16-yard line, it was recovered by the Browns and led to the game-winning field goal with 26 seconds remaining.
''It's a great honor, I'm humbled by it,'' said Zastudil, who is the first Browns punter to win the award since Kyle Richardson during Week 9 of the 2005 season.
''I enjoyed it on Monday and Tuesday but now it's in the past. We have a big one in Pittsburgh.''
Especially considering Pittsburgh's Heinz Field can be a difficult element to deal with all on its own.
''The field in Pittsburgh is pretty crappy,'' Zastudil said. ''It gets chewed up. You have to make sure you have the right cleats and the right footing. You have to stay short in your technique. With that open end the wind comes in and swirls.''
Zastudil's seven punts inside the 20 ties Josh Miller for third-most in an NFL game since the statistic was first recorded in 1976. Further, he is the first punter to accomplish the feat since Bryan Barker recorded eight punts inside the 20 in 1999 as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1999.
Brownies
Browns defensive lineman Shaun Rogers was excused from Wednesday's practice for personal reasons. ... Third-string quarterback Brett Ratliff and his wife had their second child, a boy named Johnny. ... After Sunday's win, Mangini handed out game balls to Zastudil, running back Jamal Lewis and defensive back Eric Wright. Practice squad member and linebacker Marcus Benard was also honored as practice player of the week.
Injury report
Defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman (groin) and tight end Steve Heiden (knee) did not participate in practice Wednesday. ... Linebacker Eric Barton (neck) and tight end Robert Royal (foot and finger) are new additions to the list of 10 players who were limited.
Stephanie Storm can be reached
at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 06:06 PM, 10/14/2009
Perhaps he can kick some of the nimrods responsible for this dismal season in the you know what!
Posted 06:06 PM, 10/14/2009
Best wishes to Dawson in his comeback bid!
Toledo, Oh
Posted 06:27 PM, 10/14/2009
Phil is great along with the rest of The Browns special teams unit! GO BROWNS!!!!
Akron, OH
Posted 08:40 PM, 10/14/2009
He is a quality kicker and has always seemed like he was an excellent teammate . . . he does need to kick of the players around.
Posted 04:05 PM, 10/15/2009
How can you call Billy Cundiff a rookie when he played for the Cowboys for 4 years? Get it right BJ.
Posted 08:07 PM, 10/15/2009
Even if he can't play Sunday, Dawson's role of veteran advice-giver might be of great help to rookie backup Billy Cundiff.
Um, he's hardly a rookie. Cundiff played three seasons with the Cowboys, six games with Dallas in 2005 and five games with the Saints in 2006.
akron, oh
Posted 03:01 PM, 10/17/2009
I blame Derek Anderson
