BROWNS Dawson's kicking is one of team's few givens

The placekicker is one of two current players from the 1999 expansion roster.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Phil Dawson keeps things straight down the middle.
The Browns' kicker hasn't missed a field goal attempt in nearly a year, making 18 straight since Oct. 19, 2003 -- the longest current streak in the NFL.
"That's a credit to the whole team," Dawson said. "It means 10 other guys are doing their jobs."
True, but only one is required to kick the ball through the uprights in sun, snow, sleet and rain off playing surfaces torn up for three hours by 300-pound linemen.
Dawson, who is 8-for-8 this season, has given the Browns an offensive weapon that coach Butch Davis couldn't imagine being without.
"It would be tough to envision anybody any better than Phil," Davis said.
On or off the field.
The 29-year-old Dawson stands out among his teammates for more than just his powerful right leg. A father of two boys, Dawson is good-natured, polite, charitable, insightful and well read -- not exactly your typical pro football player.
Praise by Davis
"He's as rock solid as any player I've seen," Davis said. "He's squared away in his marriage and career. He's a pro. He prepares. He can make any kick you want a kicker to make. He has ice water in his veins."
Dawson was not drafted out of college and had brief stints with Oakland and New England before signing with the Browns as a free agent in 1999. He remains one of two starters -- cornerback Daylon McCutcheon is the other -- left from Cleveland's expansion team roster.
Beyond the six game-winning kicks in five years, Dawson also scored the first rushing TD for Cleveland at the new Browns Stadium when he took a pitchout on a fake field goal attempt and scored on a 4-yard run in 1999.
It remains one of his career highlights, right up there with a 39-yard kick as time expired in '99 at Three Rivers Stadium to beat the Steelers 16-15, avenging the Browns' 43-0 loss to Pittsburgh in their first game back.
"That seems like a long time ago," Dawson said. "It was so big for so many reasons. We were all implants here and we didn't understand how big the rivalry is. We do now."
Rematch
Dawson will face the Steelers for the 11th time as the Cleveland-Pittsburgh rivalry will be renewed Sunday when the teams play for the 105th time.
Behind new quarterback Jeff Garcia, Cleveland's offense has struggled through the first four weeks this season. Fortunately, the Browns have been able to rely on Dawson, who has kicked a field goal in four straight games.
The Browns are yet to score a TD in the first half, getting 15 points on five field goals from Dawson.
Davis can't count on Garcia's arm, Quincy Morgan holding onto the ball or Lee Suggs staying healthy just yet. But when he sends in Dawson, it's a good bet the Browns will get three points.
He's the most accurate kicker in Browns' history, converting 92-of-111 -- 83 percent.
"The best thing about Phil is that you trust him," Davis said. "He will tell you what he can do. He's not a guy who says, 'Yes coach, I can make it,' when you know it's a 50-50 proposition. He'll tell you if he can make it."