NFL roundup

Browns: Cleveland has placed the franchise tag on kicker Phil Dawson, a strong signal the club will attempt to re-sign its career leader in field goals. Among the NFL’s most consistent kickers, Dawson has been trying to get a new long-term contract from the Browns for several years. He expected to become a free agent during this offseason, sold his home here and moved his family back to his native Texas. Dawson is the only player left from Cleveland’s 1999 expansion team. Last season, he made 23 of 28 field goals and all 28 extra points. He also passed Hall of Famer Lou Groza for the most field goals in team history.

Saints: New Orleans has released tight end Jeremy Shockey. Executive vice president and general manager Mickey Loomis, in a statement Tuesday, thanked Shockey for his contributions to the team and wished him the best in the future. In his three seasons in New Orleans, he caught 139 passes for 1,460 yards with six touchdowns in 38 regular season games, 34 of them starts. The nine-year veteran had 41 receptions for 408 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games last season.

Broncos: Denver has signed Champ Bailey to a four-year deal, keeping the perennial Pro Bowl cornerback off the free agent market. Bailey recently played in his 10th Pro Bowl, a record for cornerbacks. He’s coming off one of his better seasons in his seven stellar years in Denver. The team had pulled a four-year deal worth more than $40 million off the table in October but reopened talks this month.

Associated Press