Browns franchise kicker Phil Dawson

Phil Dawson said goodbye to teammates and friends after the Browns 2010 finale, sold his house in Westlake and headed back home to Texas with his wife and kids.

But the veteran kicker's 12-year career with the Browns may not be over, as he thought walking out of Cleveland Browns Stadium on Jan. 2. The Browns on Tuesday designated Dawson as their franchise player for the 2011 season, meaning his offer will be about $3.25 million -- the average of last season's top five salaries at his position.

If the same rules apply under the next collective bargaining agreement, another team can sign Dawson, but would have to surrender two first-round picks to the Browns. The Browns can also match any offer.

The $3.25 million would more than triple Dawson's previous salary of $1 million a year. The Browns' only full-time kicker in the new era, Dawson has been seeking a new deal the past several seasons, but the team hasn't budged.

Dawson, who couldn't be reached for comment, has made an apparent statement about his contract each of the past two years by skipping some of the voluntary organized team activities. He's never gone public about being underpaid, but it's been clear he hasn't been happy.

After the 41-9 loss to Pittsburgh in the season finale, Dawson sounded resigned to being gone, but admitted that he wouldn't rule anything out, "even returning to the Browns."

He added, "For me, it's really going to be what's best for my family. I've earned the right to have that choice [of where to play] and I'm going to take advantage of it. I'll seek my wife's input. We'll get together, my boys are even getting old enough I'll see what they have to say about it. Whenever that time comes, we'll make the best decision for us."

With the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on March 3, all league business will be shut down and teams will not be permitted to negotiate with free agents. But when a new agreement is reached, Dawson will be able to negotiate a long-term deal with any team, including the Browns.

In 2010, Dawson surpassed Hall of Fame kicker Lou Groza (234) for first place on the Browns' all-time career field goal list and now has 252. He's also first in team history with a field goal percentage of 83.2, which is ninth in NFL history. Dawson's accomplishments are all the more remarkable considering he kicks in some of the worst weather in the NFL. 

Story by Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer