Browns coach Rob Chudzinski has decided zero is the best number of kickers to have on a roster. (USATSI)
Browns coach Rob Chudzinski has decided zero is the best number of kickers to have on a roster. (USATSI)

The kicking competition is over in Cleveland and it looks like everyone's going to go home a loser. That's right, the Browns have decided to replace former kicker Phil Dawson -- with nobody. At least for now.

The Browns announced their final cuts on Saturday and among those final cuts were both Shayne Graham and Brandon Bogotay, the two players duking it out to win the starting kicking job.  

Graham and Bogotay were battling to replace Dawson, who kicked in Cleveland for 14 years. The Browns let Dawson walk in March and the veteran ended up signing with San Francisco. 

"We weren't completely satisfied," coach Rob Chudzinski said of his kickers, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "We haven't closed the door completely on the kickers we had."

And no, this doesn't mean the Browns will be eschewing field goals and extra points this season, they'll have a kicker, "We'll have a kicker within the next few days," Chudzinski said. It's one position where a guy can come right in."

Graham injured his back in warmups of Cleveland's final preseason game and it's not clear how bad his injury is. As for Bogotay, he hit 2-of-3 field goals in preseason play. 

The Browns also announced that they've released offensive lineman Aaron Adams, defensive back Akeem Auguste, linebacker Justin Cole, running back Jamiane Cook, defensive lineman Hall Davis, wide receiver Tori Gurley, linebacker James-Michael Johnson, wide receiver David Nelson, wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt, defensive lineman Brian Sanford, defensive back Jamoris Slaughter, linebacker Justin Staples and placed receiver Josh Gordon on the reserve/suspended list. 

To keep track of all the cuts that happened in the NFL on Saturday, you can go here.


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