The San Francisco 49ers have found their new kicker to replace David Akers, signing Browns veteran free agent Phil Dawson to a one-year contract.||||||| The Pro Bowl kicker announced earlier Tuesday via Twitter that he had joined the NFC champion Niners, who parted ways with the six-time Pro Bowler Akers on March 6 following a season in which he made only 29 of 42 attempts a year after he kicked an NFL single-season record 44 field goals.

Dawson has signed his one-year tender as the club's franchise player.||||||| It's the second straight year the steady Dawson, who has been with the Browns since its 1999 expansion rebirth, has been tagged. General manager Tom Heckert recently said the team would like to sign the 37-year-old Dawson to a long-term contract. Dawson, who will make $3.8 million next season, is coming off one of his best years. He converted 24 of 29 field goals, making seven beyond 50 yards.

Dawson's career is still kickin' with the Browns. The dependable Dawson, who has been with Cleveland since its 1999 expansion season, will spend another year with the club after the Browns decided to use their franchise tag on the 37-year-old.||||||| It's the second straight year the Browns have franchised Dawson, who made $3.25 million last season and will make 20 percent more - roughly $3.8 million - next season, his 14th in a logo-less orange helmet. If they hadn't used the tag on Dawson he would have become an unrestricted free agent later this month.

Dawson sustained a thigh bruise early in Sunday's game, but stayed in and made two field goals beyond 50 yards in Cleveland's 6-3 win over Seattle.||||||| Coach Pat Shurmur said Dawson "gutted it out" after getting hurt. Dawson kicked field goals of 52 and 53 yards. Shurmur said Dawson is not likely to kick during practice early this week, but is hopeful the 13-year veteran will be ready for this week's game at San Francisco. Shurmur said the team has no immediate plans to bring in another kicker.