By STEVE KING
Can Chase McLaughlin do the job as the Browns kicker?
I don’t know, but I am almost certain that Cody Parkey can’t.
With Parkey’s quadriceps injury suffered in Sunday’s 17-13 preseason victory over the New York Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium, McLaughlin would be his replacement if the Browns had a game today. I think he’ll stick with the Browns a while as they give him a real shot to be the guy.
McLaughlin, who was signed in the offseason, drilled a 48-year field goal Sunday, which had to impress the Browns. They need consistency, and they need length, the latter of which, especially, being something they don’t have in Parkey.
Sooner or later, it’s going to come down to the Browns needing to make a long kick to win a big game. I have no confidence in Parkey making that kick. He doesn’t have that big leg. I am willing to wait and see if McLaughlin can do it.
Look, the Browns knew — well, they still know — there’s a problem at kicker. Their team is pretty good overall, but not at kicker. It is a real weakness. Actually, it’s the biggest weakness on the team and could keep the Browns from being the best they can be if it’s not addressed as soon as possible.
And if McLaughlin fails, then the Browns will have to find someone else.
As I’ve said here any number of times, the Browns have struggled mightily at kicker ever since incompetent former Browns President Joe Banner let Phil Dawson, one of the best kickers in the game and, in my book, the best one in team history, walk away in free agency without even talking to him about a new contract. Kicker, and left tackle, with future Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas, were two great strengths on bad Browns teams for all those years, with everything else a miss. But the genius Banner couldn’t grasp that.
It’s time — actually, it’s way, way past time — for the Browns to get out of the mud and find a kicker as good as the players at the other positions. Let’s hope McLaughlin is that man, for it would make it a lot easier, and quicker.
