Browns reportedly went cheapskate at kicker, costing them a win in Miami
The Browns special teams coach reportedly didn't want to sign Cody Parkey
Just when you think that there's no way the Cleveland Browns could find a new way to lose, they might have actually done it: Apparently, the Browns nickel-and-dimed themselves to a loss on Sunday.
If you missed the game, a big reason why the Browns lost 30-24 in overtime was because kicker Cody Parkey missed three field goals against the Dolphins.
So where does the nickel-and-diming come from?
According to the Miami Herald, Browns special teams coordinator Chris Tabor didn't even want Parkey on the team, he wanted free agent Robbie Gould. However, the Browns went with Parkey because he was the cheaper option.
The Browns were in need of a kicker in Miami because their normal starter, Patrick Murray, injured his knee during a walk-through practice on Friday.
After making the decision to sign Parkey, the Browns gave him a one-year, $525,000 contract, which means the kicker was paid roughly $30,880 for his 3 for 6 performance on Sunday, including the potential game-winning kick you see below.
Parkey.
— NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2016
For the WIN.
... WIDE LEFT. #CLEvsMIAhttps://t.co/srNJFADzHb
If the Browns had gone with Gould, who's never missed three field goals in a game during his 11-year career, they would've had to sign him to at least a one-year, $985,000 deal, which is the veteran minimum for someone who's been in the league as long as Gould.
At that rate, Gould would have made $57,940 on Sunday.
It's not crazy to think that the Browns made this decision over money. After all, this is the team in the NFL that embraced Moneyball, and there's no more Moneyball position than kicker. If kickers are interchangeable as many believe, then you'd want the cheapest player doing the job.
That being said, a Browns source told Ohio.com on Monday that there's no way the Browns went with Parkey because he was cheaper.
"Money played no role in the decision," the source said. "It's ridiculous to think that it would."
However, coach Hue Jackson didn't exactly clear things up during his press conference on Monday when he was asked if Tabor wanted Gould on the team and not Parkey.
"That's so far from the truth," Jackson said, via CBS Sports radio's 92.3 the Fan. "If there's anything that comes out of this building, it should come from me."
That last sentence is the interesting one. Jackson's not necessarily denying the story. If anything, he sounds mad that the story got out. Despite the fact that Tabor doesn't seem to favor Parkey, the kicker will be around for at least one more week.
Jackson said on Monday that Parkey will likely be the kicker for the team's Week 4 game against the Redskins. Jackson also said that third-string quarterback Cody Kessler will be the team's starter.
















