Cards sign Cowboys center
Al Johnson will compete for starting job
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Mar 5, 2007 5:07 PM
The Cardinals added their first new face in free agency Monday, having agreed to terms with Dallas center Al Johnson to a four-year contract.
Terms of the deal weren't disclosed but it's safe to say that Johnson will paid like a starter. Nick Leckey, the starter for most of last season, is back, but Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt is looking to create competition and depth all along the offensive line.
The Cowboys drafted Johnson out of Wisconsin in the second round in 2003 and was slated to start before suffering a knee injury in training camp. He underwent microfracture surgery and was placed on injured reserved. He started 31 games over the next two seasons, beating out Andre Gurode for the job in 2005.
Last year, however, Johnson lost the starting job to Gurode and played on special teams. Johnson was benched because former coach Bill Parcells wanted a bigger player at center. But at 6 feet 5 and 311 pounds, Johnson is taller and heavier than Leckey, who is listed at 6-3 and 298 pounds.
With Monday's visits by two defensive backs, six players from other teams have visited the Cardinals over the past few days. Until Johnson came to terms, the only players that had signed with the club were two who were already on the roster: backup running back Marcel Shipp and backup safety Hank Milligan.
The Cardinals are in the running for several of those players. They have made an offer to Cincinnati tight end Reggie Kelly, who is also considering the Bengals, Falcons and Raiders. They were expected to make one to Philadelphia cornerback Roderick Hood on Monday, according to an NFL source.
St. Louis cornerback Travis Fisher and Cincinnati safety Kevin Kaesviharn visited Monday. Fisher already has visited Washington and reportedly has other trips planned. He declined to talk with Arizona reporters before leaving town.
Kaesviharn was scheduled to catch a Monday afternoon flight to New Orleans and got the impression the Cardinals weren't planning to make an offer immediately.
“I don't know that they're ready to move that quickly,” he said. “I think they probably have other things they need to think about, and that's understandable.”
Although several Bengals have been arrested in the past year, Kaesviharn and Kelly are regarded as solid citizens and players. Kelly is an excellent blocker, a skill the Cardinals need, and Kaesviharn has the versatility to player safety and cornerback.
The Bengals would like both of them to return, but salary cap problems might make that impossible.
“It would be hard to say goodbye, but... sometimes change can be refreshing,” Kaesviharn said. “We'll see the opportunities that lie ahead.”
