The Cardinals signed punter Dirk Johnson -- who kicked in one game for Chicago in 2007 -- to a one-year contract Wednesday.

The Cardinals went through three punters last season, but right now, it is a fourth who becomes the leading candidate for 2008.

The team signed veteran Dirk Johnson to a one-year contract Wednesday. Johnson punted for Philadelphia for four seasons before being cut at the end of the 2007 preseason. He then played for the Bears in one game before he was released again.

Johnson has averaged 41.7 yards a punt in his career, landing 79 of 268 punts inside the 20-yard line. His career-high 42.6-yard average came in 2006 and his best net average of 38.4 came in 2005.

Last season, the Cardinals cut veteran punter Scott Player prior to the final preseason game and signed Mike Barr. The inconsistent Barr lasted into late November before the Cards released him and brought in veteran Mitch Berger for the balance of the season.

Barr averaged 40.4 yards a kick with a 31.7 net average for the Cardinals on 59 punts. Berger's averages were 40.7 and 33.0

The 6-foot, 205-pound Johnson, who also played defensive back in college for Division II Northern Colorado, was originally undrafted. He failed to latch on with three teams (Seattle, the Jets and San Diego) before punting in one game for the Saints in 2002.

Johnson then found a spot with the Eagles beginning in 2003.

EXTRA POINT:The Cardinals announced that tight end Troy Bienemann signed his one-year exclusive rights tender offer.

Contact Darren Urban at askdarren@cardinals.nfl.net. Posted 3/5/08.