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Was the Cardinals first free agent signing of 2007, agreeing to a four-year contract on 3/5/07.
Started 31 consecutive games at center between 2004-05 for the Dallas Cowboys.
Was drafted by Dallas in the second round of the 2003 Draft (38th overall) and moved into the starting center spot in camp before suffering a knee injury that sidelined him for his entire rookie season.
Pro Career:
Originally a second round pick (38th overall) in the 2003 NFL Draft by Dallas; was penciled in as the club's starting center entering 2003 training camp before a knee injury one week into camp brought an end to his rookie season. Returned after a year of hard work rehabilitating the knee and started 31 consecutive games at center at one point for the Cowboys. Signed a four-year contract with the Cardinals on 3/5/07 as an unrestricted free agent.
2006: Appeared in all 16 games for the Cowboys as a reserve offensive lineman saw action @ Jax (9/10) as a blocking tight end in a few mulitple tight end formations saw action on special teams vs. Was (9/17) replaced Andre Gurode at center in the third quarter @ Ten (10/1) after he was forced from the game with facial lacerations; the club ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns on the five second-half drives following his entry into the game saw action on special teams the following 13 contests in 2006.
2005: After beating out Andre Gurode in a training camp battle, started all 16 games at center started at SD (9/11) but platooned with Gurode during the second half part of a line that did not allow a sack vs. Was (9/19), the first time since Dec. 8, 2002 that an opponent had been shut out @ SF (9/25) was part of a line that gave QB Drew Bledsoe enough protection to throw for 363 yards, the eighth best performance in club history, while racking up 443 yards of total offense the offense gained 456 yards vs. Phi (10/9), the most since gaining 541 yards on Sept. 12, 1999 @ Washington played his second complete game of the season vs. Ari (10/30), helping lead the way for Marion Barber who rushed for 127 yards and two scores, the Cowboys� first 100-yard rusher of the season ; behind the line's protection, Bledsoe was able to post a career-best 79.2 completion percentage against the Cardinals on 19-of-24 passing started at NYG (12/4) just days after undergoing knee surgery following the Denver game to clean up loose cartilage, but left in the second quarter and did not return again platooned with Gurode vs. KC (12/11) as the offense piled up 445 total yards, the second-best total of the season helped spring Julius Jones who rushed for 194 yards @ Car (12/24), the fourth best rushing performance in club history.
2004: Made his NFL debut in the second quarter @ Min (9/12), following a knee injury to Tyson Walter; the Cowboys went on to rack up 423 yards of total offense got the starting nod in place of Walter (knee) and helped Dallas rack up 441 yards of total offense vs. Cle (9/19) was again the starter, alternating quarters with Walter against NYG (10/10) as the run game amounted to 166 yards and a 5.5 yard-per-carry average ... QB Vinny Testaverde threw for 308 yards, the club's record-tying third 300-yard passing day of the season @ GB (10/24) the line allowed just one sack in 25 pass plays vs. Det (10/31), who entered the game as the league's top ranked defensive unit in sacks-per-pass play on Thanksgiving Day vs. Chi (11/25), was part of an offensive unit that led the way for Julius Jones to rush for 150 yards, the first 100-yard rushing performance of the season for a Cowboys� back; also tied for the third best mark rushing mark ever by a Dallas rookie in a come-from-behind victory Monday Night @ Sea (12/6), the offensive line paved the way for Jones� 198 rushing performance, the third best in club history and the second best ever by a Cowboys rookie @ NYG (1/2/05), the line provided Jones with enough space to rush for 149 yards on 29 carries (5.1 avg.) and a touchdown while Testaverde finished with a season-high 109.2 quarterback rating.
2003: Moved into the starting lineup at center at the beginning of training camp but then suffered cartilage damage in his right knee during practice against Houston on 8/2 underwent microfracture surgery on 8/8 and was placed on injured reserve, ending his season before it began, on 8/26.
College:
A three-year starter at Wisconsin, was part of a team that won 32 games and posted a 3-0 record in bowl games during his time in Madison as a senior captain was a consensus All-Big Ten second-team choice while garnering third-team All-America honors from The Sporting News and honorable mention from CNN/SI started every game at center as a junior and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors originally took over the starting center duties in the second game of his sophomore season, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors the play of the Badgers offensive line helped the team average 196.1 rushing yards-per-game while leading the way for Michael Bennett to rush for 1,598 yards on 294 carries (5.4 avg.) Bennett's 159.8 rushing yards-per-game was the third best average in the country.
Personal:
Full name Al Joseph Johnson was a standout two-way player at Southern Door High School (Brussels, WI), earning second-team All-America honors from Prep Football Report and all-state honors from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel while being named a national top 20 lineman by SuperPrep, the state of Wisconsin's top player by Street & Smith's and the Packerland Conference player of the year was a member of the Southern Door track and basketball teams, winning the state track title in the shot put and being named conference player of the year in basketball sociology major at Wisconsin. | 