BILLY-CUNDIFF-2009.JPG

Cleveland Browns kicker Billy Cundiff, right, is congratulated by punter Dave Zastudil after his winning field goal against the Buffalo Bills in a 2009 game. Cundiff has signed a contract to be the Browns' kicker for the season opener Sunday against Miami.

(AP)

CLEVELAND --Browns new kicker Billy Cundiff has already gotten a small taste of what it's like to replace Phil Dawson, and now he'll get the full breadth of it.

Cundiff, who spent five games with the Browns in 2009 when Dawson was struggling with a strained calf, was signed to a one-year contract Tuesday. A league source told cleveland.com the deal is worth $840,000, the minimum for a player in his eighth season.

In order to make room for Cundiff, the Browns placed guard Jason Pinkston on short-term injured reserve, where he'll have to miss at least the first eight games of the season with his high ankle sprain.

With Pinkston on IR for at least half the season and Shawn Lauvao recovering from a high ankle sprain and scope, the Browns will rely on converted tackle Oniel Cousins to hold down the position for the time being.

Cundiff, who endeared himself to Browns fans by keeping the Ravens out of the Super Bowl after the 2011 season, tried out today in Berea and beat out rookie Giorgio Tavecchio for the job. Tavecchio, undrafted out of Cal, was waived by the Packers last week.

In relief of Dawson in 2009, Cundiff made all four field-goal tries, including an 18-yard game-winning field goal with 22 seconds remaining in a 6-3 victory over Buffalo at Ralph Wilson Stadium. It marked Eric Mangini's first victory as head ocach of the Browns after an 0-4 start.

He went on to kick for the Ravens the following season, earning Pro Bowl honors after making 26 of his 29 field goal attempts and a league-high 40 touchbacks. He also led the league with a 71.1 kickoff average.

But Cundiff went south in 2011, missing nine field goals during the regular season and hooking a 32-yarder in the waning seconds of the AFC Championship Game that would've tied the Patriots. Instead, the Patriots packed for the Super Bowl and Cundiff was sent packing the following August.

He caught on with the Redskins, but missed five of his 12 attempts (58.3%) that season and was later released. He tried out with the Jets this summer, but was released last week after making all three of his field goals this preseason -- all from 39 yards or less -- and all four of his extra points. Overall, he's made 139 of 184 attempts for 75.5%.

There's at least one area in which Cundiff will make fans pine for Dawson: on kicks of 50 yards or more. Dawson made a league-high 14 of 15 kicks from 50-plus in 2011 and 2012, including going 7-for-7 last season. Overall, he's third in the NFL with a 70.6 conversion rate from 50 yards or more (24-of-34).

Cundiff, on the other hand, has made only 5-of-23 from 50-plus for 21.7%.

The Browns had hoped to try out fellow Pro Bowler Dan Carpenter Tuesday, but he got a call from Buffalo when he was on his way to Cleveland, and opted to take the sure thing instead of competing with Cundiff for the job.

Cundiff will be on the field Wednesday and make his debut Sunday against the Dolphins in the season opener.

As for Pinkston, who injured the ankle Aug. 15 against the Lions, he'll be eligible to return to practice the week before the Green Bay game Oct. 20.