NFL news and notes

Steelers: The Pittsburgh Steelers bolstered their secondary, agreeing to terms with cornerback William Gay. The team also re-signed punter Daniel Sepulveda, who is coming off a knee injury. The 26-year-old Gay gives Pittsburgh some added depth in the defensive backfield. He had 34 solo tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery last season working most of the time as a nickel back. Sepulveda averaged 45.5 yards a punt in 12 games in 2010 before tearing the ACL in his right knee. If he passes a physical, he’ll compete with Jeremy Kapinos and Aaron Bates for the punting job.

Neither player can practice with the team until Thursday under new NFL rules.

49ers: The San Francisco 49ers are unsettled on defense, and first-round draft pick Aldon Smith is ready to take advantage of the opportunity. The 49ers conducted their first padded training camp practice Sunday without five of their regular defensive starters from last season. Linebacker Takeo Spikes left in free agency, and cornerback Nate Clements was released Friday because of his exorbitant contract. Linebacker Manny Lawson, nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin and free safety Dashon Goldson each are testing the open market as unrestricted free agents.

Jets: Stuck in prison and his NFL career derailed, Plaxico Burress insisted he’d be back one day. Rex Ryan and the New York Jets are giving him that second chance. “I’m just grateful,” a confident yet humble Burress said. “I’m excited about the opportunity and I’m going to give them everything I’ve got because they put their trust in me to be able to come in and contribute and have an impact.” The former Super Bowl star with the Giants signed a one-year deal with the Jets on Sunday after recently being released from prison after serving 20 months on a gun charge. Burress, who turns 34 on Aug. 12, caught the game-winning touchdown in the Giants’ upset of the unbeaten New England Patriots in the 2008 Super Bowl, before his career derailed after he accidentally shot himself in a New York nightclub later that year. Now, the Jets are hoping Burress can revive his career the way Michael Vick did with the Eagles. Vick served 18 months in prison for his involvement in a dogfighting ring before returning to football in 2009. He was eased back into things by the Eagles before taking over as the starting quarterback last year and capping a terrific season by being selected as the AP’s Comeback Player of the Year.

Bengals: Cincinnati has agreed on a one-year deal with running back Cedric Benson, who was an unrestricted free agent but wanted to stay in Cincinnati. Coach Marvin Lewis says he’s happy to hear the news. Benson has been the Bengals’ leading rusher since 2008. He worked out with the rest of the team in Cincinnati in June even though he was a free agent, showing how much he wanted to stay. Benson was arrested in July on a misdemeanor charge of assaulting his former roommate in Texas. He could face discipline from Commissioner Roger Goodell. The Bengals need a dependable running game as they transition to rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and an inexperienced group of receivers.

Seahawks: First Matt Hasselbeck was told his decade at quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks was over. Now it’s middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu being shown the door, leaving the Seahawks with just two remaining members of their Super Bowl team from six seasons ago. Tatupu was cut by Seattle on Sunday morning after the Seahawks defensive captain reportedly declined to restructure his contact. It was announced as a “mutual decision,” a line that was regularly repeated by head coach Pete Carroll following practice on Sunday. But throughout his explanation, Carroll never gave a clear reason as to why the decision was made to part with Tatupu. “It was a few days of talking and really good conversations and putting things in perspective and recognizing that it’s going to take time to figure it out and see what is best. I love Lofa as a football player and like him on our football team. I told him that, I was clear about that. He’s done a tremendous job and he’s still a terrific football player,” Carroll said. “But under the circumstances right now it was just the right thing to do to let him go ahead and hit it and see where he goes from there.”

Associated Press