Bengals running back Cedric Benson has begun serving a 20-day jail term in Texas to settle two misdemeanor assault cases. Benson was sentenced Monday in Austin and had planned to surrender Oct. 17, during Cincinnati's bye week. But Travis County Jail records show Benson was booked late Tuesday. Benson's lawyer said the running back decided it would be best to serve his sentence before the NFL season begins.

The Seahawks have traded former first-round pick Kelly Jennings to Cincinnati for defensive tackle Clinton McDonald. Jennings, a cornerback, was the 31st overall pick in the 2006 draft out of Miami. McDonald was a seventh-round choice of the Bengals in 2009.

The Bengals waived quarterback Jordan Palmer on Saturday. Palmer was Cincinnati's No. 2 quarterback behind older brother Carson Palmer, who asked for a trade after the season. The Bengals had signed Jordan Palmer to another contract before the start of training camp. "Based on coming off the offseason and coming into camp, yeah, I'm surprised," Palmer said. "As I started to see this unfolding in terms of the opportunity I was given, I'm not as surprised now." Rookie Andy Dalton is expected to start for Cincinnati, who also signed veteran Bruce Gradkowski.

Cincinnati rookie QB Andy Dalton led four first-half scoring drives while overall No. 1 draft pick Cam Newton of Carolina struggled in the Bengals' 24-13 preseason victory Thursday night, according to an ESPN.com report.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer still hasn't officially retired even though the regular season is less than three weeks away. Cincinnati placed Palmer on the reserve/did not report list when he didn't show up for training camp. The move could potentially expose Palmer to $30,000 per day in fines.

The 49ers have traded safety Taylor Mays to the Bengals for an undisclosed draft pick. Mays flew out of San Francisco on Monday night and is expected at Paul Brown Stadium on Tuesday. He is the third member of the 49ers to head to the Bengals, after cornerback Nate Clements and linebacker Manny Lawson signed free-agent deals earlier this month.

It has been a bad week for players that were taken early in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Bills cut Aaron Maybin, who was selected 11th two years ago, while Andre Smith and Aaron Curry had their contracts reduced. The Bengals opted not to pick up the option on Smith's contract, reducing it from six years to four. Cincinnati avoided a $4.75 million option bonus in the tackle's deal. Curry, a linebacker, recently agreed to a new deal with the Seahawks that cuts his rookie contract from six years to four. It will make Curry an unrestricted free agent after the 2012 season.

Former Bengals defensive end Antwan Odom was shot in the leg during a home invasion in Alabama early Monday. Police reportedly have identified a suspect and are currently looking for him. Odom suffered a minor flesh wound in his thigh and is in stable condition, according to an official.

Plaxico Burress caught three passes for 66 yards, including a terrific 26-yard reception for a touchdown, in his first game since 2008 to help the Jets beat the Bengals 27-7 in a preseason game Sunday night.

Carson Palmer, who has been in a standoff with the Bengals all offseason, is reportedly accusing the team of spiting his brother, Jordan, the team's third-string quarterback. Dennis Janson of WCPO-TV in Cincinnati tweeted Wednesday night: "Carson Palmer tells friend, #Bengals are toying with brother Jordan. Few reps etc. Expects him to be cut but too late to sign elsewhere." Carson Palmer told the Bengals after last season that he would retire if they didn't trade him. The Bengals have maintained they will not trade Palmer, and so far the 31-year-old has been true to his word.