Punter Jeremy Kapinos received an exclusive rights tender from the Steelers this week, a team source confirms. Being an exclusive rights free agent, Kapinos has no choice but to accept the tender and figures to be the team’s starting punter in 2012.
In 8 regular season games, the 27 year old Kapinos averaged 45 yards per punt last season, and punted well down the stretch, showing much improvement from 2010. In Pittsburgh’s playoff loss to Denver, Kapinos had a long punt of 62 yards and averaged 50+ yards per punt in two of eight regular season games.
Kapinos was resigned in November after Daniel Sepulveda was lost for the season with another knee injury. Sepulveda is an unrestricted free agent.