Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder has died at the age of 23, head coach Deion Sanders announced on Sunday.
Sanders confirmed the news regarding the third-year sophomore in a statement released on social media.
The Buffaloes head coach paid tribute to Ponder, describing him as “one of my favorites”.
‘A born leader’
Writing on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Sanders highlighted the impact Ponder had on the locker room.
“He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader,” Sanders wrote.
“Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good one.”
No details regarding the cause of death were immediately made available.
The tragic announcement comes just one day before Colorado are scheduled to open their spring practice sessions in Boulder.
From Florida to Boulder
Ponder had spent the past two seasons with the program after transferring from Bethune-Cookman.
The Opa Locka native appeared in two games during the previous campaign, recording two rushes and a single pass attempt.
Prior to his time in the NCAA, the quarterback played high school football at Carol City and Naples in Florida.
He also spent time developing at Myrtle Beach Collegiate Academy in South Carolina before making the move to the collegiate level.
The Minnesota Vikings are prioritising the addition of an experienced quarterback to challenge J.J. McCarthy following the youngster’s difficult second season in the NFL.
Discussions held during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis suggest the franchise remains committed to their 2024 first-round pick despite his recent struggles.
McCarthy missed his rookie year through injury and faced significant challenges during an injury-riddled 2025 campaign.
Veteran support sought for McCarthy
The Vikings hierarchy are reportedly unwilling to simply hand the starting role to the former Michigan standout for the 2026 season.
Should established passers such as Geno Smith or Kyler Murray become available via release, Minnesota is expected to pursue a short-term deal.
The NFC North club views a low-cost, one-year contract for a veteran as the ideal scenario to foster competition.
This strategy aims to refocus McCarthy on his technical development while securing a viable starter if his form does not improve.
Bringing in a proven commodity is seen as a necessary step to harness the talent the organisation identified when drafting him.
Rodgers and Cousins links re-emerge
If a younger veteran cannot be secured, the Vikings may pivot toward the league’s most senior signal-callers.
Former Viking Kirk Cousins, Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers have all been identified as potential targets.
Minnesota had previously discussed approaching Rodgers last offseason before deciding against the move.
The front office could also explore trade options for unproven backups to bolster squad depth.
Names such as Tanner McKee, Davis Mills or Anthony Richardson Sr have been mooted as potential trade targets.
However, acquiring a younger backup is unlikely to provide the mentorship or immediate competition required to salvage McCarthy’s long-term trajectory.
The free agency negotiation window opens on 9 March, with the Vikings expected to be active in the quarterback market.
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green has shattered multiple positional records at the NFL Scouting Combine, clocking a historic 40-yard dash time alongside unprecedented jump figures.
The top-10 prospect stunned scouts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday by recording an official time of 4.36 seconds in the sprint.
This rapid pace was complemented by an explosive 43.5-inch vertical leap and a broad jump measuring 11ft 2in.
Data from ESPN Research confirms that all three markers stand as records for a quarterback since tracking began in 2003.
Eclipsing Richardson and Griffin III
The 6ft 5in athlete’s performance surpassed the previous vertical and broad jump benchmarks set by Indianapolis Colts passer Anthony Richardson Sr in 2023.
Richardson had posted a 40.5-inch vertical and a 10ft 9in broad jump before being selected fourth overall in that year’s draft.
On the track, the Arkansas standout’s speed eclipsed the 4.41-second dash recorded by Robert Griffin III following his Heisman-winning campaign at Baylor in 2012.
Green is now the only quarterback in the modern combine era to break the 4.4-second barrier.
Draft stock and college pedigree
This athletic showcase arrives as NFL franchises continue to evaluate a quarterback class headlined by Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
Prior to the workouts in Indianapolis, the former Boise State starter was rated as the eighth-best quarterback prospect by analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
Green brings significant experience to the professional ranks, having served as a starter for four years across his collegiate career.
During his final season with the Razorbacks, the dual-threat passer accumulated 2,714 yards through the air and 19 touchdowns.
His mobility was further evidenced by 777 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground.
Despite the physical dominance displayed in Indianapolis, scouts note that consistency remains a focus area regarding his extended throwing motion.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has vowed to increase spending in free agency as he looks to end the franchise’s 30-year wait for a Super Bowl title.
Admitting failure to the fans
Jones acknowledged he has "let the fans down" following a disappointing 2025 campaign where the team finished with a 7-9-1 record.
Speaking at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, the general manager insisted he is now willing to sacrifice long-term financial stability to secure immediate success.
"I want you to know that the only way to push more [money] out is for me to go borrow some of my future," said Jones.
"Expect me to go borrow some of my future."
The 82-year-old emphasised his desperation to return the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Texas, claiming he would "hitchhike back to Dallas" immediately if it guaranteed a championship.
Restructuring for cap space
To facilitate this spending spree, the organisation must first navigate the NFL’s newly set $301.2m salary cap.
The franchise intends to restructure the lucrative contracts of quarterback Dak Prescott, receiver CeeDee Lamb and guard Tyler Smith, a move expected to generate approximately $66m in breathing room.
Further financial flexibility will be sought by adjusting the deals of defensive tackles Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams, potentially by adding voidable years to their agreements.
"I would bet that we will spend more money in free agency than we have," Jones confirmed, signalling a shift from the team’s usually conservative market approach.
Fixing a broken defense
The primary objective for the NFC East side is repairing a defensive unit that finished near the bottom of the league standings for yards and points allowed last season.
With new defensive coordinator Christian Parker recently hired, Jones is targeting recruits to shore up the backline while complementing offensive weapons like George Pickens and new running back signing Javonte Williams.
"I think that would be the area that you would see me bust the budget," Jones explained regarding the defense.
"Where you would see me do that is what we’re doing defensively. I intend to do that if given the opportunity."
The Atlanta Falcons have dismissed assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis following the emergence of sexual assault allegations against him.
Lewis was relieved of his duties on Friday after the NFL franchise was made aware of an active investigation by the Ann Arbor Police Department.
The inquiry relates to an alleged incident on 5 December 2024, during the coach’s tenure on the University of Michigan’s staff.
Nature of the allegations
Karen Truszkowski, an attorney representing the alleged victim, confirmed that her client has filed an incident report and applied for a protective order.
Truszkowski alleges that the former Tennessee player met the woman at a hotel in Ann Arbor, where he is accused of rape and battery.
The pair had reportedly connected on a dating app in July 2024, with the attorney claiming the coach’s behaviour became "increasingly aggressive" over subsequent months.
Lewis has not publicly responded to requests for comment regarding the accusations.
Previous police contact
A separate incident involving the two parties occurred in January 2025, prompting a response from the Milford Police Department.
According to reports obtained by ESPN, officers noted a verbal argument at the residence, and the woman declined to discuss the matter further at the time.
Truszkowski now asserts that her client was physically abused during that altercation but was too fearful to press charges immediately.
Short-lived tenure
The dismissal comes less than a month after Lewis was appointed to the Falcons’ coaching staff on 10 February.
Before joining the NFC South club, the 31-year-old held coaching roles at Michigan, Toledo, and UConn following a playing career that included three seasons in the NFL.
This development marks the second significant legal issue facing the organisation recently.
It follows the arrest of linebacker James Pearce Jr earlier in February on felony charges stemming from a vehicle collision.
The NFL salary cap has surpassed $300m for the first time in history, with the league setting the spending limit at $301.2m for the 2026 season.
This new figure represents a $22m increase compared to the previous year’s total.
Clubs received the official financial data on Friday and must ensure their payrolls are compliant before the new league year begins on 11 March.
rapid post-pandemic recovery
American football’s financial landscape has shifted dramatically, with the cap surging by 40% over the last five years.
This growth follows a significant downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw the limit drop to $182m in 2021 after a season played with limited spectator revenue.
Since that low point, the league has recorded an annual rise of at least $16m, averaging a $24m jump per season.
The most substantial year-on-year growth occurred between 2023 and 2024, when the cap leaped by $31m.
Player costs and franchise tags
When factoring in player benefits alongside salaries, the total projected cost per franchise stands at $378.8m.
The announcement also solidified the values for the franchise tag, a tool used by teams to retain key personnel for one year.
Quarterbacks remain the most expensive position to tag, with the tender set at $43.9m.
Wide receivers command the second-highest figure, with their one-year tag valued at $27.3m.
An NFL general manager has claimed free agent Tyreek Hill is "done" as a top-level player following the wide receiver’s release by the Miami Dolphins.
The 31-year-old is currently a free agent after his contract was terminated by the franchise on 16 February.
However, despite his status as one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers over the last decade, executives remain skeptical about his future following a severe knee injury.
Executive doubts over Hill’s future
Speaking to NFL insider Jason La Canfora, an anonymous general manager dismissed the prospect of signing the speedster.
"We aren’t touching him. No chance. We think he’s done," the executive stated.
"He isn’t a difference-maker anymore. The juice isn’t worth the squeeze. Not even as a vet-minimum guy for us."
The assessment follows a disastrous 2025 campaign where the Georgia native appeared in just four games.
Injury woes and Miami exit
Hill’s season was cut short in Week 4 against the New York Jets after suffering a gruesome knee injury.
The eight-time Pro Bowler underwent surgery the following day to repair a dislocated left knee and multiple torn ligaments, including his ACL.
This setback followed a 2024 season where his production dipped to 959 yards as Miami finished with an 8-9 record.
Prior to that decline, the ‘Cheetah’ had posted consecutive 1,700-yard seasons in South Florida after his high-profile trade from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.
‘Locked in’ on recovery
Despite the outside skepticism, the Super Bowl LIV champion remains defiant regarding his playing career.
Hill posted a message on social media claiming he is fully focused on his rehabilitation.
"Every chapter in life has taught me something. This one taught me leadership, resilience and mostly gratitude," Hill wrote.
"And right now, this offseason, for the first time ever, The Cheetah is all the way turned up and locked in. Focused. The Cheetah don’t slow down, ever."
However, ESPN reporter Adam Schefter has suggested a return to the field remains distant.
"As great as he was, I don’t think he’s close to being ready this," Schefter told the Pardon My Take podcast.
"He’s going to miss some time to open the year. I think he starts the year out on the physically unable to perform list."
The Dallas Cowboys are set to place the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, securing his immediate future with the franchise through the 2026 season.
The decision guarantees the 24-year-old approximately $28m (£22.3m) for the upcoming campaign.
While the tag binds the player to the roster for another year, the possibility of negotiating a long-term extension remains open.
Talks continue at Combine
Representatives for the NFC East club met with the player’s agents at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday.
Sources indicate the discussions were general in nature rather than an in-depth negotiation of terms.
Executive vice-president Stephen Jones had previously stated the organisation was “leaning” toward utilising the tag earlier in the week.
When asked on Thursday if the receiver could remain a Cowboy for the long term, head coach Brian Schottenheimer was optimistic.
“I hope so,” Schottenheimer said.
Instant impact in Texas
Since arriving via trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the playmaker has enjoyed a stellar debut campaign at AT&T Stadium.
The move involved exchanging late-round draft picks, a deal that has paid immediate dividends for Dallas.
He recorded career highs in receptions (93), receiving yards (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) while playing in every fixture.
These performances earned the former University of Georgia standout a first Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honours.
He developed instant chemistry with quarterback Dak Prescott, notably stepping up when fellow wideout CeeDee Lamb was sidelined with a high ankle sprain.
The receiver set a new franchise record by registering five games with at least 130 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.
Financial hurdles ahead
Securing the talented pass-catcher on a permanent basis could present challenges for the Cowboys’ salary cap management.
Lamb signed a massive extension in 2024 worth $34m annually, a deal that included $100m in guaranteed money.
The front office may be reluctant to commit similar figures to a second receiver as they look to balance the roster over the coming seasons.