Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders gave an emotional eulogy at the funeral of his sophomore quarterback Dominiq Ponder, who died in a tragic car crash this past week. Ponder was 23. 

Sanders went up to the microphone after Ponder’s family, saying it “didn’t feel right” to do so, but he couldn’t help feeling “inspired” by their words.

Then, Sanders, a spiritual man in his own right, began to speak. 

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Bethune-Cookman QB Dominiq Ponder takes a snap during the Wildcats’ spring game Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Daytona Stadium. (IMAGN)

“We always ask questions about why this happened … ’God, why this and why that?’” Sanders said. 

“When we’re successful, we’re excelling, and overcoming adversity, we never ask God, ‘Why?’ then. Only in our demise and sadness of life, we challenge and ask God,’ Why?’ I think I’ve got the solution.”

Sanders, then, started to speak about his former signal caller. 

“As I look right there, and look at a young man so full of life – so full of respect, bustle, hard work, and integrity. I ask God, ‘For real?’ And he whispered: ‘Dom was chosen.’

“Dom was chosen to unite y’all, to bring you all together. Dom was chosen.”

“Coach Prime” directed part of his eulogy to Ponder’s parents, which led to him getting understandably choked up at the podium. 

“The only darn thing I have regret for is that when you sent us a boy. I wanted to send you back a man,” Sanders said, taking a pause to try and control his emotions. 

Ponder had been a walk-on quarterback with the Buffaloes in Sanders’ first season, as he tried to configure his team. He already had his son, Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, set to start for Colorado after their success at Jackson State. But Ponder and others in the quarterback room were looking to work and develop under the elder Sanders’ tutelage. 

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his players warm up before an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah.  (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

Ponder saw appearances in two of the Buffaloes’ games last season. 

But while Sanders has a regret about Ponder, his parents gave him praise, issuing a statement thanking “Coach Prime” for his “unwavering generosity, support, and love shown to our family.” They also thanked everyone for their “heartfelt gratitude” in a separate statement.

Sanders called an emergency meeting with his Buffaloes roster after learning of Ponder’s death, and a raw scene shared on social media showed him comforting emotional players. Sanders himself was emotional while delivering a speech to his team. 

“His character, humor, work ethic, and tenacity. It’s something that I want us to remember,” he said in the clip. 

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his team warm up before an NCAA college football game against TCU Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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Sanders also confirmed Ponder’s death last Sunday with a social media post. 

“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends and loved ones,” Sanders wrote on social media. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”

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After months of uncertainty, it seems as though Devin Haney will collide with Rolando Romero. As speculation builds, two-division champion Tim Bradley has offered his prediction for the fight, where he believes a stoppage may occur.

Having become the undisputed lightweight world champion with a victory over George Kambosos Jr, Haney defended the 135lb throne in a rematch with the Aussie and then against Vasyl Lomachenko to thrust himself up the pound-for-pound rankings.

‘The Dream’ then dethroned WBC super-lightweight champion Regis Prograis upon his 140lb debut and did the same at welterweight, when he claimed Brian Norman’s WBO strap in his first fight at 147lbs.

Now, Haney is being linked to a unification with WBA titleholder Romero, and Tim Bradley told his YouTube channel that he believes Haney could secure a first stoppage win since 2019 if he and ‘Rolly’ collide.

“[Haney] put [Brian] Norman’s a** on the ground, he put [Regis] Prograis’ a** on the ground. I don’t see why he can’t put Romero’s a** on the ground, if he hits him at the right spot at the right time. With his timing, yeah, he can put his a** on the canvas too.

“I even see, if Devin can get control early or at the midpoint, I even see that Devin could stop Romero on the back end. There is spots where you can pressure Romero.

“You put him on the back foot, because he ain’t got a whole lot of amateur experience, right, so I still see a little bit of fluster in his game when you start to put that pressure on him.”

Saturday, May 30, is the touted date for the unification, as Haney and Romero each seek to establish themself as the man to beat at welterweight.

It’s time to vote for the Montgomery Advertiser’s girls Athlete of the Week presented by the Vance Law Firm for the week of Feb. 21-27.

This weeks nominees include three basketball players who played in the AHSAA Final Four, and a softball and soccer player.

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Voting will open Monday, March 9, and will be open until noon Thursday, March 12. The winner will be announced on Friday, March 13. Nominees are based off of top performers that are sent in by high school coaches or statisticians. Coaches and team stat keepers can send in stats to sports@montgomeryadvertiser.com to nominate players.

Montgomery Advertiser’s Girls Athlete of the Week nominees presented by Vance Law Firm for March 2-6

• Saint James’ Natalie Barton scored 35 points, had 11 rebounds, nine assists and seven steals in two AHSAA Final Four games. Barton was named the MVP of the 3A state title game.

• Montgomery Catholic’s Hannah Smith had a double-double in the 4A semifinal game with 16 points, 14 rebounds, five steals and three assists.

• Park Crossing’s Maliyah Meeks had a double-double in the Class 6A semifinal round with 15 rebounds, 12 points and three blocks.

• Trinity Presbyterian’s Marley Sharpless pitched a complete game, allowing three hits, two earned runs, one walk and three strikeouts in a 7-6 win against Charles Henderson.

• Montgomery Catholic’s Ellis O’Conner scored five goals in two games during the week of March 2-6

Vote for The Montgomery Advertiser’s Girls Athlete of the Week presented by Vance Law Firm for March 2-6

Jaeden Day covers high school sports and Alabama State football for the Montgomery Advertiser/USA Today. You can find him on X at dayjaeden12, or reach him at JDay@montgome.gannett.com.

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This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Vote for The Vance Law Firm Girls Athlete of the Week for March 2-6

Minnesota Vikings free agency will formally go live on Monday, March 9th, at 11:00 am as “legal tampering” arrives. The club recently cleared oodles of cap space by cutting players and restructuring contracts.

Minnesota will tweak its roster all month, and this tracker follows every meaningful move as it happens.

The club sets sail on free agency — and the draft in six weeks — without general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who was fired on January 30th after many failed draft classes and a bungled Sam Darnold free agency decision in 2025.

Latest Vikings Free Agency Moves, Departures, and Rumors

This article will be updated multiple times per day to reflect free agency additions and subtractions.

New Arrivals

To be determined.

Departures

• Aaron Jones (RB) expected to be released on March 11th.
• Jonathan Allen (DT) expected to be released on March 11th.
• Javon Hargrave (DT) expected to be released on March 11th.

Extensions

• Eric Wilson (LB) — 3 Years | $22.5 Million.

NFL Network‘s Mike Garafolo tweeted Sunday night, “The Vikings and LB Eric Wilson have agreed to terms on a three-year, $22.5 million deal with $12.5 million fully guaranteed, source says. In his second stint in Minnesota, more than doubles his previous average per year in a new deal done by Ryan Williams of AthletesFirst.”

Trades

To be determined.

Restructures

• Contract of Justin Jefferson (WR) restructured
• Contract of Christian Darrisaw (LT) restructured
• Contract of Byron Murphy Jr. (CB) restructured
• T.J Hockenson (TE) agreed to a reworked contract on March 7th and will become a free agent in 2027.

NBC Sports‘ Mike Florio reported, “The Vikings’ scramble to create cap space won’t result in the release of veteran tight end T.J. Hockenson. NFL Media reports that the Vikings have restructured his contract, creating $5 million in 2026 cap space. Hockenson had a 2026 base salary of $15.4 million, with per-game roster bonuses totaling $510,000 and a workout bonus of $100,000. His cap number was slated to be $21.296 million in 2026.”

NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero added, “As part of Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson’s restructured contract, the team agreed to delete the final year of his deal, per sources. So Hockenson takes a $5 million pay cut that provides Minnesota cap relief, and now gets to be a free agent after this season.”

Retirements

• C.J. Ham (FB)
• Ryan Kelly (CB)

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert noted on Kelly’s retirement, “Longtime NFL center Ryan Kelly announced his retirement Friday after 10 seasons in the NFL, following an injury-filled season in 2025 with the Minnesota Vikings. Kelly, 32, spent nine seasons with the Indianapolis Colts before signing with the Vikings in 2025. He had six documented concussions in his NFL career, including three last year with the Vikings.”

“Kelly spent nearly two months on injured reserve after the Vikings diagnosed him with concussions in Weeks 2 and 4. Upon his return in Week 12, he changed helmet models and also began wearing a Guardian Cap during games for the first time. His final concussion occurred in Week 16, ending his season.”

Kyler Murray Buzz

The Arizona Cardinals dropped Murray after seven seasons last week, and betting markets, plus a handful of NFL insiders, expect him to sign with the Vikings. Fans are officially on Kyler Murray watch.

The aforementioned Florio scribed on Saturday, “On Wednesday, the Cardinals will release Kyler Murray, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. Those inclined to bet on propositions like a player’s next team regard the Vikings as the clear favorites to sign him. On DraftKings, Murray’s odds have moved from -110 to -295. The next team is the Jets at +350.

“The Dolphins are at +550, with the Falcons at +650. The Browns are +800. The Steelers are +1300, the Colts are +1600. The Rams are +2000. The offensive rookie of the year and two-time Pro Bowler had three solid seasons in Arizona. The next four seasons, which were marred by an ill-advised homework clause and a torn ACL suffered in December 2022, did not go nearly as well.”

Other Notes

To be determined.

The Selection Show is next week, and the conference tournaments are in full swing.

After two key wins last week, UCLA arguably locked up its at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Now with six teams from the region expected to receive bids, the remaining programs are fighting for their postseason lives.

Santa Clara and New Mexico are the best candidates to get an invitation, while San Diego State, California, and Stanford are still in the picture.

Here’s how I view the Top 10 College Basketball Teams in the West with one week to go until Selection Sunday.

Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.

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Manchester United have enjoyed a break thanks to their early FA Cup exit as Michael Carrick’s side look to bounce back from a loss to Newcastle

Michael Carrick and Manchester United are experiencing an extended break following their 2-1 defeat to Newcastle. United were absent from FA Cup action over the weekend after being knocked out in January by Brighton.

Manager Carrick endured his first loss in the Old Trafford dugout last week when his team travelled to St. James’ Park. A late William Osula strike made it 2-1 and clinched all three points for the hosts.

Up next for Carrick’s side is a fixture against fellow top-four contenders Aston Villa, where Marcus Rashford spent half of last season on loan. The England international is currently excelling for Barcelona.

A £26million purchase option in the 28-year-old’s agreement is anticipated to be activated by the Catalan side and a list of potential replacements United could target has emerged. The Manchester Evening News provides you with the latest developments from Old Trafford.

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Marcus Rashford replacements ‘shortlisted’

Having moved to Spain last summer on an initial loan arrangement, Rashford has made an impression. He has netted 10 goals and provided 13 assists for Barcelona across all competitions so far this season.

Rashford has flourished under Hansi Flick and the anticipation is that Barcelona will exercise the option to sign him on a permanent basis, whether that be the £26m reported clause or a reduced negotiated figure. Should Rashford depart, then United would probably seek to acquire a replacement. According to reports, there are five names on their shortlist.

United are believed to have RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and Como 1907’s Jesus Rodriguez on their radar, whilst Strasbourg winger Martial Godo is also being assessed.

Furthermore, United are said to be tracking Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, who offers direct running ability and top-flight experience. Meanwhile, reports suggest Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola is emerging as a prime target.

Casemiro U-turn appeal

One United player who appears almost certain to be departing at the season’s end is Casemiro. The Brazilian midfielder’s contract expires in the summer and the club have already announced they won’t be extending it.

Yet in recent months, the 34-year-old has been producing performances of exceptional quality, prompting United legend Bryan Robson to urge Carrick to reverse the decision to allow his exit.

Robson told BoyleSports: “I would encourage Casemiro to stay. He’s had a really good season this year. He’s a top player. He’s got a great football brain. He’s a really good passer of the ball.

“He heads the ball well and when he goes in to tackle, he means it. You don’t stay at Real Madrid for the amount of years he did and win Champions League titles if you’re not an absolute top player.

“People see what you’re really good at. So I think next season he could definitely give us a little bit more with his experience. He was great in Europe last year too.”

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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.

Overly focused on finding ideal descriptors for Sheza Alibi’s rout in the Randwick Guineas, pilot Luke Nolen got a reminder that the filly supplied him with an extraordinary career benchmark.

Nolen’s 2000th professional win came in that Group 1 – despite him not tallying it mentally.

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” Nolen said.

“Every time you get close to a milestone, your form seems to evade you.

“Two thousand wins, a Group One winner in Sydney, it feels pretty good.”

Perfectly timed, Nolen shared the celebration with coach Peter Moody, whose partnership yielded racing’s top honors with phenomenal sprinter Black Caviar.

True, Sheza Alibi must travel a considerable distance to rival that legacy, but as a filly she’s brimming with promise and surmounted a crucial exam by besting colts and geldings in the Saturday Randwick Guineas (1600m), the first filly to do so against males since Mosheen’s 2012 feat.

“She is just something special, this filly,” said Katherine Coleman, who trains her in partnership with Moody.

“She put the writing on the wall previously, but this has been her hardest test to date and to put a quality field away like that? Wowee, I’m shaking.”

Nolen kept steady early on as horses vied for running room, then when Sheza Alibi ($2.10 fav) found stride over the rise, her sharp acceleration made the win inevitable.

She surged to a decisive 3-1/4 lengths success over Autumn Boy ($3.60), with Attica ($11) third a couple more lengths away.

Even with such a polished display, Coleman expects no immediate follow-up, choosing a thorough break for the three-year-old to gear up for the next season.

“The plan always was to have a pretty light autumn because she had such a deep spring preparation,” she said.

“So her and I will be on the road back to Melbourne tomorrow morning. We will see how she comes through it. I wouldn’t be surprised if we put her away now and save her for the spring.”

Regarding a future Cox Plate tilt, Coleman expressed openness.

“Possibly. We will let the dust settle today – never make plans on race day, but that idea is in the back of our minds,” she said.

The Moody-Nolen alliance holds 35 Group 1s and 909 total wins, leading all active Australian trainer-jockey teams.

Per Nolen, the figures reflect their profound connection and steadfastness, bolstered lately by Coleman’s training role.

“We’ve stuck it out a long time, Peter and myself,” Nolen said.

“It goes a long way to show the people we are – resilient, forgiving and loyal – three words I would never mind being described for me ever, and the two of us have got it in spades.

“Katherine is a late addition, but she’s a welcome one. She hasn’t given me a spray yet, but I’m sure it’s coming.”

Autumn Boy earned “gallant” from James McDonald, who lauded his effort in defeat, while Adam Hyeronimus on Attica opined the Spring Champion Stakes champ seeks longer.

“Once he gets to the 300 (metres), he starts to get going so he just needs distance,” Hyeronimus said.

Visit online bookmakers to check racing odds for races such as the Randwick Guineas.

In two months’ time, Gilberto Ramirez and David Benavidez collide in one of the most hotly-anticipated bouts of the 2026 calendar, and a fighter who has regularly sparred both has offered his opinion on the contest.

Benavidez became the youngest super-middleweight world champion of all time when he defeated Ronald Gavril in 2017, but ‘The Mexican Monster’ has since moved up to light-heavyweight and become a two-division world champion.

Now, he seeks success in a third weight-class, as he makes the quantum leap up to the cruiserweight scene and takes on unified WBA & WBO champion ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez upon his debut at 200lbs.

Speaking to FightHype ahead of that battle, two-time world title challenger Gabe Rosado, who has shared a number of rounds with both men in the gym, revealed that he is leaning towards Benavidez due to his intensity and volume.

“Zurdo and Benavidez, we have sparred a number of times, I have lost count of how many times I have sparred those dudes because I have been sparring Benavidez since he was like 15 years old. I used to do my training camps in Arizona, in Phoenix, so I was working with him and then he eventually came to Wild Card [Boxing Club] and the same with Zurdo.

“The difference, I would say, is that Zurdo is more on working on things and Benavidez is more aggressive. Benavidez does like 10 rounds in sparring, so I think that the intensity is just different man.

“The thing is, since I have sparred with them for so long, we always had good rhythm working together and we were really similar to each other.

“I think that it is a tough fight, but I think you have got to favour Benavidez, just because of the volume. I think that Zurdo is going to have to be on his A-game, he is going to have to be the best Zurdo, in order to beat Benavidez. He is going to have to really box well, stick a jab out there and be in tip-top shape [to win].”

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Time will tell whether ‘The Mexican Monster’ can indeed get the victory when the fight with Ramirez takes place on Saturday, May 2 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Shakur Stevenson has offered a balanced assessment of why a showdown between Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez is yet to materialise.

The two multi-weight world champions appeared to be on a collision course at 168lbs, with Canelo reigning supreme as the undisputed king.

Benavidez, meanwhile, had held the WBC ‘interim’ title after becoming a two-time world super-middleweight champion, awaiting his mandatory shot at the full WBC title.

Such an opportunity, however, never came to fruition, as Canelo continued to defend his undisputed crown against alternative opposition.

During this time, the Mexican claimed one-sided points victories over the likes of John Ryder and Jermell Charlo but was widely criticised for not facing his most formidable challenger, Benavidez.

Since then, Benavidez has claimed the WBC title at 175lbs and now looks to become a three-weight world champion against Gilberto Ramirez, who he will face for the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles on May 2.

It may seem an audacious move, but the 29-year-old’s frame could see him develop into an effective operator at 200lbs, while Canelo is seemingly best suited to 168lbs.

The natural size difference has therefore made their clash even less likely, with Stevenson telling Joe Rogan that he believes this to be the most significant factor.

“Benavidez is too big for Canelo. I see both sides. I love Benavidez, and I’m a fan of him, so I see the side of, ‘Fight me, bro’.

“But then I see Canelo’s side. He’s like, ‘Man, this dude is 200lbs on the regular. I’m nowhere near that weight so it’s like, why would I fight this guy?’”

Despite coming off a unanimous decision defeat to Terence Crawford, Canelo has been promised a world title opportunity by Turki Alalshikh in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this September.

Potential options include Christian Mbilli and Jose Armando Resendiz, the respective WBC and WBA champions, while the IBF and WBO super-middleweight world titles remain vacant following Crawford’s retirement.