Comment on Morning Roundup: Tony Sparano dies unexpectedly at 56

By ROB MAADDI and AARON BEARD Bill Belichick had seemingly been waiting for the right opportunity to return to an NFL sideline. Instead, the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach is headed to the college ranks to take over at North Carolina. The school announced it had reached a five-year deal with Belichick on Wednesday night, roughly a week after Belichick’s name surfaced as an unlikely candidate to replace the program’s winningest all-time coach in Mack Brown.

The Broncos know the significance of Sunday’s game against Indianapolis. In fact, they know the exact way that the outcome against Indianapolis will move the needle one way or the other on their postseason hopes. That’s because Sean Payton made sure of it during Wednesday morning’s team meeting. “You have to know and you have to speak about it and Sean did this morning,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey told The Denver Post.

Broncos cornerback Riley Moss (knee) was listed as a non-participant despite stretching with the team during Wednesday’s practice. After Moss stretched, he did not participate in individual drills and went into the indoor practice field, where he worked with a trainer. Moss missed Week 13’s win over the Browns due to an MCL injury that he suffered in Denver’s victory against the Raiders last month.

By the end of practice Wednesday, Jamal Murray was in sweats and a long-sleeve 2023 NBA champions T-shirt, working on his 3-pointer in a corner of the gym. Six days after aggravating his hamstring in Cleveland, the injury was still lingering enough to limit him. Not entirely, though. “He was able to go through portions of practice today, which was great to have him out there,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.

The winter transfer portal opened Monday and runs through Dec. 28, and although they have a bowl game later this month, the CSU Rams have already had several players enter the portal or express their intentions to. Among the departees are the team’s leading tackler and top two receivers from this season. Linebacker Buom Jock headlines the group of seven players who have already let it be known they are seeking to play at another school.

Colorado star Travis Hunter continues to make history. On Wednesday, the Buffaloes’ junior cornerback/receiver was announced as the winner of the Paul Hornung Award, which is presented annually by the Louisville Sports Commission to the most versatile player in major college football. The other finalists were Isaac Brown of Louisville and Tyler Warren of Penn State. Hunter won the Hornung in 2023 as well, and is the first two-time winner in the 15-year history of the award. “I’d like to thank all of my teammates and believe the awards I’m winning are team awards,” Hunter said in a Hornung Award press release.