Ex-DB Carpenter dies following fall

Former Bills and Falcons defensive back and special teams standout Keion Carpenter died Thursday morning at a Miami hospital after being injured in a fall, his family announced. He was 39.

Carpenter collapsed while on vacation with his family and remained in a coma for 24 hours before his death at Jackson South Community Hospital, spokesperson Casay

Vaughn said. A cousin, Jamila Smith, said Carpenter had an accident while playing with his son.

“They were running to the car when (Carpenter) slipped, fell, hit his head and slipped into a coma. It was just a freak accident,” she said. “He was always healthy; he went to the doctor, ate well and worked out.”

Carpenter intercepted 14 passes during his NFL career. He blocked six kicks at Virginia Tech, tying the school record. Former Hokies coach

Frank Beamer recalled Carpenter as “one of the rocks around which we built our program.” Salaam’s death suicide: The death of former Bears running back Rashaan

Salaam has been ruled a suicide, according to a release Thursday from the Boulder County Coroner in Colorado. Per the report, Salaam’s Dec. 5 death came as a result of a gunshot to the head at Eben G. Fine Park in Boulder.

His family did not allow the coroner’s office to perform tests that would have revealed whether he suffered chronic head trauma from playing the game.

Salaam was the Bears’ first-round draft pick in 1995, selected 21st overall after winning the Heisman Trophy his junior season at the University of Colorado. In his first season with the Bears, he rushed for 1,074 yards — then a franchise rookie record — and scored 10 touchdowns, earning NFC rookie of the year honors.

But after multiple injuries and struggles on the field, he lasted only three seasons with the Bears and struggled to revive his career elsewhere.

Salaam’s death at the age of 42 stunned and saddened many of his former teammates and coaches with the Bears.

“There was a light that he had,” former Bears running back Robert Green said. “He was very selfconfident and had that spirit. And even though he was a young pup, he was very grounded. And he loved to laugh. He had that big, infectious smile that just drew you in.”

Extra points: With the Cowboys having clinched the top seed in the NFC, veteran QB Mark Sanchez will see playing time in place of Dak Prescott in the regular-season finale against the Eagles . ... Browns QB Robert Griffin

III was cleared from concussion protocol and will start Sunday against the Steelers in the season finale. Griffin suffered his concussion in the fourth quarter last week against the Chargers . ... Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill (knee) returned to the practice field and threw passes on the side, but he’s not taking part in team drills yet. He has been sidelined since Week 14 with a strained MCL and ACL and won’t play this week, but there’s a chance he’ll return in the postseason.