Former NFL cornerback Alphonso Smith Jr. dies at 40 in Florida

Former NFL cornerback Alphonso Smith Jr. died Wednesday in Florida at age 40, according to Wake Forest University, with authorities responding to a reported suicide attempt. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to a Pahokee address Wednesday afternoon, and an adult male was transported to a hospital where he died. The school's release did not cite a cause of death, and a Facebook post on Smith's account referenced mental health struggles and apologized to others. Smith was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2009, traded to the Detroit Lions in 2010, and retired after the 2012 season. He was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.