N. COLO. PUNTER GETS 7 YEARS FOR STABBING TEAMMATE: A former player for the University of Northern Colorado was sentenced to 7 years in prison for stabbing a teammate:

CBS 4 DENVER reports that Mitch Cozad was told of his term on Tuesday. Back in August, a jury found the former backup punter guilty of second-degree assault for his attack on Rafael Mendoza.

In a late-night attack on September 11 of last year, Cozad stabbed Mendoza in his kicking leg, in what some say was an act of jealousy aimed at getting the starting punting job with the team.

Numerous witnesses spoke on Cozad’s behalf, asking the judge for leniency. And Mendoza told the judge he forgives his attacker, but that it would be difficult, as he believes Cozad was really trying to kill him.

Cozad has already said he would appeal the decision.