Friday Sports Update – NBA Closing Team Facilities

(Undated) — The NBA is closing all team facilities and practice courts starting today to combat the coronavirus. The league had been allowing players to hold individual workouts in team facilities since play was suspended last week, but is now banning that too. The NBA is also recommending players stay in their market to avoid travel and remain close to their teams. In other news, Suns guard Devin Booker is donating 100-thousand-dollars to coronavirus relief efforts.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Daly Says League Still Has Options

(Undated) — NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly is hopeful of still awarding a Stanley Cup champion this season with integrity. Daly says while the coronavirus situation is day-to-day and the future is unclear, the league still has plenty of options from a shortened regular-season to potential single-elimination playoff games. Daly added that it’s important to be fair to all teams and that many factors will play into the final decisions.

Cowboys Bringing Back Two Linebackers

(Frisco, TX) — The Cowboys are retaining backup linebackers Justin March and Joe Thomas. Both agreed to terms for the 2020 season. March joined Dallas during the 2017 season and has played in all 16 games the last two years. In 39 Cowboys’ games, he has been in action on 508 special team plays and 52 snaps on defense. Thomas began his career in Green Bay under Cowboys’ head coach Mike McCarthy.

Cowboys Add Safety

(Frisco, TX) — The Cowboys are reportedly shoring up the defensive back room. According to reports, Dallas will sign safety HaHa Clinton-Dix. The veteran safety played with the Bears last season.

Six Cowboys Still Job Searching

(Frisco, TX) — The Cowboys had 25 unrestricted free agents when the NFL new calendar year began Wednesday. All but six have re-signed with Dallas or agreed to terms with other teams. The six still on the market are defensive ends Michael Bennett and Kerry Hyder, defensive tackle Christian Covington, cornerback C.J. Goodwin, safety Kavon Frazier and wide receiver Tavon Austin.

Saints’ Coach Payton Is First NFL Connection To Coronavirus

(New Orleans, LA) — Saints’ head football coach Sean Payton confirms he has tested positive for coronavirus. He is the first NFL connection to have reported catching the coronavirus. Payton said he didn’t feel good Sunday, was tested Monday and got the results yesterday. Payton said, “this is not about social distancing, but it’s shutting down here for a week to two weeks.”

Astros Release Veteran Reliever Hughes

(Houston, TX) — The Astros have parted ways with veteran reliever Jarred Hughes after one month. The 34-year-old right-hander came to spring training on a minor-league contract with an opt-out clause Wednesday that he choose to use when not placed on the big league roster. Hughes has pitched nine seasons in the majors, but had only a small sample size in spring training before it was wiped out by the coronavirus outbreak. He tossed 5-and-two-thirds innings before camp ended.

Astros, Rangers Minor Leaguers Will Be Paid

(Undated) — Astros and Rangers Minor League players who were sent home last week from their complexes will receive missed spring training time pay. MLB announced an initiative to compensate minor league players a lump sum equal to what they would have been paid through April 8th, the day before the minors were slated to open the season. MLB is also discussing an industry-wide plan for player compensation after April 9 and through the beginning of the coming season.

Dynamo, FC Dallas Could Be Playing In December

(Undaated) — Major League Soccer has lengthened the suspension of games to a May 10th start due to the coronavirus outbreak and new national guidelines. The league announced it is focused playing all of the games. That means the Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas could be on the pitch in December. Both teams played two games before the shutdown.

Watt, Ohai Donate To Houston Food Bank

(Houston, TX) — Texans Pro Bowl pass rusher J.J. Watt and his new bride, Chicago Red Stars soccer pro Kealia Ohai, have donated 350-thousand dollars to the Houston Fook Bank to aid relief efforts during the COVID-19 outbreak. The couple’s donation will provide for more than one-million meals for those in need.

Kraft Puts Up Billboards Thanking Brady

(Boston, MA) — There are now a dozen billboards around the Boston area displaying a thank you to Tom Brady from Patriots owner Robert Kraft. They feature a picture of Brady, calling him the greatest of all time. They’re signed with love from the Kraft family and the Patriots.