Tag: COVID-19

Ravens suspend all travel due to the coronavirus

The Baltimore Ravens have suspended all travel and are having team personnel work remotely for a minimum of two weeks due to the coronavirus

The Baltimore Ravens are mirroring what several other NFL teams have already done in response to the coronavirus (Covid-19). The Ravens announced in a statement that they are suspending all travel and having team personnel work remotely for a minimum of two weeks.

“Public health and safety have always been top priorities for the Ravens. Due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation, effective today, virtually all team personnel will work remotely for a minimum of two weeks. All air business travel has been suspended. We will continue to evaluate this developing situation and adjust as circumstances warrant.”

This comes a day after Baltimore said in a statement they were monitoring the situation and had implemented policies under the CDC guidelines but hadn’t restricted travel or closed the Under Armour Performance Center.

Maryland governor Larry Hogan declared a State of Emergency last week and further announced broader restrictions Thursday that include school closings and a ban on gatherings of 250-plus people, according to the Washington Post. Several other leagues including the NBA, NHL, MLS and NCAA have either entirely stopped, postponed or suspended play to hopefully prevent the further spread of the coronavirus.

The NFL has yet to announce any plans that affect the start of the league year, free agency or the 2020 NFL Draft.

NFL coronavirus update: Is the NFL stopping the 2020 season?

The NFL and individual teams have been altering their schedule with the coronavirus outbreak continuing to spread.

Sports around the world are suspending, postponing and fully stopping as the threat of the coronavirus (Covid-19) continues to grow. With players in the NBA testing positive for the coronavirus and some states stopping large gatherings of all types, it has left fans wondering how the NFL is being affected.

The Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have currently suspended travel ahead of free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft due to the coronavirus, according to NFL.com. The league itself has canceled its 2020 Annual League Meeting, scheduled from March 29-April 1, according to a press release from the NFL. The open football issues that were to be figured out there are being pushed to the Spring meeting instead, which is currently on the schedule for May 19-20.

As of right now, the NFL has no plans to alter the start of the league year from March 18, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano. The NFLPA also has no plans to alter its deadline to vote on the proposed CBA, which is currently scheduled to finish just before midnight on Saturday, March 14.

The situation remains fluid and things could change in the coming days and weeks. But for right now, things remain relatively stable in the football world.

[vertical-gallery id=42304]

Steph Curry reacts on social media to NBA suspending season due to coronavirus: ‘protect yourself and stay safe’

Stephen Curry’s return from injury has been limited to one game while the NBA season is suspended due to coronavirus.

After missing 58 games due to a broken hand injury, Stephen Curry made his long-awaited return to the court against the Toronto Raptors on March 5. Just one day later, Curry was back on the injury report with the seasonal flu.

The two-time Most Valuable Player was in line to make his second return to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night against the Brooklyn Nets. While the game was slated to be played in an empty Chase Center with no fans in the crowd, Golden State’s contest against the Nets has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday night, the NBA suspended the 2019-20 season. The league will be on hiatus until further notice.

Curry and other members of the Warriors went to social media to react to the news of the season being on hold due to COVID-19.

Via @StephenCurry30:

After playing only five games in the 2019-20 season, Golden State’s point guard was expected to use the remaining 17 games on the calendar to build chemistry with his teammates while adjusting to his surgically repaired hand.

However, Curry and the rest NBA are currently in a holding period until the NBA determines the future of the season.

Rookie Eric Paschall reacts on social media to the NBA suspending the season due to coronavirus

With 17 games left on the Warriors schedule, the NBA has officially suspended the season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Following a positive coronavirus test from Utah Jazz All-Star center Rudy Gobert, the NBA suspended the 2019-20 season until further notice. In a statement from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, the league will be without play for at least 30-days due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Members across the NBA have taken to social media to react to the news of the league going on hiatus due to the coronavirus. The Golden State Warriors first-year forward Eric Paschall responded to his hectic rookie season being put on hold.

Via @epaschall:

After taking trips to five consecutive NBA Finals appearances, The Warriors selected Paschall out of Villanova in the second round of the 2019 NBA draft. Since being drafted, Paschall’s new team has gone through a transition period that led the Warriors to the bottom of the NBA’s standings.

In Paschall’s rookie season, six of his teammates have been traded, two-time Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry has only played five games and now the status of his final 17 games are up in the air.

Following the league coming to a halt due to COVID-19, Paschall shared a post on his Twitter for everyone to “be safe.”

The Golden State Warriors were slated to host the Brooklyn Nets in San Francisco on Thursday evening with no fans in attendance at Chase Center in San Francisco. However, the next time the Warriors will take the court now comes with a question mark.

12 football movies to watch while professional sports are on hiatus

One by one the professional sports leagues and organizations canceled their events. It started with talk of playing in front of empty stadiums and then the NBA put their season on hold. Afterward, everyone followed suit. Even the NFL wasn’t immune …

One by one the professional sports leagues and organizations canceled their events. It started with talk of playing in front of empty stadiums and then the NBA put their season on hold. Afterward, everyone followed suit. Even the NFL wasn’t immune to the cancelations. The league decided to move skip its upcoming league meeting and push it off for a few months. Teams are pulling scouts off the road. The whole point of this is that we will have nothing to watch over the next few weeks. It’s time to binge-watch television shows and movies. Here are some suggestions to bide your team.

The Replacements (2000)

Keanu Reeves plays Shane Falco, a former Ohio State quarterback who never recovered from a bad bowl game. A funny note this is actually the second time that Reeves played a former Ohio State quarterback since his role as Johnny Utah in “Point Break” was also a former Ohio State quarterback.

Back to “The Replacements” which had Falco join a team of rag-tag players coached by Gene Hackman. It has some comedy, and it has some romance, and it has a kicker who smokes cigarettes. It’s a fun movie to pass the time.

Brian’s Song (1971)

“Brian’s Song” was actually an ABC television movie. If you want a good cry, watch this movie about terminally ill Brian Piccolo. The highlights are the parts where Gale Sayers and Piccolo interact at a time where race was still a large issue in America. It’s an old movie, but an absolute classic for any football fan.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Cassius Winston, Kyle Ahrens post goodbyes after sudden end to careers at Michigan State

Michigan State seniors Cassius Winston and Kyle Ahrens posted final goodbyes on Instagram after the abrupt end of their college careers.

[jwplayer Ymqqbjwm]

The COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic didn’t just end the 2019-20 NCAA basketball season, it also signaled the end of at least two other careers at Michigan State in seniors Cassius Winston and Kyle Ahrens (Joshua Langford can still return next year if he wants). Winston and Ahrens both gave their final farewells to MSU on Thursday on social media.

Here is Winston’s post:

View this post on Instagram

Forever a SpartanDawg💚🖤

A post shared by Cash🖤 #LuvSmoothie🖤 (@cassiuswinston5) on

And Ahrens:

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

MSU HC Tom Izzo issues statement on NCAA season ending abruptly due to Coronavirus pandemic

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo issued a statement Thursday night addressing the sudden end of the 2019-20 Men’s Basketball season.

[jwplayer Ymqqbjwm]

After a rollercoaster ride of a season that ended in a dominant five-game winning streak to earn a share of the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Regular Season Championship, the 2019-20 Michigan State Basketball season has come to an abrupt close. The NCAA and Big Ten Conference both decided today to cancel their end of season tournaments. MSU head coach Tom Izzo issued a statement Thursday night addressing the sudden end to an emotional season.

Here is Izzo’s statement:

“I’m obviously disppointed to have our season come to such an abrupt end. It goes without saying, this is something that none of us have ever experienced,” Izzo said. “I feel most for our seniors, for guys like Cassius and Kyle and Conner, who wanted to have one last shot at March Madness. Telling them their career was over was extremely emotional. But these are unprecedented times and some things are bigger than basketball. The primary concern for all of us is the health and well-being of our students-athletes, staff and fans.’”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Houston Texans giving all staff ability to work from home to prevent spread of novel coronavirus

The Houston Texans have given everyone in their employ the ability to work from home to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

The Houston Texans are doing their part to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

According to a release from the team, the Texans are, “implementing certain measures to do our part to help prevent the spread of this virus.” One part of the measure is to give all staff the ability to work from home.

The Houston sports and entertainment scene has been rattled since Wednesday evening when the NBA suspended the season, MLS announced a 30-day suspension, and RodeoHouston cancelled. According to the Houston Chronicle, community spread may already be happening in the greater Houston area.

“All decisions are being made in the best interest of the health, safety and care of our Texans family and our community,” the statement from the Texans read. “We are continuing to monitor the situation and will adjust policies and provide updates as necessary.”

On Thursday, the NFL cancelled the annual owners meetings that were slated for March 29 through April 1 in Palm Beach, Fla.

Michigan State Spring Football practices, Pro Day not yet canceled due to COVID-19

Michigan State has not yet canceled their Spring Football practices or NFL Pro Day due to Coronavirus concerns.

In perhaps some of the most shocking and eye-opening news in recent sports history, the NCAA Tournament and Men’s and Women’s Conference Basketball Tournaments have all been canceled due to rising concerns over the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. While those basketball events are now off the board, along with all Big Ten athletic competitions, the Michigan State Football program has not yet announced a cancellation of their Spring Football practices or Pro Day which are still scheduled for next week. A representative of the football program has called the situation “fluid.”

The news was reported by Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press and Matt Wenzel of Mlive.com.

While it may seem insignificant to postpone or cancel these events, the Pro Day is still highly important for fringe NFL prospects looking for a chance to impress NFL teams. MSU tight end Matt Seybert took to Twitter to advocate for Michigan State to continue holding the event:

Spring Football practices are scheduled to start on Tuesday next week while the Pro Day is scheduled for Wednesday.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

READ: Michigan State AD Bill Beekman comments on Big Ten canceling competition through rest of academic year

Michigan State AD Bill Beekman has shared his thoughts on the Big Ten canceling all athletic events due to Coronavirus concerns.

With officials still trying to assess the situation in regards to the COVID-19 Coronavirus global outbreak, both the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments have been canceled, along with all Big Ten athletic competitions through the remainder of the academic year. Michigan State University Athletic Director Bill Beekman shared his thoughts on the situation today.

From Beekman:

“We support the Big Ten’s decision to cancel all competition through the end of the academic year and the moratorium placed on all on- and off-campus recruiting. There’s nothing more important than the health of our student-athletes. While this was an incredibly difficult decision, one that will effectively end the college careers of many student-athletes, their well-being must be our highest priority. I’m incredibly grateful for the hard work and dedication shown by our student-athletes throughout the year. We will continue to provide comprehensive support for student-athletes, including academic and athletic training services moving forward.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]