NFL owners OK playoff expansion
Unanimous vote approves 2 more wild-card teams
The NFL is gearing up for a normal season and playoffs — with two additional wild-card teams in the Super Bowl chase.
NFL team owners voted Tuesday to expand the playoffs by one team in each conference for a total of 14 next season as they continue to plan for the 2020 season to begin on time.
During a conference call to discuss league business after the annual meetings were canceled due to the new coronavirus, the owners also awarded one of those extra games to CBS and one to NBC. Three-fourths of the 32 owners needed to approve the change, and the vote was unanimous, football operations chief Troy Vincent said.
As for opening the season Sept. 10 as scheduled, NFL lead counsel Jeff Pash said: “All of our focus has been on a normal traditional season, starting on time, playing before fans in our stadiums and going through our full 16-game regular season and a full playoffs.”
Contingencies are being discussed for all potential interruptions caused by the coronavirus.
Baseball: The AP reported that veteran major leaguers will receive $4,775 per day in advance pay for the first 60 days of the MLB season during the stoppage caused by the new coronavirus, a total of $286,500. Less veteran players receive smaller amounts specified in the agreement: $16,500, $30,000 or $60,000, depending on the contract. Under the terms of a deal between the league and the players union, teams are combining to give $170 million in advance pay to players on 40-man rosters, injured lists and outright assignments to the minor leagues. The payments will be made in equal installments on the normal payroll schedule and do not have to be repaid is the season is scrapped. They cover from March 26, the original opening day, through May 24 or whenever the season starts, whichever is earlier. Money is being split into four classes based on contract status. ... MLB announced it was extending its $400 weekly allowances through May for players with minor league deals.
Basketball: Two weeks after two unnamed Lakers players tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced that all of its players are currently symptomfree. The Lakers had to wait two days for test results, and then all of their players were placed in a 14-day home isolation prescribed by the team. ... The NBA, National Basketball Players Association and 2K have partnered to produce an NBA 2K tournament that will air on ESPN and ESPN2 starting Friday. The NBA 2K20 Player Tournament will run through April 11. Sixteen NBA players will compete, including Kevin Durant, Trae Young, Hassan Whiteside, Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker and others. The winner of the event will receive $100,000 to give to a charity in support of the coronavirus relief efforts.
Soccer: As the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic ripple across world football, FIFA sees a “duty” to offer a lifeline from its vast cash reserves. Talks are underway about how the governing body’s support fund will be distributed, with the global players’ union appealing for cash to be targeted at the smaller markets, rather than the elite end of the game. FIFA said it has amassed reserves it last reported at $2.745 billion, to help soccer when it is most in need.