NFL bans jersey exchanges
NFL teams will be prohibited from postgame interactions within 6 feet of each other, which means players won't be allowed to exchange jerseys after games as part of the guidelines to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.
The NFL and the NFL Players Association have outlined game-day protocols and an infectious disease emergency response plan for training camp.
The documents, obtained by USA TODAY Sports, were sent to clubs Wednesday night. Notable highlights for the planned response to the coronavirus pandemic include no one with a body temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher being allowed into the stadium on game days, the “encouraged” — but not always required — use of masks on the sidelines and the ban of a popular postgame tradition.
Bench area individuals (officials, chain/ball crews, medical staff) are required to wear masks, though coaches and players are exempt. However, coaches and players who aren't regularly subbing in are “strongly encouraged to wear masks on the sidelines.” Disposable masks will be available.
Social distancing and no sharing of personal items will be mandated in the bench area.
SOCCER
Nashville SC has withdrawn from Major League Soccer's MLS is Back tournament in Florida after nine players tested positive for the coronavirus, the league announced Thursday.
Nashville is the second team to withdraw from the tournament. FC Dallas had to pull out after 10 players and a coach tested positive for COVID-19.
“Due to the number of positive tests, the club has been unable to train since arriving in Orlando and would not be able to play matches,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. “For every decision we make in our return to play, the well-being of our players, staff, officials and all participants is our top priority.”
NBA
The legal fight over NBA rookie Zion Williamson’s endorsement potential now includes an allegation that his family received $400,000 from a marketing agency before his lone season for Duke.
Prime Sports Marketing and company president Gina Ford filed a lawsuit last summer in a Florida state court, accusing Williamson and the agency now representing him of breach of contract. That came a week after Williamson filed his own lawsuit in a North Carolina federal court to terminate a fiveyear contract with Prime Sports after moving to Creative Artists Agency LLC.
In court filings Thursday in North Carolina, Ford's attorneys included a sworn affidavit from a California man who said the head of a Canadianbased firm called Maximum Management Group (MMG) told him he paid Williamson's family for his commitment to sign with MMG once he left Duke.
BASKETBALL
The NBA G League is making history despite the 2019-20 season being canceled in early June.
The Atlanta Hawks' affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, announced that Tori Miller was promoted to general manager, making her the first woman to hold that title in the NBA G League.
Miller had been the Skyhawks' assistant general manager since July 30, 2019.