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NFL: Rooney Rule changes will include more interviews

The NFL is amending the Rooney Rule to require more interviews of minority candidates for head coaching and coordinator positions, two people familiar with the decision tell the Associated Press.

Reacting to a lack of diversity progress in hirings for those jobs, the league will require teams to interview at least two minority candidates from outside the organization for head coach openings. At least one minority candidate must be interviewed for a coordinator’s spot, the people said Monday on condition of anonymity because the NFL has not announced the additions.

The rule, named after the late Dan Rooney, who owned the Steelers, was adopted in 2003.

Robert Jerry “Ben” Williams Jr., former Bills defensive end and the first African-American player to appear in a game at Mississippi, died Monday from natural causes. He was 65.

ETC.: Premier League non-contact training may resume

Premier League clubs have agreed on the measures that will allow non-contact training sessions to resume this week amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The protocols for socially distanced training in small groups were signed off by the clubs during a conference call following a government decision to ease lockdown restrictions in England.

Contact training and matches have yet to be allowed by the government. The Premier League season was suspended in March with Liverpool leading by 25 points with nine games remaining.

Noelia Brazoban, the wife of Starling Marte, died of a heart attack, the Diamondbacks outfielder announced Monday. MLB Network reported the 31-year-old Brazoban was hospitalized awaiting surgery on a broken ankle when she died. Marte and Brazoban had three children together.