Pac-12 sports could resume sooner thanks to rapid virus tests
The Pac-12 could be playing football and basketball sooner than expected after the conference announced Thursday that each of the 12 schools will soon have the capacity to perform daily, rapid COVID-19 tests on athletes.
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott called the deal with Quidel Corporation a “game-changer.”
He said the ability to test athletes every day and receive results in 15 minutes could lead to the Pac-12 getting back in the game before the Jan. 1 date set by the conference’s university presidents when they postponed the fall sports season Aug. 11.
The Pac-12’s six schools in California and Oregon are still restricted from holding full practices because of state mandates to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. However, the professional football teams in California have been given permission to proceed with normal preparations for a season that starts Sept. 13.
Washington releases Peterson, will rely on young backs
Washington released veteran running back Adrian Peterson on Friday, a stunning move by first-year coach Ron Rivera in the name of getting younger.
Peterson, 35, played the past two seasons with Washington, rushing for 1,940 yards and 12 touchdowns.
After Derrius Guice’s release following a domestic violence arrest, thirdround draft pick Antonio Gibson figures to start, with Bryce Love an option after working his way back from knee surgery.
Browns acquire safety Harrison from Jaguars for draft pick
The Browns acquired safety Ronnie Harrison in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, who will receive a fifth-round pick in 2021 from Cleveland.
The loss of rookie safety Grant Delpit for the season with a torn Achilles tendon sent the Browns shopping for a safety. Harrison is in his third season from Alabama.
Seahawks give suspended receiver Gordon another shot
The Seattle Seahawks are bringing back wide receiver Josh Gordon on a one-year deal even as the talented pass catcher awaits reinstatement by the NFL after his latest suspension.
Gordon’s signing was confirmed on Twitter by his agent David Canter early Thursday and later announced by the team.
Gordon, 29, was suspended indefinitely by the NFL last December for violating the league’s drug policy. He tested positive for performance enhancers and “substances of abuse,” the league said in a statement at the time. He applied for reinstatement in June and is still awaiting word from the league.
Messi says he will remain with Barcelona this season
Putting an end to uncertainty about his future, Lionel Messi announced Friday that he will stay with Barcelona for the upcoming season.
Messi made the announcement in a video interview published by Goal. com. He said he wanted “to seek a new direction” in his career but would not “get into a legal dispute with the club.”
The decision ended an impasse over his future that started when he told Barcelona 10 days ago that he wanted to leave the club for free at the end of the season.
Barcelona wanted him to finish his contract that runs until June 2021. It claimed that the clause invoked by Messi to leave had expired June 10 and said that he had to pay the buyout clause of $837 million if he wanted to depart now.
Disappointing season causes Red Bulls to fire coach, assistant
The New York Red Bulls fired coach Chris Armas after a little more than two years on the job.
The MLS team also said Friday that assistant coach CJ Brown will not be back.
The Red Bulls are 3-4-2 this season. An interim coach will be hired soon, said Kevin Thelwell, the team’s head of sport.
Armas became coach in July 2018 and led the Red Bulls on a 12-3-3 run to clinch the 2018 Supporters’ Shield. He had a 29-21-11 overall record overall and make the playoffs both seasons.
Belgian records second stage win at Tour de France
Wout Van Aert took the Tour de France Stage 7 victory Friday. It was the resurgent Belgian rider’s second win at this year’s race.
Defending champion Egan Bernal and other top contenders for the overall title dealt a blow to principal rivals by distancing them in crosswinds on the speedy approach to the finish.
Three-time world champion Peter Sagan got back the green jersey awarded to riders who collect the most points in sprints, after his team caused havoc on the road by riding furiously from the start.
And British rider Adam Yates negotiated the day’s multiple traps to keep the overall race leader’s yellow jersey.
A’s right-hander Mengden tests positive for coronavirus
Athletics right-hander Daniel Mengden tested positive for the coronavirus and is quarantined at home in Houston, where he received the result that forced Oakland and Major League Baseball to postpone four games this week.
Oakland had its three-game series at Seattle this week postponed, as well as Sunday’s scheduled series finale at Houston, where the A’s learned late last Saturday of the one positive test.
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