NCAA to give spring athletes an extra year of eligibility
The NCAA will permit spring sport athletes who had their seasons shortened by the coronavirus outbreak to have an additional year of eligibility.
The NCAA Division I Council voted Monday to give college athletes who compete in spring sports such as baseball, softball and lacrosse a way to get back the season they lost, but did not guarantee financial aid.
Winter sports were not included in the decision. Council members declined to extend eligibility for studentathletes in sports where all or much of their regular seasons were completed.
How much scholarship money will be made available to each athlete will be determined by the athlete’s school. The amount could range from nothing to as much the athlete received the year before.
Roster limits will be adjusted to fit returning athletes along with incoming freshmen.
PAC-12 EXTENDS SUSPENSION >> The Pac-12 Conference has extended its suspension of organized team activities through May 31 because of the coronavirus.
Virtual group activities, including film study, are allowed up to two hours per week in football and four hours per week in other sports. Coaches are allowed to recommend written, selfdirected workout plans, and videos on workout plans are allowed to show proper form and technique.
NFL
FORMER KICKER DEMPSEY HAS COVID-19 >> Record-setting New Orleans Saints kicker Tom Dempsey has tested positive for COVID-19.
Dempsey, 73, is battling Alzheimer’s disease and dementia at a senior-living facility in New Orleans. At least 50 residents of the facility have been affected by the coronavirus, with at least 13 dying, NOLA.com reported.
Ashley Dempsey, his daughter, said his symptoms have been relatively mild.
“His appetite has been good. He’s doing OK,” she told NOLA.com. “He’s a fighter. He’s been fighting his whole life.”
Dempsey, who was born without fingers on his right hand and without toes on his right kicking foot, set a then-NFL record with a 63-yard field goal on Nov. 8, 1970.
He played 11 NFL seasons with the Saints (196970), Philadelphia Eagles (1971-74), Los Angeles Rams (1975-76), Houston Oilers (1977) and Buffalo Bills (1978-19).
Dempsey made 159 of 258 field goals and 252 of 282 extra points in 127 games. GM: BRADY MADE PITCH TO BUCS >> Tom Brady made his pitch to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before general manager Jason Licht and head coach Bruce Arians attempted to reel in the sixtime Super Bowl champion.
Brady signed a two-year contract with the Buccaneers after 20 seasons with the New England Patriots.
“We had a great conversation — Bruce and I — we talked to him for over an hour and a half. And he made it clear in the conversation that he was very, very interested,” Licht said on ESPN’s “Get Up” Monday morning. “It was almost like a recruitment on his part, telling us why it would make sense for him to come to Tampa Bay. The next call we made, we signed him, but it was at that phone call that we realized, that we felt like we had him.”
The Buccaneers already had a quarterback, former No. 1 overall pick Jameis
Winston. But Winston was in a walk year and Arians had already decided against him returning without seeing what else was out there. REPORT: CARRIE HEADED TO COLTS >> The Indianapolis Colts agreed to terms with free agent cornerback T.J. Carrie, multiple outlets reported.
Sirius XM NFL reports Carrie will sign a one-year contract with $300,000 guaranteed and a $137,500 signing bonus.
He was released by the Cleveland Browns in February, just two years into a four-year, $31 million deal.
Carrie spent his first four seasons with the Raiders, who drafted him in the seventh round in 2014, playing 60 games (36 starts). OWNERS TO VOTE ON PLAYOFF FORMAT >> NFL owners will vote on a conference call today to expand the wild-card playoff round to six games.
The conference call is expected to be a mere formality.
If the playoff expansion passes — owners collectively bargained the new system with players in the recently approved CBA — NBC and CBS are expected to be granted television rights for the games.
Tennis
GERMAN OFFICIAL: WIMBLEDON WILL BE CANCELED >> Wimbledon organizers will announce the cancellation of the grasscourt Grand Slam this week due to the coronavirus pandemic, German Tennis Federation (DTB) vice president Dirk Hordorff told Sky Sports.
All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) officials earlier said the June 29July 12 event would not be played behind closed doors and postponement was not without significant risk and difficulty.
“Wimbledon has stated that they will have a board meeting Wednesday and will make the final decision there,” Hordorff told Sky Sports Germany.
“I am also involved in the bodies of the ATP and WTA. The necessary decisions have already been made there and Wimbledon will decide to cancel Wednesday. There is no doubt about it. This is necessary in the current situation.”
Basketball
ASU’S MARTIN DECLARES FOR DRAFT >> Arizona State junior point guard Remy Martin has declared for the NBA draft.
Martin led the Sun Devils with 19.1 points. 4.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game in 2019-20, MICHIGAN’S LIVERS APPLYING FOR DRAFT >> Michigan forward Isaiah Livers is applying for early entry into the NBA draft.
Livers has started 46 games in three seasons at Michigan. He led the Wolverines in scoring this season at 12.9 points per game.
MLB
SALE UNDERGOES ELBOW SURGERY >> Boston Red Sox starter Chris Sale had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow on Monday, his 31st birthday, and the team said it was successful.
Sale is expected to miss 14-15 months, which would bring him back in the middle of the 2021 season.
Sale missed the start of spring training with an illness that the team described as a flu that morphed into pneumonia. The Red Sox then said he had a flexor strain near the elbow, but hoped he would avoid ligament replacement surgery.
A seven-time All-Star, Sale is entering the second season of a six-year, $160 million contract.