MONDAY – March 16
Le Mars Little League registration has been postponed this week
(high school indoor track)
Gehlen Catholic at the War Eagle Conference meet at Dordt College (coed) – cancelled
TUESDAY – March 17 – Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Le Mars Little League registration has been postponed this week
nothing is scheduled locally or nationally
AP-SportsMinute
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has accepted a two-year, $66 million contract extension. Cousins was entering the final season of the fully guaranteed, three-year, $84 million contract he signed as a free agent in 2018. He was scheduled to count $31 million against the salary cap, but a personal familiar with the trade tells The Associated Press the new pact will reduce by $10 million the team’s charge for 2020.
UNDATED (AP) – The Dallas Cowboys have placed their exclusive franchise tag on quarterback Dak Prescott, securing his rights for an estimated $31.5 million while the sides continue working on a long-term deal. Prescott has played his entire four-year NFL career with the Cowboys and threw for over 4,900 yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season.
UNDATED (AP) – The Arizona Cardinals have picked up three-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans for running back David Johnson and draft picks. That’s according to a person familiar with the trade. Hopkins has three years remaining on a five-year, $81 million deal he signed in 2017. He caught 104 passes for 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns last year.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Tennessee Titans have tagged Derrick Henry as their franchise player, making sure they keep the NFL rushing leader around for at least this season. Henry had 1,540 yards rushing during the 2019 regular season before gaining another 377 yards in Tennessee’s first two playoff games, leading the Titans to the AFC title game.
UNDATED (AP) – The San Francisco 49ers have shipped defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts for the No. 13 pick in this year’s draft. A person familiar with the deal said Buckner will receive a new contract worth $21 million a year from the Colts. The fourth-year pro had 7 1/2 sacks and 34 solo tackles last year. The trade was completed immediately after the 49ers announced a deal to keep defensive lineman Arik Armstead with a five-year contract worth up to $85 million.
WEDNESDAY – March 18
Le Mars Little League registration has been postponed this week
The Le Mars Community Athletic Booster Club meeting has been cancelled
nothing is scheduled locally or nationally
AP-SportsMinute
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – Tom Brady says he’s leaving the New England Patriots after 20 seasons, six Super Bowls and three MVPs. Brady becomes a free agent this afternoon, when he already could have an agreement in place with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His representatives were in serious negotiations with the Bucs yesterday. Patriots owner Robert Kraft told ESPN, “It’s not the way I want it to end, but I want him to do what is in his best personal interest.”
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The Indianapolis Colts and longtime Los Angeles Chargers star quarterback Philip Rivers have worked out a one-year contract. That’s according to a person who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be officially announced until Wednesday. General manager Chris Ballard adds an eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback to the roster less than 24 hours after acquiring Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in a trade with San Francisco.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – The New Orleans Saints and quarterback Drew Brees (breez) have agreed to a two-year, $50 million contract. A person familiar with the situation spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on yesterday because the deal has not been announced. His new contract gives the 41-year-old, 19-year veteran the leverage to decide after this season whether he wants to continue playing. Brees is the NFL’s all-time leader in completions with 6,867, yards passing with 77,416, and touchdowns with 547.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – The Carolina Panthers have worked out a deal with Teddy Bridgewater to replace quarterback Cam Newton. A person familiar with the deal says Bridgewater is taking a three-year, $63 million contract after winning all five of his starts for New Orleans last season. Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said Tuesday on Twitter the team is working with Newton and his agent to find a trade partner, although the 2015 says he never asked to be dealt.
NEW YORK (AP) – Kevin Durant and three other members of the Brooklyn Nets have tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the total to seven known players in the NBA. The team announced Tuesday that one player is exhibiting symptoms, while the other three are asymptomatic. All four players have been isolated and are under the care of team physicians. The Nets added that all players and members of their travel party are being asked to remain isolated and closely monitor their health.
THURSDAY – March 19
Le Mars Little League registration has been postponed this week
nothing is scheduled locally or nationally
UNDATED — Two members of the 2015 State runner-up Le Mars boys basketball were named NAIA Division II All-Americans this week. Tyler Borchers, a senior at Morningside, was named to the first team and Trent Hilbrands, a junior at Northwestern, was named honorable mention. Both competed in the NAIA National Tournament in Sioux Falls last week before the coronavirus pandemic cancelled the tournament after the first round.
AP-SportsMinute
SEATTLE (AP) – The Seattle Seahawks have added another piece to their offensive line and a potential starting right tackle after agreeing to an $11 million, two-year deal with Brandon Shell. That’s according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Shell started 25 games over the past two seasons for the Jets and played almost exclusively at right tackle. The 28-year-old was benched briefly last season, but started the final five games of the season. There’s also word that the Seahawks are bringing back former first-round pick Bruce Irvin, who would be a boost to Seattle’s pass rush.
CLEVELAND (AP) – According to a person familiar with the negotiations, the Cleveland Browns have a contract agreement with free agent linebacker B.J. Goodson. He could replace Joe Schobert, who was allowed to walk away by the Browns and agreed to a five-year, $53 million deal with Jacksonville on Tuesday.
TOKYO (AP) – The Olympic flame from Greece is set to arrive in Japan even as the opening of the Tokyo Games is in doubt. More voices are suggesting the games, scheduled to start July 24, should to be postponed or canceled because of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. The flame will touch down Friday in northern Japan aboard a white aircraft painted with the inscription “Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay” along its side.
UNDATED (AP) – The NBA is considering an idea that would have some players be quarantined or isolated for purposes of being able to compete against one another and provide basketball fans with some sort of diversion from the coronavirus pandemic. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver revealed that notion as one of several items under consideration by the league during the shutdown caused by the pandemic. Silver made the comments in a televised interview on ESPN.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Los Angeles Dodgers minor leaguer Connor Joe has revealed on social media that he has been diagnosed with testicular cancer. The 27-year-old infielder-outfielder left spring training three weeks ago to visit doctors and have tests. Joe said on Instagram that his cancer was caught early and cases like his “are very curable.” Joe said he had surgery and is recovering. At Triple-A Oklahoma City last year he hit .300, with 15 home runs and 68 RBI.
FRIDAY – March 20
(high school indoor track)
Le Mars at the Buena Vista University meet at Storm Lake (coed) – cancelled
nothing is scheduled locally or nationally
AP-SportsMinute
MATSUSHIMA AIR BASE, Japan (AP) – The Olympic flame arrived in Japan on Friday from Greece in a scaled-down ceremony at an air base in northern Japan. The flame, carried in a special canister, touched down amid growing doubts if the Tokyo Games can open as scheduled on July 24 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Organizers and the International Olympic Committee say it will, but postponement or cancellation is viewed increasingly as a possible option.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton says he has tested positive for the coronavirus, is resting comfortably at home and is making his test result public in hopes he can motivate people to do more to fight the pandemic. Payton told ESPN he has not been admitted to a hospital and does not have a fever or cough.
UNDATED (AP) – The number of known coronavirus cases within the NBA doubled to 14 on Thursday, when Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics pleaded with people to take social distancing more seriously. The Los Angeles Lakers said two of their players tested positive as well. The Philadelphia 76ers said three members of their organization tested positive and the Denver Nuggets said someone within their franchise was positive as well.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Los Angeles Rams have released Todd Gurley, their superstar running back with a massive contract and a troubling injury history. The Rams made the move Thursday, several minutes before $10.5 million in the three-time Pro Bowl selection’s contract became fully guaranteed. The Rams also cut veteran linebacker Clay Matthews after just one season with his hometown club.
UNDATED (AP) – Some MLB teams are scheduling surgical procedures now that the baseball season has been put on hold by the virus outbreak. Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale will have Tommy John surgery on his left elbow, an operation that would keep him out the entire 2020 baseball season. And San Francisco Giants right-hander Tyler Beede will undergo Tommy John elbow surgery Friday.
SATURDAY – March 21
Le Mars Little League registration has been postponed this week
nothing is scheduled locally or nationally
AP-SportsMinute
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady has signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a deal that guarantees $50 million and includes a $10 million signing bonus and $15 million salary for 2020. The 42-year-old Brady spent the first 20 years of his career with the New England Patriots and says he’s thankful for the opportunity he received with the Bucs. Brady appeared in nine Super Bowls and 13 AFC championship games while winning 17 AFC East titles with the Pats.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – The Buffalo Bills have confirmed they are acquiring receiver Stefon Diggs in a multi-draft-pick trade with the Minnesota Vikings. The trade was agreed to Monday and announced Friday by both teams. Minnesota gets four draft choices, including the 22nd overall in the upcoming draft. Diggs has topped 1,000 yards receiving each of his past two years.
ATLANTA (AP) – Running back Todd Gurley has accepted a contract with the Atlanta Falcons, one day after being released by the Los Angeles Rams. The one-year, $6 million agreement was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the deal. Gurley rushed for more than 1,000 yards in three of his five seasons with the Rams, but he ran for a career-low 857 yards with the Rams last year.
ENGLEWOOD, Colorado (AP) – The Denver Broncos have worked out a two-year deal with former Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon. A person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press that it’s worth $16 million with all but $2.5 million guaranteed. The two-time Pro Bowl selection has three dozen rushing touchdowns over the last four seasons and 47 touchdowns overall. Gordon totaled 908 scrimmage yards after recording over 1,200 scrimmage yards in three straight seasons from 2016 to ’18.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has revealed he had a collapsed lung that has healed and said his broken rib is improving. Judge had a CT scan on Friday. The Yankees announced two weeks ago that Judge had a stress fracture to his first right rib. The 27-year-old didn’t play in any spring training games because of soreness in his right pectoral muscle and shoulder.
SUNDAY – March 22
nothing is scheduled locally or nationally
SportsMinute
UNDATED (AP) — The leader of track’s international federation says there’s no need to hold the Tokyo Olympics at any cost, adding that a decision about the future of the games “may become very obvious very quickly in the coming days and weeks.” World Athletics president Seb Coe said the Olympic world is managing the coronavirus day by day and “increasingly hour by hour.” USA Track and Field CEO Max Siegel urged the federation to advocate for the postponement of the Games, which are to start July 24.
UNDATED (AP) — Brazil’s Olympic Committee is calling for the Tokyo Games to be postponed until 2021. The Brazilian body said in a statement published on Saturday that the decision is a necessity due to the seriousness of the pandemic and “the consequent difficulty for athletes to keep their best competitive level.” Similarly, the Norwegian Olympic Committee says the Games shouldn’t take place until the coronavirus outbreak “is under firm control” worldwide.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says free-agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders has agreed to a two-year contract with the team. The 5-foot-11 Sanders caught 36 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns for the 49ers last season. His contract is said to be worth about $16 million with bonuses that could push the total value as high as $19 million.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Running back Kenyan Drake has agreed to sign his one-year, $8.5 million tender to stay with the Arizona Cardinals. The 26-year-old Drake came to Arizona in a mid-season trade from the Miami Dolphins. He ran for 643 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games with the Cardinals, including a four-TD game against the Browns in Week 15.
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Duke sophomore Tre Jones says he will enter the NBA draft. The point guard was named to the third team of The Associated Press All-America team on Friday after being named Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year by the league and runner-up for the same award from the AP. Jones averaged 16.2 points
