The Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes have agreed to a 10-year contract extension.

The deal is reportedly worth $450 million and is the largest in NFL and sports history.

The 24 year old Mahomes lead the Chiefs to victory in this last seasons Super Bowl where he was named MVP. Coupled with his league MVP in 2018, he is the youngest player to ever achieve both accolades.

Combined with the last two years on his current contract, Mahomes will be under contract with KC through 2031.

Reports indicate that multiple St. Louis Blues players have tested positive for COVID-19.

The team was scheduled to hold workouts on Friday but informed team members via text message that those workouts were canceled.

Details on the number of and which players tested positive is still unclear.

The Blues are currently schedule to resume workouts on Monday.

The St. Louis Cardinals could be in line to play in the game scheduled for the Field of Dreams this baseball season.

The site in Dyersville, IA, made famous in the movie, was scheduled to host the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees on August 13. With the schedule re-write due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Yankees and White Sox will not play each other prompting the need for a replacement. The Cardinals appear to be that team.

Reports indicate that fans would not be allowed at the game and it is still to be determined if it will actually take place at all. MLB is expected to release its updated schedule as early as next week.

After adding to the offense in round one, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Mississippi State Linebacker Willie Gay at pick No. 63 overall in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.  The Chiefs then went big in round 3, selecting 6’6 315lb TCU tackle Lucas Niang at pick No. 96 overall.

Gay had a promising sophomore campaign in which he posted 48 stops, 5.5 for loss, five sacks and two interceptions in 13 games with six starts. Gay was a top-50 overall recruit who led Starkville High School to a state title before committing to his hometown school. He played in all 13 games as a reserve linebacker and on special teams in 2017 (23 tackles, two for loss, one sack, two pass breakups).

Niang played high school ball with Boston College star and 2019 third-round pick Zach Allen at New Canaan High School in Connecticut. He caught the eyes of scouts with his play in 2018, as he was a second-team All-Big 12 pick and started all 13 games for the Horned Frogs at right tackle. His senior season ended after seven games (six starts), however, after he underwent hip surgery. Niang had grabbed that starting spot as a sophomore, starting the final eight contests and playing in 12 games that season. TCU coaches got his size and agility on the field in 12 games as a reserve lineman in 2016.

University of Missouri junior defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (Missouri City, Texas) saw his decision to bypass his final year of eligibility pay off tonight as he was selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Elliott, who was a first-team All-American selection for the 2019 season (Pro Football Focus), as well as a first-team All-SEC pick, was the 24th pick in the third round, and the 88th overall selection of the draft.

Elliott’s selection extends Mizzou Football’s streak of having a Tiger drafted to 16 straight drafts (2005-20), and he becomes the 13th MU defensive lineman to be drafted in that same stretch. Elliott totaled a career-best 44 tackles for Mizzou in 2019, including 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 quarterback sacks. In his two-year Tiger career, Elliott saw action in 25 games overall and finished with 68 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

Elliott is the first Tiger to be draft by Cleveland since All-American TE Martin Rucker was chosen in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Northwest Missouri State and Central Missouri suspended ticket sales for their upcoming men’s and women’s basketball regional due to the NCAA statement on championship events and COVID-19.  The statement on Northwest Missouri’s athletics website:

Northwest Missouri State University athletics is suspending ticket sales for the 2020 NCAA Division II Central Region men’s basketball tournament after the statement today from NCAA President Mark Emmert in regard to COVID-19.

The statement from the NCAA:

The NCAA continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 in consultation with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel. Based on their advice and my discussions with the NCAA Board of Governors, I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance. While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States. This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes. We recognize the opportunity to compete in an NCAA national championship is an experience of a lifetime for the students and their families. Today, we will move forward and conduct championships consistent with the current information and will continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed.

The Southeastern Conference has announced it will conduct the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament with only essential staff, limited family and credentialed media in attendance at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville for the remainder of the week beginning on Thursday following the recommendation of the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel related to conducting sporting events closed to the public.

In addition, the SEC announced that all regular season contests in all sports on SEC campuses and SEC Championship events will be conducted with similar attendance restrictions effective Thursday, March 12 through at least March 30 at which time the conference and its member universities will re-evaluate conditions.

The SEC issued a statement from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey:

“In light of recent developments beyond our control related to the spread of the coronavirus, including a recommendation from the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel, and after consultation with our member universities, we have made the difficult decision to hold the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament in Nashville without spectators beginning with games of Thursday, March 12. Effective immediately, the policy will also apply to other SEC Championship events and on-campus regular season games scheduled through at least the end of March.

“After conferring with local and national health authorities, we remain confident in our ability to safeguard the health and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches and other staff who will be participating as well as the limited number of family members and media who will be in attendance at the tournament.

“We regret the inconvenience and disappointment this decision has caused our fans, especially those who have already traveled to Nashville for the tournament.”

As previously announced, the SEC has implemented the following enhanced health measures for the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament:

Use of hospital grade disinfectant to sanitize locker rooms before teams arrive and immediately upon departure;
Sanitization of game balls with hospital grade disinfectant after each practice and game;
Sanitization of team benches plus band and cheerleader seating areas following each game;
Hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes and Lysol spray in team locker rooms;
Hand sanitizers at scorer’s table, in officials’ locker rooms, operations offices and media areas.
For the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, automatic refunds of ticket purchases will be made to fans who are the original purchaser of the tickets from SEC Office or an SEC university, or a verified purchaser on the SEC Ticket Exchange powered by Ticketmaster. For regular season events, each campus will determine refund policies and procedures.

The SEC Network will televise the entire first and second round of the tournament and the quarterfinals evening session. ESPN will broadcast the afternoon session of the quarterfinals, both semifinal matchups and the championship game.

The SEC remains in continued communication with public health officials and reminds everyone to be attentive to everyday preventive actions identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov).

MSHSAA

MSHSAA released the following statement to its members regarding the COVID-19 situation.

MSHSAA Member Schools,

We are paying attention to the latest news regarding the Coronavirus and any information being circulated by the Center for Disease Control. The following is a link to CDC information that provides guidance for groups and businesses. There is a section for schools on the link.

Center for Disease Control

The CDC guidance, “Schools should continue to collaborate, share information, and review plans with local health officials to help protect the whole school community, including those with special health needs.”

We have contacted the Missouri Health Department and at this time, there are no restrictions or requirements to stop activities with large groups of people. We are developing contingency plans for the possible effects of school closures on the state playoffs, your spring sport practices and/or contests, and are monitoring COVID-19 developments closely.

MO Department of Health and Senior Service

Lastly, you can never go wrong with practicing good hygiene and teaching your students to do the same. We will certainly keep you informed as to any new information we receive from these organizations, or other respectable sources.

Respectfully,
Dr. Kerwin Urhahn
MSHSAA Executive Director

Brett Connolly scored the go-ahead goal in the third period for the Panthers in a 2-1 victory against the Blues at the Enterprise Center.

Mike Hoffman tallied the tying goal on the power play late in the second for Florida, which won its second straight on the heels of a four-game skid.

Chris Driedger denied 26-of-27 shots in the win.

Colton Parayko scored the lone goal midway through the second for the Blues

Jordan Binnington made 32 saves for the Blues, who have lost two-of-three following an eight-game winning streak.

St. Louis visits the Ducks tomorrow night.

Gaige Prim led five Missouri State players in double figures with 17 points and 8 rebounds to push the sixth-seeded Bears past Indiana State, 78-51, here Friday in the quarterfinal round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

Lamont West and Tulio Da Silva poured in 14 points apiece for the Bears (16-16), while Keandre Cook tacked on 13 points, and Isiaih Mosley scored 10. Da Silva’s game-high 9 rebounds also helped MSU to a 45-26 rebounding advantage on the night.

Third-seeded Indiana State (18-12) got 14 points apiece from Jordan Barnes and freshman Jake LaRavia.

It was the largest margin of victory by Missouri State in its 30-year history at Arch Madness and its highest offensive output at the event since 2004.

MSU’s win capped an upset-crazy quarterfinal day at the Valley Tournament. Top-seeded Northern Iowa fell to No. 8 Drake. No. 4 Bradley topped No. 5 Southern Illinois, and No. 7 Valparaiso knocked off No. 2 Loyola in overtime to set up the semifinals. On Saturday, Drake and Bradley play at 2:30 p.m., in advance of the Valparaiso vs. Missouri State semi at 5 p.m.

Friday was the first time in tournament history the top three seeds all fell in the quarterfinal round.

After leading by 10 at the half, Missouri State kept the Sycamores at length most of the final period. Before the first media timeout, the Bears had tacked on 15 points and extended their lead to 48-30 after a 3-pointer by Cook. [Read more…]