ClubSocial: 2020-05-03

'Keep our vigilance': NSW Premier announces restrictions to be eased on Friday

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that the easing of social distancing restrictions does not mean the virus has become less deadly.

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Wuhan lab phone records show 'possible shutdown' in October

The document could be what Donald Trump was referring to when he recently said he had seen evidence giving him a "high degree of confidence" the pandemic began accidentally at the Wuhan laboratory.

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Petrevski-Seton reveals the home ties that bind

The 22-year-old chose to stay in Melbourne after the season was suspended, unwilling to risk exposing his Halls Creek hometown to the coronavirus.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Isaac Okoro to Stay in 2020 NBA Draft

This season at Auburn, Okoro averaged 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and two assists a game.

At the time, Isaac Okoro couldn’t have guessed that one of his greatest disappointments would be the springboard for accomplishing his ultimate goal.

A year ago, after a dominant summer with one of the top teams in the grueling Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, AOT (Ga.), Okoro was even more dominant during his senior season at McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), the country's top high school team, which finished 32-0 and won a state title.

Still, when McDonald’s listed its much-anticipated roster of All-Americans, Okoro was left off.

“I was upset, but I guess it was a blessing for me,” Okoro said. “It showed me that I need to work 10 times harder. Since that day I just started being in the gym late nights, early mornings getting better.”

A year later, Okoro is often dubbed the best two-way player in the NBA draft and is projected to go No. 6 overall in Sports Illustrated’s latest mock draft.

At 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, Okoro is a relentless defender with invaluable instincts and a high ceiling on the offensive end because of his athleticism and feel on the wing.

This season at Auburn, Okoro averaged 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and two assists a game.

The draft is scheduled for June 25, but teams are reportedly encouraging the NBA to push it back to at least August.

Okoro has already signed with Young Money APAA Sports and Lifestyle Sports Agency, and though NCAA rules give him until June 3 to withdraw his name from the draft and retain his college eligibility, Okoro said his mind is already made up.

“I’ll be officially in the draft,” Okoro said. “I haven’t posted it on social media, but I feel like it will be the best move for me. It’s always been a dream of mine since I was a little kid to have a chance to make it to the NBA. It feels so surreal right now, but I also know once draft day comes, I’m just gonna be ready for the moment.”

Watch SI's full interview with Isaac Okoro above.

May 10, 2020 at 06:42AM
Isaac Okoro to Stay in 2020 NBA Draft

Three youths die from syndrome possibly linked to COVID-19

The two latest deaths follow the death of a five-year-old boy last week, raising concerns about the potential affects of the coronavirus on children.

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BBC NEWS : Coronavirus: The sex toy manufacturer making NHS gear

The BBC speaks to unexpected sources who are supplying PPE amid coronavirus shortages.

May 10, 2020 at 05:42AM

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BBC NEWS : "Can I get a mortgage if I'm only on 80% pay?"

As millions of people have their salaries cut, will mortgage providers lend based on reduced salary?

May 10, 2020 at 05:43AM

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Are you a stepmother? Manage your expectations this Mother's Day

For a step-mum, this day can be one of the hardest. Tributes are flooding social media feeds, Mum movies are on TV, but these do not reflect everyone’s reality.

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'Staged re-entry' into Grosvenor mine four days after explosion

The Moranbah mine's owner has re-entered the mine for the first time since an explosion on Wednesday left five men critically injured.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Kofi Kingston on Big E: 'To see Big E as WWE Champion or Universal Champion would be amazing'

Kofi Kingston revisits his most memorable ladder matches ahead of WWE special.

WWE is constantly seeking its next big star, but Kofi Kingston believes that wrestler is already on the roster.

"Big E would make a great face of the company," said Kingston. "He's developed tremendously as a performer over the years. He is versatile in the ring, but also verbally on the mic. He's able to entertain, he's physical, he can do it all. To see Big E as WWE Champion or Universal Champion would be amazing."

Kingston, who is part of The New Day with Big E and Xavier Woods, won the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35. The crowd erupted when the longtime WWE star finally earned his moment of glory, and the response would likely be similar with Big E. It is a challenge to be a babyface in the modern era of wrestling, but the charismatic Big E is beloved.

"I always laugh when people say that he doesn’t have personality, which was the knock on him back in the day," said Kingston. "It's unconscionable that anyone would even say that. There is nobody on the roster that has more personality than Big E, especially in the ring with the mic in his hand.

"The clamoring, the rumbling, it's beginning, and it will continue. We are all pushing for it. When the time is right, I know that it will happen."

Kingston and Big E defend their SmackDown tag team titles in a "Fatal 4-Way" match at Sunday's Money in the Bank pay per view against The Miz and John Morrison, Lucha House Party, and The Forgotten Sons. The match offers a chance to highlight Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado, while also introducing The Forgotten Sons to a larger audience.

Kingston is also looking forward to the Money in the Bank ladder match, which promises to be especially unique. The match takes place at WWE Headquarters in Connecticut, with the men's and women's ladder matches running simultaneously. Few other talents in WWE have flourished atop the ladder more than Kingston, showcasing his creativity and innovation from a very dangerously high place.

"I don't get scared climbing, and I don't get scared up there," said Kingston. "The crowd definitely fuels you through ladder matches. You don't feel pain when you're out there. The adrenaline level is too high. It really isn't until you get back to the hotel room and into the shower, then all of a sudden, the water starts running over these open cuts and bruises, and you feel it for days. I remember thinking once, 'Why does the back of my hand hurt?' And then remembering, 'That's right, someone smashed a ladder against it.'"

"WWE's Greatest Ladder Matches" airs on Fox this Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, offering a chance to revisit some of the greatest ladder matches in WWE history.

Before Money in the Bank was its own standalone pay per view event, Kingston was part of the Money in the Bank ladder matches at WrestleMania 25 and 26.

"When I was told I was going to be in the match, I remember feeling it was a really special opportunity," said Kingston. "WrestleMania was the only time you'd see those matches, and I'm always somebody that goes into a match thinking about how to be innovative. Edge and Christian, the Hardys, and the Dudleys made it really, really difficult because they had already established so many great, innovative ladder matches that had never been done before. Especially with it being so early in my career, this was a chance to really stand out and show everybody the innovation I could bring to the table."

The death-defying moments in the Money in the Bank ladder match have somehow become customary, but that doesn't mean they should ever lose their shine. One brilliant moment took place at WrestleMania 25 when Shelton Benjamin delivered a breathtaking dive off a ladder and Kingston was on the receiving end, doing everything possible to protect Benjamin and give him that moment.

"Even when I see highlights now, it still takes me back," said Kingston. "Shelton Benjamin jumping off that ladder, I remember seeing him all the way up there. I was like, 'Well, here we go.' And he just went. I was the one who took the brunt of the dive. So to be able to pull that off as a performer, you feel like you're on cloud nine, knowing you delivered something fresh and innovative. And then you look back and think, 'How did we do that?'"

Kingston has put together his own highlight reel of outstanding ladder match moments, but one that particularly stands out is when he took two halves of a broken ladder, used the ladder as a pair of stilts, then nearly reached the Money in the Bank briefcase before Drew McIntyre sent him flying.

"Most people land and bounce off, I landed and stuck," said Kingston. "The whole moment, with all the adrenaline, I remember that being a moment where I had to calm down. I knew what I wanted to do, and I knew the crowd was going to be super into it, but if I fell, it was going to be bad news.

"If you watch that clip closely, I get on to the second rope and then put my feet on the ladder, and I hear the crowd. You can see the first couple steps I take, and I don't know what happened, but the mat was really slick and the ladder started to slide. So I took baby steps, the crowd is going nuts, and I'm trying to tune them out. I felt that energy when I started to climb up, and then Drew kicks out one ladder and I'm still trying to climb the other half, and then he sent me onto the ropes."

Kingston misses the challenge of being in the Money in the Bank ladder match, but at 38, his body is certainly grateful for the reprieve. He just took part in a ladder match at last month's WrestleMania, and he is always preparing for the next time he is called into that moment.

"It's funny, I've been trying to clean out my garage for the past three years," said Kingston. "Often times, I'll take big bins to the top of the ladder and put them on storage racks. It's almost like practicing for Money in the Bank."

Professional wrestlers are intimately familiar with the roar of a crowd. Kingston noted that climbing the ladder at Money in the Bank, or walking through the curtain in wrestling, are far more invigorating than doing those same tasks when part of daily household responsibilities.

"No one is cheering for me when I climb the ladder in my garage," said Kingston with a laugh. "I expect to be cheered for when I walk into the room. My kids, they're over me, so I've got to innovate and find new ways to get over with them, too."

Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.

May 10, 2020 at 06:10AM
Kofi Kingston on Big E: 'To see Big E as WWE Champion or Universal Champion would be amazing'

Hasty Premier League return could 'cost lives'

Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has warned a premature return from the coronavirus pandemic could "cost lives" as opposition toward the Premier League's 'Project Restart' grows.

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South Korea reverses on reopenings amid nightclub outbreak

A series of new flareups - and fears of a second wave of contagion - underscored the dilemma authorities face as they try to reopen their economies.

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Are you a stepmother? Manage your expectations this Mother's Day

'Staged re-entry' into Grosvenor mine four days after explosion

The Moranbah mine's owner has re-entered the mine for the first time since an explosion on Wednesday left five men critically injured.

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AFL could restart earlier than expected: report

The AFL season could resume as soon as June 11 under a return-to-play plan set to be unveiled in the coming days.

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Less migration, job losses to weigh on Melbourne property market for 12 months

The Melbourne property market will slump for another 12 months as job losses and nervousness drags down rents and sale prices

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Congressmen Question Taliban Commitment to February Agreement

The top members of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee say an increase in violence in Afghanistan has raised questions about the Taliban's commitment to an agreement they signed with the Unite

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BBC NEWS - Hisham Selim, famed Egyptian actor, praised over transgender son

When a famed Egyptian actor revealed his daughter had transitioned, the reaction was unconventional.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-52560676

BBC NEWS - Coronavirus: How lockdown is being lifted across Europe

As the UK looks to lift restrictions, how do other European countries plan to re-open after lockdown?

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52575313

BBC NEWS - War and the virus: Cameroon's deadly mix

Fighting continues to rage in English-speaking parts of Cameroon after most armed groups reject a truce.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-52551848

BBC NEWS - Anna Jarvis: The woman who regretted creating Mother's Day

She created Mother's Day out of love for her own mother but was shocked by how it became commercialised.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-52589173

BBC NEWS - A Bundesliga beginners' guide

German football will be the first to restart in Europe - here's your guide to following it.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-52574525

BBC NEWS - Fontaines DC confront second album curse

The Dublin rock band had one of 2019's best albums - so what does the follow-up have in store?

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52571094

Clawing back normality: Bangkok cat cafe reopens after virus shutdown

As Thailand's capital cautiously reopens many restaurants shuttered over coronavirus fears, the feline "employees" of the Caturday Cafe are back at work.

The few dozen friendly cats typically lounge around the cafe, breaking up naptime to saunter over to human customers for snuggles and belly rubs.

The friendly furballs give some much-needed outside contact for Thais who have mostly been confined to home during weeks of semi-lockdown with most non-essential businesses closed.

"Earlier, we could not go out anywhere which makes us a bit stressed out. But since we can come to meet the cats, we feel more at ease and relaxed," said regular customer Pantip Keeseeree, who said she came as soon as she heard the cafe had reopened.

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As 'Fitspo' turns off many women, it's Bollywood dance to the rescue

A series of free online exercise classes aims to make all women feel included.

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Craigie man to face court over online child exploitation charges

A 60-year-old man in Perth's north is due to face court in June after he allegedly had explicit conversations and sent inappropriate material to two young boys online.

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Jackie Trad stands down from ministerial duties amid CCC probe

Queensland's Treasurer is standing aside from her ministerial duties after being told the CCC is investigating her alleged role in the appointment of a school principal.

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Venues urged to develop reopening plans as Queensland records zero cases

Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles says venues that believe it isn't worth reopening for just 10 people should use the time as a dry run for a further easing of restrictions.

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WA Police: 'Tension reduced' after customary law punishment meted out over iron ore town murder

WA Police say tensions in the remote mining town of Newman have noticeably reduced after an elderly man was physically punished under Aboriginal customary law over the death of a young mother.

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Venues urged to develop reopening plans as Queensland records zero cases

WA Police: 'Tension reduced' after customary law punishment meted out over iron ore town murder

Fay Rendoth, 92, latest Newmarch House resident to die with COVID-19

Sydney's troubled Newmarch House aged care facility has lost its 17th victim to coronavirus.

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Wet weather returns to keep us all indoors

Melbourne reached its top temperature of 15 degrees at 6am on Saturday and the bureau says that was the high point of the weekend.

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Fay Rendoth, 92, latest Newmarch House resident to die with COVID-19

Sydney's troubled Newmarch House aged care facility has lost its 17th victim to coronavirus.

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Wet weather returns to keep us all indoors

Melbourne reached its top temperature of 15 degrees at 6am on Saturday and the bureau says that was the high point of the weekend.

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New on Sports Illustrated: NCAA President Mark Emmert on Return of College Sports: 'It's Going to Be a Very Unusual School Year'

Emmert touched on several topics regarding the eventual return of college sports, and expects a decision to come by mid-June.

In an interview with NCAA.com's Andy Katz, NCAA president Mark Emmert touched on a variety of issues regarding how college sports is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. While much remains unknown, one thing is certain: the next year of college sports will be unlike any that have come before.

Emmert acknowledged that NCAA rules could be "relaxed," which could signal changes in how the governing body handles transfers during this period. Among the myriad issues at play is how schools in states with different shelter-in-place policies are treated in regards to competitive advantages. Emmert conceded that issue could "create some inequities."

The issue on everyone's minds is when college sports can return, and how the pandemic will affect fall sports. While discussions continue to be held, Emmert said a decision for the fall season can be expected within a month's time.

It will be very difficult (for colleges) to push decisions (about the fall) past the middle, end of June," Emmert said.

Though the ideal scenario is for a plan to be in place for all schools to start their fall seasons simultaneously, but Emmert does not expect all schools to be able to do so. On a league-by-league basis, conferences might have to proceed without all of its members. Penn State football coach James Franklin brought up this same issue on Wednesday.

"I can't imagine that right now we're all going to open at the same time," Franklin told ESPN's Heather Dinich. "If the SEC, for example, opens up a month earlier than the Big Ten, and the Big Ten is able to open up and 12 of the 14 schools, if two schools can't open, I don't see a conference—any conference—penalizing 80% or 75% of the schools because 25% of them can't open."

Whenever schools begin preparing for the fall season, they'll need a minimum preseason training period to prevent injuries. The NCAA is also counting on testing tactics to improve as a deadline for having a decision on how to proceed looms.

"The testing component—especially getting a rapid-diagnostic test on the one hand, then understanding immunity on the other—that’s going to have to really improve over the next several weeks," said Brian Hainline, the NCAA's chief medical officer, per USA Today's Steve Berkowitz.

May 09, 2020 at 06:45AM
NCAA President Mark Emmert on Return of College Sports: 'It's Going to Be a Very Unusual School Year'

The lesson to remember as I grieve the lost chance to see my mum this weekend

Our optimism is being tested, but as I learnt at the start of my parenting journey, the flame of hope may grow dim in difficult times, but it still flickers.

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Market wrap: all the leasing and sales activity in and around Sydney

Market Wrap

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BBC NEWS - Coronavirus: Belarus WW2 parade defies pandemic and upstages Putin

Belarus goes ahead with a Victory Day parade, but in Russia coronavirus forced its cancellation.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52574749

BBC NEWS - Week in pictures: 2-8 May 2020

A selection of news photographs taken around the world this week.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-52560387

Market wrap: all the leasing and sales activity in and around Sydney

Market Wrap

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Warriors extend Tamworth lockdown stay after another player joins squad

The squad will now spend 18 days at their lockdown accommodation, and exit just a week before the competition's planned resumption.

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Russia's New Coronavirus Cases Top 10,000 For Sixth Straight Day

Russia registered more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases for the sixth day in a row -- an indication the spread of the virus inside the country remains serious despite a stringent lockdown-- as the

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BBC NEWS - Coronavirus: Tesla ordered to keep main US plant closed

It reportedly planned to re-open on Friday, but authorities say this could lead to more virus cases.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52596372

Inside Running: Group 1 chance for Dalasan

South Australian Derby favourite Dalasan is looking to avenge his Caulfield Guineas defeat and claim his first group 1 at Morphettville on Saturday.

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China open to probe of origins of new coronavirus: ambassador

Chinese ambassador to Germany signals a softening towards Australia's call for an international investigation.

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'In no position to express an opinion': Blast for Kyrgios' merger stance

An ATP Council member has hit back at Nick Kyrgios for opposing the proposal to merge the men's ATP and women's WTA tennis tours.

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'Genocide by default': America prepares for a brutal coronavirus slow burn

Having wavered between defeating COVID-19 and protecting the economy, Trump has settled on a decision. It's time to get back to work, even if deaths rise.

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Orica lifts profit and revenue despite fires and weather challenges

The explosives manufacturer delivered a substantial jump in net profit in the first half, but has cut its interim dividend to preserve cash in the coronavirus downturn.

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Tablet interactive: Coronavirus outbreak

Changes to restrictions likely after national cabinet meeting on video link today

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New on Sports Illustrated: NFL Schedule: Key Games, Dates for 2020 Season

Check out all the notable dates and games during the 2020 NFL season.

The NFL released the schedule for the 2020 season on Thursday night.

The season will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 10 when Texans take on Chiefs on on NBC. Kickoff is at 8:20 p.m. ET.

This season ushers in a new phase for the Raiders, who moved to their new home in Las Vegas this offseason. The team will make their regular season Sin City home debut in Week 2 on Sept. 21, in a Monday Night Football matchup against the Saints.

However, the Raiders aren't the only team with a new venue. The Chargers and Rams will share SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles starting in 2020. The Rams open their season at home on Sunday Night Football on Sept. 1 against the Cowboys. The Chargers don't play a home regular season game until Week 3 in a matchup with the Raiders.

Tom Brady and the Buccaneers will make five primetime appearances in 2020, the maximum number of primetime games a team can play. They open their season at 4:25 p.m. ET at the New Orleans Saints.

The New England Patriots will host the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 for their first game without Brady on their roster since they picked him in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft.

Among other schedule notes, the NFL will play its first Friday game since 2009 this season when the Vikings travel to the Saints on Christmas Day. New Orleans has another four games scheduled for primetime.

The Thanksgiving Day triple-header features the Texans at the Lions, Washington at the Cowboys and the Ravens at the Steelers.

Playoffs:

Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, marks the final day of the regular season. The playoffs start on the weekend of Jan. 9-10 with the Wild Card Playoff Round. This year's playoffs will expand to 14 teams as part of the new collective bargaining agreement reached in March.

Super Bowl:

Super Bowl LV is currently scheduled for Feb. 7, 2021, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. That date—or any of the above dates—could change if the season has to be adjusted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

May 08, 2020 at 06:01AM
NFL Schedule: Key Games, Dates for 2020 Season

New on Sports Illustrated: Thursday Night Football Schedule 2020: Games, Dates, Matchups

The 2020 NFL season schedule was announced Thursday with a full slate of Thursday Night Football games, which will be broadcast on FOX.

The 2020 NFL season schedule was announced Thursday with a full slate of Thursday Night Football games, which will be broadcast by FOX, the NFL Network and on Amazon Prime Video.

The NFL season kicks off on a Thursday night with Texans at Chiefs. But the Thursday Night Football series doesn't begin until Week 2 when the Bengals travel to the Browns.

Games will start at 8:20 p.m. ET.

See the full schedule below:

Thursday Night Football Schedule:

Week 2: Bengals at Browns

Week 3: Dolphins at Jaguars

Week 4: Broncos at Jets

Week 5: Buccaneers at Bears

Week 6: Chiefs at Bills

Week 7: Giants at Eagles

Week 8: Falcons at Panthers

Week 9: Giants at 49ers

Week 10: Colts at Titans

Week 11: Cardinals at Seahawks

Week 13: Cowboys at Ravens

Week 14: Patriots at Rams

Week 15: Chargers at Ravens

May 08, 2020 at 05:53AM
Thursday Night Football Schedule 2020: Games, Dates, Matchups

New on Sports Illustrated: Sunday Night Football Schedule 2020: Games, Dates, Matchups

The 2020 NFL season schedule was announced Thursday with a full slate of Sunday Night Football games, which will be broadcast on NBC.

The 2020 NFL season schedule was announced Thursday with a full slate of Sunday Night Football games, which will be broadcast on NBC.

The Los Angeles Rams will host the Dallas Cowboys and open up SoFi Stadium in Week 1 to kick off the Sunday night season slate on Sept. 13.

The next week will feature a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX as the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots on Sept. 20.

In Week 7, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to Sin City to face the Las Vegas Raiders for the first of their two Sunday Night Football games. Two weeks later, Brady and the Bucs will host Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints on Sunday Night Football.

Games will start at 8:20 p.m. ET.

See the full schedule below:

Sunday Night Football Schedule:

Week 1: Dallas Cowboys @ Los Angeles Rams

Week 2: New England Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks

Week 3: Green Bay Packers @ New Orleans Saints

Week 4: Philadelphia Eagles @ San Francisco 49ers

Week 5: Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks

Week 6: Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers

Week 7: Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Las Vegas Raiders

Week 8: Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles

Week 9: New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 10: Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots

Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders

Week 12: Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers

Week 13: Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs

Week 14: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills

Week 15: San Francisco 49ers @ Dallas Cowboys

Week 16: Tennessee Titans @ Green Bay Packers

May 08, 2020 at 05:50AM
Sunday Night Football Schedule 2020: Games, Dates, Matchups

New on Sports Illustrated: Rams Schedule: Full List of Games and Dates for 2020 Season

Check out every game on the Rams' 2020 schedule.

The NFL released the 2020 season schedule on Thursday night and revealed every matchup for the Los Angeles Rams.

The team will move into its new home this season at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium, which it will share with the Chargers. Between the two franchises, 16 games will be played at the new venue throughout the season.

The Rams will play the first NFL game at SoFi Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13 on NBC's Sunday Night Football in Week 1. That'll be a rematch of a 2018 divisional playoff game, which the Rams won, 30-22, en route to a spot in Super Bowl LIII.

Other notable games include another Sunday Night Football matchup in Week 6, this time on the road against the division rival 49ers. The Rams will then return home the following week to host the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.

They'll have two chances to exact revenge upon those responsible for their Super Bowl LIII defeat, with both coming in primetime. Los Angeles will play on Monday Night Football for their Week 11 road clash against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then host the New England Patriots in Week 14 on Thursday Night Football.

Here's the Rams' Full 2020 Schedule:

Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Sept. 13 @ 8:30 p.m. ET

Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Sept. 20

Week 3: at Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Sept. 27

Week 4: vs. New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 4

Week 5: at Washington, Sunday, Oct. 11

Week 6: at San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 18

Week 7: vs. Chicago Bears, Monday, Oct. 26

Week 8: at Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Nov. 1

Week 9: BYE

Week 10: vs. Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 15

Week 11: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 23

Week 12: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 29

Week 13: at Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 6

Week 14: vs. New England Patriots, Thursday, Dec. 10

Week 15: vs. New York Jets, Saturday, Dec. 19 OR Sunday, Dec. 20

Week 16: at Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 27

Week 17: vs. Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Jan. 3

May 08, 2020 at 05:33AM
Rams Schedule: Full List of Games and Dates for 2020 Season

Can we get a hell yes on the Ellenbrook line? Well, no, but it's good enough

Infrastructure Australia described the long awaited rail line as having a “marginal” business case and warned about patronage. But forecasts aren't everything.

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BBC NEWS - What will emerge when post-WW2 order ends?

Seventy-five years after Victory in Europe, what has changed and is a new world order forming?

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52565080

BBC NEWS - Coronavirus lockdown sends solo sailor on Pacific odyssey

One man's dream sailing trip nearly ended in disaster as island nations began closing their borders.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-52571918

BBC NEWS - Coronavirus: How they tried to curb Spanish flu pandemic in 1918

Face masks, fresh air and porridge - how people tried to curb a deadly flu pandemic in 1918.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-52564371

BBC NEWS - VE Day: The fall of Nazi Berlin in pictures

Berlin officially surrendered to Soviet forces on 2 May but fighting continued until the war ended.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52572544

BBC NEWS - Coronavirus bailouts: Which country has the most generous deal?

A look at the different ways nations are trying to cushion the blow from the virus shutdowns.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52450958

BBC NEWS - Africa's week in pictures: 1 - 7 May 2020

A selection of the week's best photos from across the continent and beyond.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-52573382

BBC NEWS - India coronavirus: Why celebrating Covid-19 'success models' is dangerous

Experts tell the BBC that euphoria over success models runs the risk of people becoming complacent.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-52527534

Can we get a hell yes on the Ellenbrook line? Well, no, but it's good enough

Orica lifts profit and revenue despite fires and weather challenges

Tablet interactive: Coronavirus outbreak

Changes to restrictions likely after national cabinet meeting on video link today

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Why I decided to have my baby using a sperm donor

Maryanne Fino always assumed there would be kids in her future, but when she got to her late 30s, she began to think it was a road she'd have to go down alone.

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Birth of the cool: how Elle Fanning makes her mark on screen

Elle Fanning's screen persona is that of an unusually childlike adult.

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What will our cultural experience be like on the other side of the pandemic?

As the light at the end of the lockdown tunnel is potentially coming into focus for most of us, for our arts sector it won’t necessarily mean lights up.

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The nurse said, “Fair enough, you’re going to die eventually anyway."

He was a smartass and a coward who knew that his stubbornness could kill him. Could he change his attitude and make the heart transplant list?

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The rise and fall of Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic

Had Sir Richard Branson not been booted off an American Airlines flight to Necker Island nearly 40 years ago, Virgin Atlantic may never have got off the ground.

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Sydney's oldest theatre to reopen in 2021 as British impresario takes charge

Sir Howard Panter will bring a splash of London's West End to the Theatre Royal.

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Kylie Blackwood's killer gets life but parole possible after 36 years

Scott Alan Murdoch, 42, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Kylie Blackwood and attack an elderly woman with a hammer and knife.

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Queensland restrictions eased for Mother's Day: Here's what is allowed

As many as five people, who live together, will be allowed to travel to another household.

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New on Sports Illustrated: NFL Sends Memo to Teams Regarding Health Protocols for Reopening of Team Facilities

The league will limit the amount of non-player personnel in team facilities and notify teams when players will be able to return by May 15.

Ahead of Thursday's planned 2020 schedule release, the NFL sent a memo to its teams outlining protocols for the expected re-opening of club facilities, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Among the action items mentioned include how many people will be allowed in team facilities at the same time, social distancing, temperature screening and other measures.

The re-opening of team facilities will proceed in phases. The first phase, according to the memo, will include a limited number of non-player personnel—50% of teams' staffs with a maximum of 75 people total per day, unless state or local regulations limit gathering to a lower number. During the first phase, no players would be allowed in team facilities unless they are continuing any therapy or rehabilitation that began prior to the facilities being closed.

Teams have been instructed to have these protocols in place by May 15, at which time the league plans to inform teams when their facilities can formally open.

“We are actively working on the next phase of reopening, which will involve both greater numbers of staff and players as well," the memo reads. "We are actively working with the NFLPA on the protocols that would apply to player access to facilities and expect to have those protocols developed fairly soon.”

Among the protocols teams will adhere to include daily temperature screenings of anybody entering the facilities, according to Pelissero. Any non-essential medical care, such as strength and conditioning training or football skillwork, would not be allowed. The NFL and NFL Players' Association are still negotiating when players will be allowed to return to their teams' facilities.

May 07, 2020 at 06:25AM
NFL Sends Memo to Teams Regarding Health Protocols for Reopening of Team Facilities

New on Sports Illustrated: Capitals Condemn Comments Made by Brendan Leipsic, Forward Apologizes

Washington Capitals forward Brendan Leipsic apologized Wednesday evening for a series of offensive comments made on Instagram.

"Yesterday my friend's Instagram account was hacked and an individual circulated images that are representative of private conversations I was a part of," Leipsic wrote. "I fully recognize how inappropriate and offensive these comments are and sincerely apologize to everyone for my actions..."

Leipsic's Instagram account was deleted as of Wednesday evening. In one of the messages that is currently in question, Leipsic appeared to make an insulting comment toward the wife of Canucks winger Tanner Pearson, with whom he was briefly teammates in Vancouver.

"The National Hockey League strongly condemns the misogynistic and reprehensible remarks made by players Brendan Leipsic and Jack Rodewald in a private group chat that has surfaced on social media," the NHL said in a statement. "There is no place in our League for such statements, attitudes and behavior, no matter the forum. We will address this inexcusable conduct with the clubs and players involved.

"We are aware of the unacceptable and offensive comments made by Brendan Leipsic in a private conversation on social media. We will handle this matter internally," a Capitals team spokesperson told the Washington Post's Samantha Pell.

The 25-year-old Leipsic signed a one-year deal with Washington last summer. He scored three goals and eight assists in 61 games before the NHL season was suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic.

May 07, 2020 at 05:47AM
Capitals Condemn Comments Made by Brendan Leipsic, Forward Apologizes

Tablet interactive: Coronavirus outbreak

Premier urges public to stay the course as cases jump by 14 overnight.

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Israel's Top Court Allows Netanyahu to Form New Government

In an eagerly awaited decision, Israel's supreme court ruled Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can form a new government even while under indictment for alleged corruption.

The

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Israel's Top Court Approves Netanyahu-Gantz Deal

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Twitter searches on 5G COVID-19 conspiracy to prompt warning in UK

Twitter said the search prompt would inform users that the government had seen no link between 5G and COVID-19.

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Libya's Hifter got fighters from Russian company: UN experts

"It is estimated from ground sources that the number of Syrian foreign fighters supporting Hifter's operations is less than 2000," the report said.

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Long-awaited George Pell royal commission findings released

A 2017 royal commission's findings about George Pell's knowledge of historical sexual abuse have been tabled in Federal Parliament.

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The Charles Barkley-Michael Jordan rift isn't ending anytime soon

Michael Jordan has tried his hand at building an NBA team and has never had anywhere near the success the much-maligned Jerry Krause had. Charles Barkley knows why.

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Premier urges public to stay the course as cases jump by 14 overnight.

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Palm Beach man charged after his name allegedly appeared as sender on package of cocaine

Jake Wilmott, 22, was charged with 40 offences including possession of 36 fraudulent identification documents, gel blasters and firearms parts.

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German soccer league gets green light to restart on May 15

Germany's Bundesliga says it plans to re-start on May 15, making it the first of Europe's top soccer leagues to get under way following the novel coronavirus stoppage.

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Kraftwerk founder Florian Schneider dead at 73

The German band revolutionised pop music through its embrace of synthesisers and electronic beats.

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Long-awaited George Pell royal commission findings released

A 2017 royal commission's findings about George Pell's knowledge of historical sexual abuse have been tabled in Federal Parliament.

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Palm Beach man charged after his name allegedly appeared as sender on package of cocaine

Jake Wilmott, 22, was charged with 40 offences including possession of 36 fraudulent identification documents, gel blasters and firearms parts.

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Additional sexual assault charges for former Edgecliff gynaecologist

Police will allege in court Richard Reid sexually assaulted two women on a number of occasions between 2000 and 2001.

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Australia's largest solar farm to be built in Queensland – after several false starts

The Western Downs Green Power Hub will be built near Chinchilla, 250 kilometres north-west of Brisbane.

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Coronavirus: Will offices be safe for a return to work?

Here's a look at some of the technology that might help monitor the health of employees.

from BBC News - Technology https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-52471838

BBC NEWS - Poland's presidential poll postponed over coronavirus

A new date will now be set for the postal-only election, which was due to be held on 10 May.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52568797

The latest illustrations from artist Cathy Wilcox

The latest work by Sydney Morning Herald editorial cartoonist Cathy Wilcox.

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New on Sports Illustrated: No title

May 06, 2020 at 05:30AM
No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

May 06, 2020 at 05:30AM
No title

Sweden's economy benefits from relaxed approach to COVID-19

Sweden has reaped the benefits of keeping its economy out of lockdown after escaping the dramatic growth slumps suffered by European rivals.

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Four linked to Cedar Meats as state government plans its own Job-Keeper-style payment.

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ASX softens at open, healthcare and energy rise

The S&P/ASX 200 dropped by nearly 20 points at the open and is softer this morning. Energy is out-performing.

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Disney suffers 90 per cent profit drop, and there is likely worse to come

The coronavirus has decimated Disney's profit, but the next quarter is shaping to be even worse.

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Gallery of opinion illustrations and cartoons by Sydney Morning Herald artist, John Shakespeare.

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Giro, Vuelta races to overlap in October

The Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana will overlap in October under a new WorldTour calendar unveiled by cycling's world governing body the UCI on Tuesday.

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Sweden's economy benefits from relaxed approach to COVID-19

Sweden has reaped the benefits of keeping its economy out of lockdown after escaping the dramatic growth slumps suffered by European rivals.

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Anti-vaccination leaders use coronavirus to push resistance to inoculation

Beyond the rallies and hand-painted signs, the movement's chief organisers have launched a less confrontational but more far-reaching information campaign.

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'When borders open, we're playing': new-look All Blacks ready for Wallabies

Ian Foster, fresh from naming Sam Cane as New Zealand's new captain, has all but written off scheduled July home matches and is looking across the Tasman.

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Tablet interactive: Coronavirus outbreak

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ASX softens at open, healthcare and energy rise

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Disney suffers 90 per cent profit drop, and there is likely worse to come

The coronavirus has decimated Disney's profit, but the next quarter is shaping to be even worse.

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BBC NEWS - Coronavirus: I watched the president reveal I had Covid-19 on TV

Against her will, Sita Tyasutami became "case one", the face of Indonesia's coronavirus outbreak.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-52501443

BBC NEWS - Coronavirus: Sailors tell of months stuck on ships

Since March, many ports are refusing to allow crew changes or shore leave.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52494839

BBC NEWS - Coronavirus: Can live-streaming save China's economy?

In China, the live-streaming industry has become an important platform for economic recovery.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52449498

BBC NEWS - Coronavirus lockdown: I got a life-changing opportunity

Ana Carmona was quarantined with her parents and siblings in NYC, when she got some big news.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52539985

BBC NEWS - Coronavirus: How India's lockdown sparked a debate over maids

The government says domestic helpers can now resume work, but why are some Indians worried?

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-52529922

BBC NEWS - Coronavirus: Can you compare the UK with Italy?

The UK has passed Italy's death toll but it's hard to make direct comparisons.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/52530918

BBC NEWS - Trump says White House task force has done its job

On a visit to Arizona, the president says a new group may replace his White House task force.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52554123

BBC NEWS - Five-year-old caught driving parents' car in Utah

The boy said he was travelling to California to buy a Lamborghini.

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from BBC News - World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52550893

Pallas defends government response as abattoir cluster hits 45 cases

The Cedar Meats outbreak is one of the biggest clusters in Victoria with 45 confirmed coronavirus cases.

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Cyclists forced onto busy road after Brisbane cycleway closure

A section of a popular north Brisbane cycleway was closed for four weeks in early May, detouring cyclists onto Nudgee Road.

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COVID-19 shutdown leaves other life-saving medical research on hold

With the coronavirus shutting research facilities and drawing resources, experts are worried about the delay in other vital medical research.

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Civilian killed in terrorist attack in J-K's Handwara

Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 5 (ANI): One civilian was also killed in the terrorist attack in Handwara on Monday, according to Jammu and Kashmir Police. The identity of the deceased is yet

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New on Sports Illustrated: NFL to Release 2020 Schedule on May 7

The NFL's schedule release will be at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network.

The NFL announced on Monday it will unveil its 2020 schedule on Thursday, May 7.

The schedule announcement will be broadcast on NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET. The program will last three hours, including analysis of the "top matchups and primetime games," per the NFL release.

The NFL has continued with its 2020 offseason despite the COVID-19 crisis. Free agency kicked off as scheduled in March, and the 2020 NFL Draft was held virtually from April 23-25.

Thursday's schedule release will continue to raise funds for COVID-19 relief efforts. The NFL surpassed $100 million in contributions during its Draft-A-Thon in April.

Opening night for the 2020 NFL season is slated for Sept. 10. The league has not announced any delay to the season despite the coronavirus pandemic.

May 05, 2020 at 06:12AM
NFL to Release 2020 Schedule on May 7

Tesla's share jump may have unlocked a $1.1bn payday for Elon Musk

Just three days after Elon Musk said Tesla's stock price was too high, the company's net worth has recorded what could be a lucrative milestone for its CEO.

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WeWork's Adam Neumann sues SoftBank over cancelled $US3b deal

WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann has sued SoftBank, its biggest investor, over the Japanese company's decision to scuttle a deal to buy stock from employees and other shareholders.

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Red carpet revolt? How punters upstaged fashion's most exclusive event

This year's Met Gala was cancelled. But that didn't stop thousands taking to social media serving looks.

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'Slowly ramping it up' vital to standard of AFL return: Buckley

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has stressed the need for a gradual lead-in to the AFL season return to ensure player welfare and quality of the game.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Why the NFL Canceled the International Series, Don Shula's Florida Impact, More NFL Notes

The NFL's reason for canceling the International Series sheds some light on its fall plan. Plus, looking at Don Shula's lasting impact on football in Florida and other NFL notes.

The schedule release is coming, pandemic or no pandemic …

• We got our answer on Monday on the International Series, with those five games brought back stateside, as expected. One of the primary reasons why is really interesting—and sheds some light into the NFL’s planning for the fall. As the league worked with London mayor Sadiq Khan, and officials from Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur in the UK, and Televisa in Mexico, the differences in circumstances from country to country became apparent. As part of returning to the field in the fall, the NFL plans to implement strict protocols at its stadiums, I’m told, and it was clear in talks that it was going to be hard to impose the same ones internationally at venues that would only be hosting a game or two. Of course, the bigger reasons center on how problematic sending hundreds of people to and from foreign countries is at this juncture. But it’s at least notable that the protocols that are being planned are stringent enough to have played a role in scuttling those dates.

• As for where the NFL’s going internationally, the league is under contract to play at least two games at Wembley and two at Tottenham in 2021, and the two-year deal the NFL just did to play in Mexico City will roll over, and be effective for 2021 and ’22 (provided things get back to a relative normal). All that said, the teams that go next year may not be the same as the ones slated to go this year. The Jaguars were set to play two games at Wembley, and are under contract to go again in 2021. But whether or not the Falcons or Dolphins have home dates in the UK in 2021, as they were set to this year, or the Cardinals play in Mexico in 2021, as they were set to this year, remains to be seen.

• I don’t have many great Don Shula stories, other than just seeing over the years how reverential everyone in the Dolphins organization was toward him. It also struck me, for one reason or the other, the impact he had on football in that state. I looked on Monday afternoon, and saw that 17 of the top 100 high school football recruits in America in the Class of 2020 hail from there—reflective of how the sport has become king there, and how the state has become a hotbed. And it sure wasn’t like Florida was Texas or Ohio when Shula got to the Dolphins in 1970. His early teams helped popularize the sport there, and I have to think it had an impact on the kids there, and the college programs that became powerhouses at Florida, Florida State and Miami, and even the NFL’s decisions to expand again there in 1976 and 1995. By the time I started watching pro football, Dan Marino was Shula’s quarterback and the end was in sight. But I think about my childhood, and the Seminoles, Hurricanes and Gators, and the league’s move to plant its flag in Jacksonville, and it’s clear his impact was everywhere. Even at the movies (people my age know what I’m referencing). RIP, Coach.

• One thing I should’ve emphasized even more in my 49ers lede from this week’s MMQB—one of the things that really helped the team navigate a tricky left tackle situation over the last two weeks was its relationship with Joe Staley. Staley’s willingness to work quietly through the logistics of his decision, and delay the announcement a bit, very much helped the team get the Trent Williams deal done, as teams like the Vikings, Bucs and Rams sniffed around the seven-time Pro Bowler.

• If I were the Bucs, and they don’t need me to tell them, I’d feel pretty good about landing Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs where I did, because Tampa wasn’t the only team considering moving up the board to grab him. The Vikings, I’m told, were another. Neither believed he’d fall far beyond the top five, and there was pretty strong buzz connecting Wirfs to the Giants at No. 4. As it is, the Bucs get a player that the Hawkeye staff, which has an incredibly strong rep for producing offensive line talent, absolutely loved. Not to be overlooked on that front: Bucs GM Jason Licht and Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz worked together in New England from 2009-11.

• The Titans hired Patriots director of college scouting Monti Ossenfort to be their new director of player personnel—further stocking what’s becoming one of the NFL’s stronger scouting staffs under GM Jon Robinson. And this is a good example of a good organization seeing opportunity to better itself and seizing. The Titans already have a strong VP of player personnel, in Ryan Cowden, and respected pro and college directors, in Brian Gardner and Jon Salge. But Robinson knew what he could add in the man that replaced him as the Patriots’ college scouting chief in 2014, so he jumped on the chance to do it. And it complements what Mike Vrabel’s doing on the coaching side, with good young guys like Arthur Smith and Shane Bowen having moved up through the ranks.

• The Patriots, of course, were prepared for this. Ex-Browns assistant GM Eliot Wolf came aboard in February, and he’s sticking around and is qualified for a significant role. The shuffling also highlights the importance of pro scouting director Dave Ziegler, who’s now the top guy under director of player personnel Nick Caserio, and would’ve been Josh McDaniels’s choice as GM in Cleveland, had McDaniels landed the Browns job.

• The final count is in on fifth-year options for 2017 first-round picks, and it’s fairly revealing. One of the 32, Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey, did a long-term extension before his team made a call on the option. Seventeen others had theirs picked up. Thirteen guys had their options declined. And one, ex-Cowboy and Dolphin Taco Charlton, was released before the option came due. What might be even tougher for Cowboys fans to swallow about the Charlton disaster is the story behind the 28th pick. There was a lot of support for T.J. Watt in the Dallas draft room on that night in 2017. Watt, as I remember it, wasn’t seen as long enough physically to fit the Cowboys’ profile. The rest, of course, is history.

• One question that was raised to me while I was reporting out the piece of the MMQB on the schedule was the issue of training camp—and when teams will actually be able to open them. Even without fans, conservatively, between the 90 players, 20 coaches, scouts, trainers, doctors and video folks, you’re probably looking at around 150 people minimum that need to be in attendance. So the question becomes will we, by late July, be in a position where all 22 states that have NFL teams are green-lighting gatherings of that size? I think there’s a good chance we get there, but it’s no certainty. And if you’re pushing that back, you might be pushing back the start of the season too.

• I’m gonna go watch the Alex Smith doc now.

• Question or comment? Email us.

May 05, 2020 at 05:40AM
Why the NFL Canceled the International Series, Don Shula's Florida Impact, More NFL Notes

Tablet interactive: Coronavirus outbreak

Eleven of the cases linked to meatworks cluster; sharp rise in US deaths forecast.

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Tablet interactive: Coronavirus outbreak

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BBC NEWS - Coronavirus: France's first known case 'was in December'

A Paris doctor says a patient first diagnosed with pneumonia is now confirmed as having had Covid-19.

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BBC NEWS - Mozambique: Is Cabo Delgado the latest Islamic State outpost?

Islamist militants have stepped up attacks in the north, raising fears of greater instability.

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BBC NEWS - Coronavirus: How to open a hairdressers after lockdown

Hairdressers can reopen after Germany relaxes its lockdown but there is a long list of rules.

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BBC NEWS - The groundbreaking way to search lungs for Covid-19

Artificial intelligence technology is being rapidly deployed worldwide to help tackle Covid-19.

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BBC NEWS - Coronavirus: The lure of mafia money during the crisis

Italian businesses are crumbling in the crisis, leaving a familiar "benefactor" to fill the vacuum.

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Dashboard: Coronavirus in Eurasia - April 27-May 3

Last updated: May 3

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