BOSTON (AP) — The New England Patriots' private team plane is returning to Boston from China carrying more than one million masks critical to health care providers fighting to control the spread of the coronavirus. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker secured the N95 masks but had no way of getting them to the U.S. Team owner Robert Kraft stepped in and offered the plane. The Boeing 767 painted in the team’s colors and logo is usually used to carry the team to and from NFL games. It is expected back in Boston later Thursday.
LONDON (AP) — British health secretary Matt Hancock has asked Premier League players to “take a pay cut” as some clubs use a government scheme to furlough staff but continue to pay players in full. The Professional Footballers’ Association has been in talks with the Premier League about a collective agreement about deferring or reducing wages but there was no resolution by Thursday night. The government and players’ union appear to agree wealthy clubs should not be using the furloughing scheme to fund wages of non-playing staff.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Titans running back Derrick Henry has signed a franchise tender that puts him under contract for the 2020 season as Tennessee works toward reaching a long-term deal with the 2019 NFL rushing leader. Team officials announced Thursday that Henry had signed the tender. The Titans gave him a franchise tag March 16. The tag means Henry will be paid $10.2 million in the 2020 season unless they sign him to a long-term deal by July 15. Henry rushed for an NFL-leading 1,540 yards and averaged 4.8 yards per carry while earning his first Pro Bowl invitation last season.
UNDATED (AP) — Former baseball All-Star Jim Edmonds says he tested positive for the new coronavirus and for pneumonia. Edmonds says in a video posted on Instagram that he is symptom free now and doing “really well.” He thanked people for their well wishes. The 49-year-old played 17 major league seasons from 1993-2010, mostly for the California and Los Angeles Angels and St. Louis Cardinals. He hit 393 home runs.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Former Wake Forest and Marshall basketball coach Carl Tacy has died at 87. Tacy’s son, Carl Jr., told the AP that his father died early Thursday. He had been transferred from a hospital to hospice care in Yadkinville, North Carolina last week following a December diagnosis of leukemia. Tacy spent a year as Marshall’s head coach before 13 seasons on the sideline for the Demon Deacons from 1973-85. During his time with Wake Forest, he had 222 wins for the third-best total in school history.