Digest

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Browns bolster defense with three new signings

After adding some key offensive pieces when NFL free agency opened, new Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry got defensive on Wednesday.

Berry continued to be aggressive and addressed two major needs by striking deals with linebacker BJ Goodson and safety Karl Joseph, a source familiar with the negotiations told Associated Press.

Goodson, who played for Green Bay last season, will take over from departed linebacker Joe Schobert. Joseph's deal is for one year.

On Monday, Berry showed his resolve to improve Cleveland's offense by agreeing to contracts with right tackle Jack Conklin (three years, $42 million), tight end Austin Hooper (four years, $42 million) and backup veteran quarterback Case Keenum (three years, $18 million).

Berry also struck a deal on Tuesday with Denver to acquire fullback Andy Janovich from the Broncos for a seventh-round draft pick in 2021.

The signings are intended to support quarterback Baker Mayfield, whose rocky season has raised some doubts about whether he's the face of the Browns' future.

SOCCER

Ibrahimovic launches fundraiser for Italy

AC Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has launched a fundraiser for Italian hospitals battling the novel coronavirus.

"Italy has always given me so much and, in this dramatic moment, I want to give back even more to this country that I love," the ex-Sweden international, who has also played for Inter Milan and Juventus, wrote on Instagram.

"I count on the generosity of my colleagues, of all professional athletes and of those who want to make a small or large donation according to their possibilities, to kick this virus away," said the 38-year-old.

"Together we can really help hospitals and doctors and nurses who selflessly work every day to save our lives."

Chelsea offers hotel to healthcare staff

Chelsea will provide free accommodation to staff of Britain's National Health Service in a hotel at the west London club's Stamford Bridge stadium during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Premier League team's Russian owner, Roman Abramovich, will fund the service that will allow medical professionals in London a chance to rest if they are unable to travel home or face long commutes.

The scheme will be in place for two months, but could be extended. There have been 2,626 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 104 deaths in Britain.

"It was decided the best way Chelsea can assist the NHS is to provide accommodation for NHS staff. Mr Abramovich will be covering the costs of providing the accommodation," Chelsea said in a statement.

Manchester United great Gary Neville followed Chelsea's example, announcing the two hotels he co-owns will be opened to NHS staff in Manchester free of charge.

GOLF

Harrington optimistic Ryder Cup goes ahead

European captain Padraig Harrington expects the Ryder Cup to go ahead in September despite the sporting chaos caused by the coronavirus.

The Masters and the PGA Championship, golf's first two majors of the year, have been postponed due to the deadly pandemic.

The European Tour and PGA Tour have suspended tournaments until May. However, Irishman Harrington believes the eagerly anticipated clash between Europe and the United States remains on schedule to take place in Wisconsin from Sept 25-27.

"September is a long way off so there's no change to the situation at all at this stage," the three-time major winner told Today FM.

"I know there's been some rumors and they had to put out a statement to say there's been no change, but there's definitely no change."

It has been reported that the European Tour will hold a board meeting next week, with a Ryder Cup steering committee due to talk a week later.

ICE HOCKEY

Senators announce NHL's first infection

The NHL has its first known case of the new coronavirus after an Ottawa Senators player tested positive.

The team announced this week that an unidentified player had tested positive for COVID-19. The Senators said the player has mild symptoms and is in isolation, and that other players are being tested.

Ottawa players, coaches and others have been advised to remain isolated, monitor their health and seek advice from team medical staff. The NHL is not mandating testing.

"The current state of medical advice is that people should likely not be tested unless they are symptomatic," deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Associated Press.

"That doesn't mean that potentially exposed individuals shouldn't take proper precautions such as adhering to self-quarantine principles as necessary and immediately reporting to medical staff should they become symptomatic."

The Senators' last three games before the season was suspended were all in California, one of the states worst affected by the outbreak.

OLYMPICS

Japanese medal hope 'worried' for Games

Japan's top surfer Kanoa Igarashi is already seeing his training for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics hit by the coronavirus outbreak, but he's still hoping a "heartbreaking" cancellation can be avoided.

"The travel ban is what's affecting me the most. Not being able to go anywhere. That's the main one," the 22-year-old said in Los Angeles.

"Surfing is a sport where we have to travel a lot to train in different types of conditions and types of waves."

"For me as an athlete, as a possible Olympian, it's affecting training," added Igarashi, who was born and raised in the United States.

Igarashi is a gold-medal hope at the 2020 Games, where surfing will make its debut, but the coronavirus pandemic has raised growing questions about whether the Games can open as scheduled on July 24.

The waves of bad news have left athletes around the world in limbo, with lockdowns and quarantines making it increasingly hard for them to train for Games that might not even take place.

"It's a little bit difficult to try to motivate (myself), preparing for something that might possibly not be there," Igarashi conceded."It's a time to be a little bit unsure and worried."