The Rush: COVID-19 strikes Lakers, Celtics and New Orleans Saints

COVID-19 strikes the NBA’s most historic franchises as Lakers and Celtics players test positive, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is the first person in the NFL to reveal testing positive for COVID-19, the Rams released Todd Gurley, the Boston Red Sox announce Chris Sale needs Tommy John surgery and we check in on what professional athletes are up to while quarantined in the first installment of The ‘Rona Diaries, featuring LeBron James, Saquon Barkley and Megan Rapinoe.

Video Transcript

- I'll be the last one to close the lights on Foxboro. I'm kind of feeling run down and I'm sure that's how everybody's feeling. But we're just getting started, baby. We grew closer as a team. And of course, where we helped build the TB12 brand even better. Let's go.

MATT HARMON: In case you're wondering, no. I have no idea who Joe from TB12 Sports is. But that was the goodbye Tom Brady saw fit to post to his Instagram story yesterday. In other words, it's been a rough off season in Boston. And it's not getting any better.

- Ouch.

MATT HARMON: The Red Sox announced that ace Chris Sale needs Tommy John surgery and would miss the entire season. You know, that is assuming that there is one. No Mookie or Brady and now no Sale. But possibly Superman? While that question breaks your brain, a few other fallen stars are on the move.

The Los Angeles Rams released both Todd Gurley and Clay Matthews as the team seeks to save itself from cap hell after handing out massive extensions to players like Jared Goff, Aaron Donald, and Brandin Cooks. For his part, Gurley took the news well. Hashtag quarantine and chill indeed. Look, we all know paying big money to running backs is not that smart anymore. They burn out faster than Costco's supply of toilet paper these days. Just think back to 2016. David Johnson and Gurley were the best players in the league. Now a few years later, Johnson is a punchline in the worst trade of all time and Gurley is just like 20 million in dead money to Los Angeles.

- I think that's rather harsh.

MATT HARMON: Again, I get the move. But personally, it hurts. Watching Gurley in his prime was [BLEEP] awesome. And he's a legit gem, one of the good guys in the league. I just hope he pedals his way off the stationary bike and onto a roster somewhere for one hell of a comeback story. But the shield also had a bad day in much more profound ways.

The NBA has already been hit hard by COVID-19. But yesterday, Sean Payton became the first person in the NFL world to reveal a positive test. He's currently self quarantining with some fatigue but no fever or cough.

The Saints head coach came forward to help others by highlighting the seriousness of this situation. And hey, maybe it worked because right now Bourbon Street looks like they're filming a sequel to "I Am Legend." I wish I could say the same for Florida.

- Florida? Seriously?

MATT HARMON: They finally closed the beaches yesterday. But until then, it looked like this. I mean, come on, Florida. Or to be fair, at least the ass hat party bros flocking to Florida for spring break. I can't believe I'm saying this, but be much more like your reasonable cousin, New Orleans.

We can't watch our favorite athletes play right now, but that doesn't mean we can't check in on them. Whether they're giving themselves awful haircuts like Megan Rapinoe. Yikes. Or failing to socialize at an adequate distance like Saquon. If it's on the internet, it'll be in the "Rona Diaries."

LEBRON JAMES: Can't even get a haircut from my barber. They want me to stay away from him. I'm looking like Tom Hanks off "Cast Away."

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