With 2020 NFL free agency getting underway next week, many teams will be looking for the veteran impact players to put their franchise over the top, or to contribute to culture change. But it doesn't always work like that. While many free agents have a positive impact upon signing with their new teams, a lot of others bring their new employers regret.

We're looking at both sides here, as the NFL Nation writers picked out the best and worst free-agent signings of the past five years for the teams they cover. So enjoy the trip down memory lane, or express some buyer's remorse before free agency begins anew again.

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AFC East

Buffalo Bills

Best free-agent signing: S Jordan Poyer. You also could make an argument for fellow safety Micah Hyde, but the production Buffalo has gotten from Poyer far exceeds the bargain contract he signed in 2017 (four years, $12.5 million). Together with Hyde, Poyer has changed the identity of the Bills' defense.

Worst free-agent signing: DT Star Lotulelei. Both general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott will insist Lotulelei is more valuable than he gets credit for -- and they're probably right. But they also essentially admitted their error in giving him a five-year, $50 million contract in 2018 by restructuring his deal this offseason. Lotulelei is a space-eater who makes life easier for his teammates, but that alone is probably not worth $10 million per year. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Miami Dolphins

Best free-agent signing: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. There haven't been a lot of great recent Dolphins free-agent signings, but Fitzpatrick was definitely a success after signing a two-year, $11 million deal plus incentives in March 2019. With arguably the NFL's worst offensive supporting cast, Fitzpatrick turned in the eighth-best QBR while bringing energy and helping the Dolphins evolve from a laughingstock to a well-respected team that won five of its last nine games, including a Week 17 win at New England.

Worst free-agent signing: DT Ndamukong Suh. This was an easy pick, as Suh signed what was the largest contract in NFL history in 2015 -- six years, $114 million with $60 million guaranteed. He lasted just three years before being cut in March 2018, with then-coach Adam Gase citing a need for a culture change. What made this deal so bad wasn't Suh's play, but that it was a predictable failure coupled with the large amount of dead money ($9.1 million in 2018, $13.1 million in 2019) that won't fully be off the Dolphins' books until the 2020 league year. -- Cameron Wolfe

New England Patriots

Best free-agent signing: DT Lawrence Guy. When the Patriots signed him to a four-year, $20 million deal in 2017, many were asking, "Who is this guy?" Guy was well-traveled, playing for the Packers, Colts, Chargers and Ravens, and the contract was the richest he'd been offered since entering the NFL as a seventh-round pick in 2011. Guy has since become a rock in the middle of the Patriots' defense, winning a Super Bowl ring and being referred to by veteran Michael Bennett as an overlooked player worthy of a raise.

Worst free-agent signing: WR Antonio Brown. One game. A $9 million signing bonus. Countless distractions. A messy release shortly after. As one person later explained, "We learned our lesson the hard way with him." -- Mike Reiss

New York Jets

Best free-agent signing: LG James Carpenter. This isn't a sexy choice, but let's be frank: The Jets haven't been good at free agency. They signed him in 2015 for four years, $19 million, and he wound up making every penny on the contract -- a rarity in the NFL. He started 58 straight games until a shoulder injury put him on the shelf in 2018.

Worst free-agent signing: CB Trumaine Johnson. Arguably their worst signing ever. Desperate for a corner in 2018, the Jets gave him a five-year, $72.5 million contract that included $34 million guaranteed at signing. What a waste. He has missed 15 games, mainly due to injuries, but he also has been benched twice, once because of a team violation. Final bill for Johnson, who soon will be released: $2 million per game. -- Rich Cimini

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

Best free-agent signing: RB Mark Ingram II. There was a lot of fretting from the fan base when Baltimore signed Ingram instead of Le'Veon Bell. But Ingram became an integral cog and leader for the NFL's highest-scoring offense, leading the way with his physical and explosive running. After signing a modest three-year, $15 million deal, he ran for 1,018 yards, tied a franchise single-season record with 15 total touchdowns and coined the team's mantra "Big Truss." Not bad for someone who wasn't among the 10 highest-paid running backs last season.

Worst free-agent signing: SS Tony Jefferson. The Ravens envisioned getting a young playmaker who was on the verge of hitting his prime when they signed Jefferson to one of the richest deals they've ever given to another team's free agent. Three years later, Baltimore cut Jefferson after he totaled a disappointing two interceptions, two forced fumbles and 11 passes defensed in 35 games. Jefferson was a hard worker and strong leader in the locker room. He just didn't come close to meeting the investment of $19 million guaranteed. -- Jamison Hensley

Cincinnati Bengals

Best free-agent signing: LG Clint Boling. In 2015, the Bengals gave the offensive lineman a five-year, $26 million deal, the most total money given by the Bengals to any free agent during that span. It turned out to be a great investment. Boling started 62 of the next 64 games and retired before the 2019 season, the final year of his deal.

Worst free-agent signing: LB Preston Brown. The hometown linebacker was cut in the middle of 2019 after he signed a three-year contract worth $16.5 million. All of Cincinnati's struggles can't be pinned on Brown, but the defense made significant strides after his departure. Brown was picked up by Oakland and played one game before the Raiders cut him. -- Ben Baby

Cleveland Browns

Best free-agent signing: C JC Tretter. A case could be made for Kevin Zeitler, the other offensive lineman the Browns signed in 2017. But because they then flipped Zeitler for DE Olivier Vernon, who made little impact this past season, Tretter gets the nod. The Browns locked up one of the most underrated centers in the league with a three-year, $32.5 million extension midway through last season.

Worst free-agent signing: WR Kenny Britt. In 2017, the Browns also signed Britt to a four-year, $32.5 million deal, with $10.5 million guaranteed. Britt, however, lasted only nine games before being released, totaling 18 catches and 233 yards. -- Jake Trotter

Pittsburgh Steelers

Best free-agent signing: CB Joe Haden. The Steelers aren't known for splashy free-agent acquisitions, but this one has helped in a big way. Signing with the Steelers in 2017, the corner found new life after a seven-year career in Cleveland. Last year, he put together a Pro Bowl season with one forced fumble and five interceptions. He's a leader in the locker room and in the position group meetings. Prior to the 2019 season, the Steelers extended Haden, locking him up with a two-year, $22 million extension that included a $16.8 million signing bonus to keep him with the team through 2021.

Worst free-agent signing: TE Ladarius Green. The Steelers are better known for their free-agency busts, and with a four-year, $20 million contract and just six games, 18 catches, 304 yards and a touchdown to show for it, Green edges out the likes of wide receiver Donte Moncrief and running back LeGarrette Blount. Green was signed in 2016 to replace the retired Heath Miller, but injuries and concussion history kept him from truly making an impact. He earned $6 million of his contract by the time he was cut in May 2017 and cost the Steelers $3.5 million in dead money. -- Brooke Pryor

AFC South

Houston Texans

Best free-agent signing: S Tyrann Mathieu. Although Mathieu was in Houston for only one season, he quickly became a leader in the Texans' locker room. In 2018, Mathieu had two interceptions, three sacks and a fumble recovery. The Texans wanted to keep the safety long term but were outbid by the Chiefs in free agency. Mathieu had a similar impact in Kansas City in his first season with the Chiefs, with whom he won the Super Bowl and was voted the team's most valuable player.

Worst free-agent signing: QB Brock Osweiler. The quarterback lasted only one season in Houston after signing a four-year, $72 million contract in 2016. That year, he threw 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He also was benched during a game late in the season and lost the starting job to backup Tom Savage, only to regain the role after Savage got hurt. Houston got rid of Osweiler's contract in 2017 by attaching a second-round pick to him in a trade with the Browns. -- Sarah Barshop

Indianapolis Colts

Best free-agent signing: TE Eric Ebron. Ebron's stay with the Colts lasted only two seasons, but his first season in 2018 led to a Pro Bowl appearance. Ebron's 14 total touchdowns led all tight ends in the NFL and his 13 receiving touchdowns set a Colts single-season record for tight ends. He finished that season with 66 receptions for 750 yards to go with those 14 TDs.

Worst free-agent signing: OL Todd Herremans. Herremans, who started at every position along the offensive line other than center at some point in his career, was supposed to help shore up some leakiness up front for the Colts in 2015. Instead, he lost his starting job after just two games. He ended up being a healthy inactive for five games, and his only snaps after that came on special teams before the Colts released him in the middle of December. Ryan Grigson, the Colts' general manager at the time, admitted that signing Herremans was a bad decision on his part -- Mike Wells

Jacksonville Jaguars

Best free-agent signing: DE Calais Campbell. He'll go down as the best free-agent signing in franchise history after signing a four-year, $60 million contract with $30 million guaranteed in 2017 and recording 31.5 sacks in the first three seasons of that deal. He has made the Pro Bowl in each of those three seasons in Jacksonville and was a first-team All-Pro and candidate for Defensive Player of the Year after recording a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2017. Though he has played just 48 games, he is already fourth in franchise history in sacks.

Worst free-agent signing: QB Nick Foles. The Jaguars signed him to a four-year, $91 million contract with a franchise-record $50.125 million guaranteed. He had never started a full 16 games in a season and continued that trend last year. He broke his collarbone after 11 offensive snaps and played poorly when he returned (he got benched after three turnovers and three three-and-outs in the first half of his third game back). Coach Doug Marrone said Foles and Gardner Minshew II, who won six games and was the highest-rated rookie QB last season, will compete to be the starter. So the Jaguars could potentially have a backup QB with an average annual salary of $22 million. -- Mike DiRocco

Tennessee Titans

Best free-agent signing: OLB Brian Orakpo. After Orakpo came to the Titans in 2015 on a four-year, $31 million contract, he immediately became one of their top pass-rushers, finishing with 25.5 sacks over four seasons. Orakpo's 10.5-sack season in 2016 helped the Titans' defense get off to a great start under new coordinator Dick LeBeau. His double-digit sack total was the only one by a Titans player over the past five seasons. Orakpo's leadership was also key during his time with the Titans.

Worst free-agent signing: DT Sylvester Williams. The veteran signed a three-year, $16.5 million contract in 2017. Williams started 11 games for the Titans, along with two playoff games. He finished with one sack that season, which came in their divisional-round playoff loss to the Patriots. He was released one year later. -- Turron Davenport

AFC West

Denver Broncos

Best free-agent signing: S Darian Stewart. Stewart was the final piece of the no-fly zone secondary that powered the No. 1 pass defense in 2015 for a team that went on to win Super Bowl 50. Stewart signed a two-year, $4.25 million deal that year and started 29 games the next two seasons, serving as an injury replacement in the Pro Bowl in 2016. The Broncos then re-signed Stewart to a four-year extension after 2016, but released him after the 2018 season. In all, Stewart started 58 games in his four seasons in Denver and provided great free-agent value.

Worst free-agent signing: T Menelik Watson. Watson's body betrayed him as the Broncos lost a hefty financial bet when he signed a three-year, $18.375 million deal in 2017. Watson had never played more than 12 games in a season in his previous four years in the league and missed the entire 2015 season. He played just seven games due to injuries in 2017. Watson was moved from tackle to guard in 2018 but could not beat out Connor McGovern and was released before the season began. The Broncos took dead money hits of $6.83 million in 2018 after Watson's release to go with another $1.3 million hit in 2019. -- Jeff Legwold

Kansas City Chiefs

Best free-agent signing: OT Mitchell Schwartz. Tyrann Mathieu is another strong candidate, but Schwartz has been playing a strong right tackle since he signed in 2016. One reason the Chiefs have won four straight AFC West championships is that Schwartz has effectively neutralized some of the division's top pass-rushers, including Von Miller, Melvin Ingram III and for a time, Khalil Mack.

Worst free-agent signing: LB Anthony Hitchens. He hasn't had the impact the Chiefs hoped when they signed him in 2018. He was enough of a liability in pass coverage that he played in less than a third of third-down snaps last season. -- Adam Teicher

Las Vegas Raiders

Best free-agent signing: C Rodney Hudson. All Hudson has done since coming to the Raiders from the rival Chiefs on a five-year, $44.5 million contract in 2015 is make three Pro Bowls and win the past three Commitment to Excellence Awards, as voted upon by teammates. In fact, Hudson did not allow a sack in 527 pass-blocking snaps last year and led all offensive linemen with a 99.7 pass-blocking efficiency rating, per Pro Football Focus data. Oh, and he signed a three-year, $33.4 million extension last offseason, with $24.4 million guaranteed, that made him the highest-paid center in the league in terms of average annual pay per season. He's a keeper.

Worst free-agent signing: CB Sean Smith. Much was made about Smith solidifying the secondary when he signed a four-year, $40 million contract, with $20 million guaranteed, in 2016 after spending the previous three years with the Chiefs. Alas, Smith was benched in his first game after getting torched repeatedly. A big corner at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Smith did start 15 games in 2016, then appeared in another 14 games, with eight starts, in 2017. He had four interceptions for the Raiders in two seasons, but legal issues and jail time curtailed his career and he has not played in the NFL since. -- Paul Gutierrez

Los Angeles Chargers

Best free-agent signing: CB Casey Hayward Jr. The Chargers signed the Vanderbilt product to a three-year, $15.3 million deal in March 2016, and he quickly developed into one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Hayward tied for the league lead with 11 combined interceptions in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Because of that production, along with impact as a leader in the locker room, the Chargers re-signed Hayward to a three-year, $34.25 million contract extension that included $20 million guaranteed in 2018.

Worst free-agent signing: WR Jacoby Jones. The Bolts signed Jones in March 2015 to a two-year, $5.5 million deal to improve the team's return game. However, Jones struggled and was released midway through his first season in San Diego. Jones suffered a high ankle sprain in the season opener that forced him to miss three games. Upon his return, he managed a miserable minus-4 punt return yards and averaged just 21.4 yards per kick return in five games. -- Eric D. Williams

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

Best free-agent signing: WR Randall Cobb. He caught 55 passes for 828 yards and three touchdowns on a one-year deal that paid him about $5 million in 2019. The Cowboys have not made big splashes in unrestricted free agency in recent years by design. Backup offensive lineman Joe Looney might be their second-best signing, which is an indication of how they have shopped in the open market.

Worst free-agent signing: DE Greg Hardy. It wasn't that Hardy played poorly or that he cost a lot. He had six sacks in 12 games in 2015, and his deal had no guaranteed money. The signing went against the right-kind-of-guy mantra Jason Garrett was trying to have in the locker room. Hardy was suspended for the first four games of the season (reduced from 10 games on appeal) for violating the league's personal conduct policy in an alleged incident involving a former girlfriend. He was not a hard worker and had a negative influence on younger players around him. -- Todd Archer

New York Giants

Best free-agent signing: OLB Markus Golden. He gets the honor after recording 10.0 sacks in a prove-it year in 2019. To date, it's his only season with the Giants. Janoris Jenkins, Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon (the vaunted 2016 free-agent class) all had their moments, but it fell apart for each at the end.

Worst free-agent signing: OL Patrick Omameh. Lots of competition here. The J.T. Thomas signing in 2015 certainly warranted consideration, but the Omameh signing was just a clear misevaluation. It didn't have anything to do with injury or luck. The Giants signed Omameh to a three-year, $15 million deal to be their starting guard. He lasted seven games before being released and paid $5.5 million. Just a bad signing. -- Jordan Raanan

Philadelphia Eagles

Best free-agent signing: G Brandon Brooks. The Eagles signed Brooks to a five-year, $40 million deal in March 2016. He has developed into arguably the best right guard in the game, earning Pro Bowl bids in each of the past three years, and is a locker room favorite. The pairing has worked out so well that the Eagles made Brooks the highest-paid guard in the NFL by signing him to a four-year, $54 million extension in November.

Worst free-agent signing: CB Byron Maxwell. Former coach Chip Kelly made a number of regrettable moves when he took over personnel control in 2015, including signing Maxwell to a six-year, $63 million contract in free agency. It was a bad fit, and he never came close to level of play he reached previously while with the Seahawks. Maxwell lasted just one year. After firing Kelly, the Eagles traded Maxwell and Kiko Alonso to the Dolphins. -- Tim McManus

Washington Redskins

Best free-agent signing: TE Vernon Davis. He signed a one-year deal worth $2.4 million in 2016 and responded with a bounce-back year: 44 catches for 583 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 13.3 yards per catch -- fifth among all tight ends. With fellow tight end Jordan Reed missing four games due to injuries, Davis' production helped the Redskins rank second in passing yards per game. That earned him another three-year deal. Safety Landon Collins was exactly who the Redskins hoped he would be last season as a player and a leader, but Davis' production for the cost is tough to top.

Worst free-agent signing: CB Chris Culliver. There was plenty of competition for this spot because of the Redskins' free-agency failures, but Culliver gets the nod because of his contract (four years, $32 million) and length of service (six games). The Redskins signed him in 2015 to become their No. 1 corner. However, he was suspended one game for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, then he tore his ACL and was released before the following season. -- John Keim

NFC North

Chicago Bears

Best free-agent signing: WR Allen Robinson II. He already outperformed the three-year, $42 million deal he signed with Chicago. Robinson led the Bears with 98 catches for 1,147 yards and seven touchdowns last year -- quite an accomplishment on a team that ranked 29th in total offense and 25th in passing offense. Robinson also posted decent numbers in 2018 (55-754-4) while still recovering from the nasty knee injury he suffered in Jacksonville. Robinson seems a logical candidate to receive an extension from the Bears in the near future.

Worst free-agent signing: QB Mike Glennon. Yikes. The Bears paid Glennon $18.5 million for four starts in 2017. Chicago intended for Glennon to start the entire year so the club could groom second overall pick Mitchell Trubisky. The plan completely backfired. Everyone lost, except Glennon, who walked away with a small fortune courtesy of the Bears. -- Jeff Dickerson

Detroit Lions

Best free-agent signing: WR Marvin Jones Jr. In the days after wide receiver Calvin Johnson's retirement, the Lions signed Jones to a five-year, $40 million deal that has worked out in every way. Jones has 213 catches for 3,318 yards and 27 touchdowns in his first four seasons with the Lions and fit well alongside both Golden Tate and Kenny Golladay, becoming one of the better contested-ball receivers in the NFL. Jones has dealt with injuries -- he landed on injured reserve in 2018 and 2019 -- but enters 2020 with the possibility of his second 1,000-yard season.

Worst free-agent signing: TE Jesse James. James signed a four-year, $22.6 million deal last offseason and was almost immediately usurped by first-round pick T.J. Hockenson. James finished his first year in Detroit with 16 catches for 142 yards -- his lowest totals since his rookie season -- and had fewer targets (27) than he had receptions in any of his previous three years in Pittsburgh (39, 43, 30). He also was held without a touchdown in a season for the first time in his career. While he still has time to improve, this signing looks worse every time James doesn't see many targets. -- Michael Rothstein

Green Bay Packers

Best free-agent signing: OLB Za'Darius Smith. It's not just what Smith did on the field in 2019 after he signed a four-year, $66 million deal -- although he was often unblockable -- but also the vibe and leadership he brought to the Packers' locker room. His outgoing, energetic approach became contagious and galvanized the team on the way to the NFC title game.

Worst free-agent signing: TE Martellus Bennett. The veteran tight end signed a three-year, $21 million contract and played only seven games before he forced his way out of Green Bay in a manner that became so contentious the Packers tried (unsuccessfully) to recoup the $6.3 million signing bonus they gave him in 2017. The Bennett failure then led to another shot at a veteran tight end, Jimmy Graham, which worked out slightly better but ultimately will go down as a bad signing. -- Rob Demovsky

Minnesota Vikings

Best free-agent signing: CB Terence Newman. Few players know the ins and outs of Mike Zimmer's defense better than Newman, who followed the Vikings' head coach from Dallas to Cincinnati before signing with Minnesota as a free agent in March 2015. Newman spent his first two seasons as an outside corner before moving inside, where he gave the Vikings stability at the nickel position. Newman's impact on the defense cannot be overstated. In addition to performing at a high level as he neared 40 years old, the cornerback took younger players such as Mackensie Alexander and Holton Hill under his wing and helped groom them.

Worst free-agent signing: DT Datone Jones. Rightfully concerned about the health of former first-round pick Sharrif Floyd, the Vikings signed Jones to a one-year, $3.75 million deal in March 2017. A former first-rounder himself, Jones was released by Green Bay at the end of the 2016 season after failing to live up to his draft expectations. Minnesota expected Jones would become a rotational pass-rusher, but it wasn't the right fit. Jones was cut a few days before the regular season. -- Courtney Cronin

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

Best free-agent signing: C Alex Mack. The former Cleveland Brown brought immediate stability to the offensive line and played a big role in helping the Falcons to Super Bowl LI. Mack's intelligence and ability to block into the second level helped establish him as the anchor of the line.

Worst free-agent signing: G Jamon Brown. He was signed to a three-year, $18.75 million deal ($12.75 guaranteed) to help bolster the line. Instead, Brown was benched after starting nine games last season, and the Falcons are looking for guard help again. -- Vaughn McClure

Carolina Panthers

Best free-agent signing: DE Julius Peppers. You can argue there have been more productive free-agent signings, but none were more meaningful than bringing back the second pick of the 2002 draft for a bargain one-year, $3.5 million deal in 2017. Peppers was born and raised in North Carolina, and his departure after the 2009 season over money wasn't popular with fans. His return meant more for goodwill than his 11 sacks in '17. The future Hall of Famer retired after the 2018 season and is now an ambassador for the team.

Worst free-agent signing: LT Matt Kalil. This one was easy. He was signed as a free agent to a five-year, $55 million deal in 2017 to anchor the left side of the line. He played all 16 games that season and was average at best. He missed the 2018 season with a knee injury and was released in 2019, leaving the team responsible for about $15 million in dead money. -- David Newton

New Orleans Saints

Best free-agent signing: LB Demario Davis. Possibly the Saints' best free-agent signing since Drew Brees, Davis has brought great value both on and off the field since the Saints stole him with a three-year, $24 million deal in 2018. A bit of a late bloomer, he was named a first-team All-Pro for the first time this past season at age 30. He has brought much-needed athleticism and playmaking ability to New Orleans as an every-down player with 221 tackles, 9 sacks, 20 QB hits, 22 tackles for loss, an interception and 16 passes defensed over the past two seasons.

Worst free-agent signing: CB Brandon Browner. The Saints cut Browner just one year into his three-year, $15 million deal after an ugly 2015 season. The big, physical veteran was flagged for 24 penalties (21 accepted), the most by any player in a single season since at least 2001. Worse yet, the Saints' pass defense shattered NFL records for most TD passes allowed and highest opponents' passer rating. By the end of the season, he was being booed by the home crowd during pregame introductions. -- Mike Triplett

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Best free-agent signing: OLB Shaquil Barrett. For one year and $4 million (plus incentives), the Bucs landed the league's 2019 sack leader. Barrett's 19.5-sack season marked just the second time since 2005 that the Bucs had a player reach double-digit sacks.

Worst free-agent signing: DT Chris Baker. He signed a three-year deal worth $15.75 million in 2017 but was gone after one season. While Baker provided comedic relief on HBO's "Hard Knocks," players and coaches became increasingly frustrated by his perceived lack of effort. The breaking point came when he was smiling after an encroachment penalty that cost the Bucs a win against the Panthers, resulting in a shouting match with several players in the locker room. -- Jenna Laine

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

Best free-agent signing: C A.Q. Shipley. He might fly under the radar, as most centers do, but Shipley has been the constant on the Cardinals' offensive line since he signed with the team in March 2015, with the exception of missing the 2018 season due to an ACL injury. Other than that, Shipley has played in 56 games. When he's healthy, he's reliable and has been able to develop an intimate command of all three of the offenses the Cardinals have run during his tenure. He wasn't a splash signing, but he has been a home run.

Worst free-agent signing: QB Sam Bradford. This wasn't as easy of an answer as some might think because Bradford had stiff competition. He beat out tackle Andre Smith, guard Evan Mathis and linebacker LaMarr Woodley as the Cardinals' worst free-agent signing of the past five years. Arizona gave Bradford what could've been a two-year deal had he played well and ended up paying him a little more than $15 million to play in three games in 2018. Bradford was coming off a knee injury in Minnesota and didn't look anything like the quarterback he once was. -- Josh Weinfuss

Los Angeles Rams

Best free-agent signing: LT Andrew Whitworth. The Rams have been especially active in free agency over the past three seasons, and there's an argument that receiver Robert Woods -- who has produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons -- has been the best signee. However, after playing 11 seasons with the Bengals, Whitworth signed a three-year, $36 million deal, then quickly proved he had plenty remaining in the tank. He immediately stabilized the offensive line, which was key in the Rams' winning consecutive division titles following his arrival. He also played a crucial role in reshaping the locker room culture.

Worst free-agent signing: CB Kayvon Webster. The Rams signed Webster to a two-year, $8 million contract in 2017. Webster performed well when healthy but dealt with a shoulder injury, then a torn Achilles that limited him to 11 games. The Rams released Webster after he failed an offseason physical, which saved them $3.55 million in salary-cap space. -- Lindsey Thiry

San Francisco 49ers

Best free-agent signing: CB Richard Sherman. A torn Achilles suffered in 2017 left some wondering if Sherman's best football was behind him. Both Sherman and the Niners didn't think that was the case, as he signed a three-year deal worth up to $39 million in 2018. Sherman was solid in his first season back from the injury in 2018, then was a second-team All Pro in 2019, posting 61 tackles and three interceptions, along with two more picks in the postseason. All of that while serving as the ideal veteran leader for a young team that broke through to become NFC champions last season. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk also deserves mention here.

Worst free-agent signing: LB Malcolm Smith. One of the first signings of the John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan era, Smith signed a five-year, $26.5 million deal with the Niners in 2017. While Smith had familiarity with coordinator Robert Saleh's defense, his time with the 49ers was marked by injury. He missed the entire 2017 season with a torn pectoral and started just five games in 2018 before he was released in 2019. He made 35 tackles in 12 games over two seasons with the team, leaving San Francisco to continue investing serious resources at linebacker. -- Nick Wagoner

Seattle Seahawks

Best free-agent signing: S Bradley McDougald. Since signing with the Seahawks in 2017, McDougald ranks third among Seattle defenders in both snaps (2,381) and tackles (215) while tying for the lead in interceptions (five) -- despite spending half of his first season backing up Earl Thomas III and Kam Chancellor. McDougald could be the odd man out in 2020 if the Seahawks feel Marquise Blair is ready to join Quandre Diggs in the starting lineup, but they've gotten excellent bang for their buck over his three years in Seattle, paying him an average of under $3.75 million per year.

Worst free-agent signing: CB Cary Williams. The Seahawks whiffed on Eddie Lacy in 2017, but that wasn't as expensive as their whiff on Williams, who didn't even make it through the first season of the three-year, $18 million deal he signed in 2015. Williams made $7 million for what turned out to be 10 uneven starts. He lost his starting job in November, then got cut two weeks later even though it would have cost the Seahawks just as much in cash and cap space had they kept him on their roster for the remainder of the season. -- Brady Henderson

Mets outfielder Michael Conforto is returning to New York to have additional tests on an injury to his side, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said Monday, according to Newsday.

"Michael tweaked his side catching a fly ball in the wind during a game a couple of days ago," Van Wagenen said. "We will provide updates when we have more information."

Conforto already had an MRI, but the Mets wanted him to undergo additional testing by Dr. David Altchek, the team's medical director.

The 27-year-old Conforto hit .257 with 33 home runs, 90 runs scored and 92 RBIs in 151 games for New York last season.

The 39-year-old British Indoor Championships medallist says she is spurred on by proving people wrong

Age is just a number for Philippa Millage, who last month rounded off a busy week with a British Indoor Championships 800m medal and another national masters record to boot.

Competing in front of a home crowd, the 39-year-old Victoria Park City of Glasgow runner clocked 2:07.27 for bronze at the city’s Emirates Arena after improving her own official British W35 indoor 800m record the day before with 2:05.70 in the heats.

That came after Millage had helped to pace the World Athletics Indoor Tour 800m in Liévin, won by her fellow Scot Jemma Reekie, just a few days earlier.

“I worked Monday, flew out to France on Tuesday, pacemaked on Wednesday, flew back on Thursday, back to work Friday, broke a record Saturday and got a bronze medal on Sunday so I need to sleep for probably about a week now! But it has been incredible,” Millage smiled.

Having stepped away from athletics as a teenager but returned to the sport around 10 years ago, Millage says one of her motivations is proving that her age, considered by some to be old in athletics terms, is irrelevant.

“I do like to prove people wrong,” she said. “It’s incredible how many times people say that they don’t expect me to be able to perform on this level because of my age but actually that just spurs me on even more.

“I ran when I was younger but not really to any sort of level. When I was about 14 or 15 I gave it up, as many young athletes do. I took it back up when I was 29, just trying to keep fit.

“When I moved to Glasgow, my coach Bill Parker spotted me. It was him that really took me from being an average club runner to the athlete that I am today. He obviously saw something in me and has been really inspirational and has really brought me to the level I am at.”

Discussing the age gap between herself and the 17-year-old winner of the British title, Keely Hodgkinson, Millage laughed and added: “I could be her mum!”

Combining her athletics with a full-time job in marketing, Millage is now looking forward to the summer.

“I’ll focus on outdoors now and see what else I can achieve,” she said. “This has been a real good confidence boost for me.”

Scarlets have signed Wales Under-20 fly-half Sam Costelow from Leicester Tigers for next season.

Costelow, 19, has played 12 times for Wales Under-20s and was man of the match in the 23-22 Six Nations win over England last weekend.

He scored 18 points at Kingsholm, including a try and a match-winning drop goal.

Costelow also featured at both centre and scrum-half for Wales at the 2019 World U20 Championship in Argentina.

Born in Pencoed, he was part of the Ospreys U16s set-up before leaving Wales to study at Oakham School and play for the Tigers Academy.

He has won two English Academies League titles and has also been training with Wayne Pivac's senior Wales squad.

Costelow is excited about the move to back to Wales.

"Scarlets are a really good side who've been playing some great rugby which I think will suit me," he said.

"I feel it is the right move for me in how I am going to develop into the player I want to be and also to fulfil the targets and hopes I want to fulfil in my career.

"I'm extremely grateful for the opportunities that Leicester have provided me. I've learnt a huge amount there, especially from a player of the quality of George Ford."

Scarlets general manager of rugby Jon Daniels said: "We saw on Friday night at Kingsholm how much of a talent Sam is and we are delighted he has agreed to join the Scarlets.

"He is one of Welsh rugby's brightest prospects, highly regarded at Leicester and we are excited to be signing a player of his calibre and looking forward to seeing him develop his game as part of a strong pool of fly-halves at the Scarlets."

Scarlets' current outside-half options are Rhys Patchell, Dan Jones and Angus O'Brien.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Timmy Solomito, the 28-year-old Long Island, N.Y., racer who crashed Jan. 3 inside Pennsylvania’s PPL Center, will be back in action this weekend for the first time since his crash.

Solomito will return to wheel the family-owned No. 99 TQ Midget for the Indoor Auto Racing Fueled By VP series finale being held inside the New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center on Friday and Saturday nights March 13-14.

“It’s been eight weeks, I’ve passed three concussion clearance tests, I feel like my old self and I want to go racing,” Solomito said.

Two days of action in Syracuse, N.Y., will feature complete programs for TQ Midgets, Slingshots and Champ Karts with overall BELFOR “Concrete Series” champions to be crowned on Saturday evening.

Solomito admitted that his progression from his injury has, at times, been challenging.

“I do vinyl lettering for race cars and this should be a busy time. I went back to work before doctors told me I could and had a little setback because of it,” Solomito said. “I forced myself to step back and listen to my neurologist. It has taken longer than I wanted it to take, but as far as I can see, I’m the Timmy Solomito I was before the accident.”

While Solomito was on the mend, his TQ Midget was repaired. He’s eager to return to Syracuse where he was in a position to win an event last year when the series made its debut inside the new building.

“Everything was fixed, the cage, the motor,” Solomito related. “It was surprising how much was bent on the car.”

The damage included bending of his Joie of Seating custom made seat.

“Randy (LaJoie) took one look at it and said, ‘that must have been one hell of a crash.’ He repaired the seat and added some additional supports,” said Solomito who hopped a wheel and backed hard into the wall.

“I also had to get a new helmet. The old one, which had four races on it, was cracked. I had to get a new one,” Solomito shared.

Solomito admitted that he had “taken a couple of bad licks” previously in his 22-year driving career, but none like this one.

The way he knew he was getting back to normal during his rehab period was when he regained his mental stamina.

“I had slowed down a lot after the accident, but I’m back to keeping the crazy hours you have to with a small business.”

As a backup plan, Solomito has recruited his brother Shawn to not only work on the car in Syracuse but to stand by if he feels any ill affects once he climbs back behind the wheel.

Solomito described elements of the regimen he has done through.

“I had to spend time on a tread mill, a bike, run a lot, work out, and have vision tests.  I also spent time on a simulator.  When I exercised, they checked me for balance.

“But I’m in great shape physically now. I wasn’t out of shape before the wreck but not in the best shape. I lost weight after the crash, gained some of it back and feel really good.”

Solomito is among 50 TQ Midget entrants for the two days of action on Friday and Saturday, March 13-14 that will include 40 lap features each night.

The Chicago Blackhawks are in playoff race purgatory.

With 70 points through 69 games, Chicago remains mathematically relevant -- only the Detroit Red Wings have actually been formally eliminated in this NHL season -- but the Blackhawks have a less than 4% chance of making the postseason cut. They're 12 points out of third in the Central Division, meaning the wild card is the Blackhawks' only realistic option, and they're running out of games to bridge that gap.

But what if the math was different? What if instead of two wild-card spots, there were four postseason berths on the line? What if, instead of a season that ends in Game No. 82, there was a one-and-done Game No. 83 for the ninth seed or the 10th seed in the conference, with entry into the 16-team Stanley Cup dance on the line?

What if the NHL expanded its playoff field for the first time in 40 years?

"I think you could certainly make the case for it," Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman told ESPN last week. "I mean, going back to when there were 21 teams, 16 made the playoffs. Now we're growing to 32, and there's still 16 teams. So it's certainly a high bar now to get in."

Yet whenever Stanley Cup playoff expansion comes up, the NHL's general managers, board of governors and especially the commissioner's office all sing the same tune: There's no widespread support for it, and currently no urgency to adopt it.

"I don't think there's an appetite, at large," Bowman continued. "There's been a lot of different proposals, and talk about it, but that's not something we've really discussed as a group. Maybe we will when there's another team officially in, and they're playing in the league. But that's not something we've even talked about as a group right now."

If that's the case, then the NHL is the only one of the "big four" U.S. pro sports leagues not talking about expanding its postseason. The siren's song of additional postseason revenue has proved undeniable, as evidenced by the following proposals in professional football, baseball and basketball:

• The NFL is expected to increase its playoff field by one team in each conference when its new collective bargaining agreement is put in place.

• Major League Baseball is reportedly on board with an increase in playoff teams from 10 to 14, and a revamped postseason format that would introduce a "choose your own opponent" gimmick for top-seeded teams in wild-card series.

• The NBA is expected to discuss sweeping changes to its regular season and postseason formats at the league's April meetings. That includes a "play-in tournament" in which the seventh seed hosts the eighth seed, with the winner securing the No. 7 seed in the conference; the loser faces the winner of a 9-seed vs. 10-seed game, with the No. 8 playoff berth at stake. Also: The NBA is considering a re-seed of its final four teams, so two teams from the same conference could play for the NBA title. Such as, for example, the Lakers facing the Clippers in the Finals.

Meanwhile, in the NHL ... it's status quo.

"There have been no formal discussions on [playoff expansion]," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told ESPN in January. "The fact is we like what we have. We think it works well. The NBA may have its own reasons for going in a different direction. But based on how our regular season and playoffs play out -- it's incredibly intense, unpredictable and exciting, as a result of our competitive balance -- we're not looking to make changes."

The NHL's players, however, might like to see some.

Within the NHLPA, there are annual discussions about the league's postseason format.

Sources say that while changing the format "hasn't been a focus to date," there are many within the players' association who would like to see the playoff field expanded, especially with Seattle arriving in 2021-22 as the 32nd NHL franchise. Even more want to see some variation on the current playoff format, whether that's a return to the conference-based 1-through-8 seeding that eliminates the need for wild cards, or something more radical such as getting rid of the conference structure altogether in favor of a league-wide 1-through-16 playoff system.

"There's been a lot of chatter about the 1-through-16 seeding and taking the conferences out of it," Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones said. "I don't mind it. At the end of the day, the best is going to win. You're going to have to beat a good team to get there regardless. Whether it's how it is now or you change it, you're going to have to play great hockey to win the Cup."

Jones, whose father, Popeye Jones, is an assistant coach with the Indiana Pacers, said he was intrigued by the NBA's "re-seed the final four teams" proposal. Back in the day, conference rivals facing off for the Stanley Cup was commonplace, even in post-expansion seasons. The Montreal Canadiens faced the Boston Bruins twice for the Cup in the 1970s. The first Cup of the New York Islanders' dynasty was captured against the rival Philadelphia Flyers.

The two most marketable commodities in the NHL are rivalries and the Stanley Cup. Imagine two conference rivals battling for the ultimate prize: a Capitals vs. Penguins or Oilers vs. Flames Stanley Cup Final.

Jones considered a scenario in which Columbus could face its top rival, Pittsburgh, for the Stanley Cup.

"The fans would not mind that. At all," he said with a laugh.

His general manager, Jarmo Kekalainen, sees both sides of the playoff expansion debate.

"I think every year there are some teams, that if we did expand it, would have a chance to do some damage in the playoffs. So in that way, we probably have some very qualified teams that are going to be disappointed at the end of the season. It's the most parity in professional sports. It's a great race. I think there are both sides to it," he told ESPN.

Kekalainen laughed. "And if we end up on the outside, I'll probably want to expand it to 18 teams."

The truth is, a team like Columbus probably wouldn't mind an expanded playoff field. The Jackets were sixth in the conference through 70 games this season. They had just a two-point lead in the wild-card race, with every team behind them having games in hand.

They could be a playoff team, as they've been for the past three seasons. Or they could be a team that just misses.

• The Eastern Conference is the land of "just misses." Under the current playoff format since 2013-14, the average points difference between the last wild-card team and the top non-playoff qualifier in the East is two points. In the Western Conference, it's 3.8 points on average.

• Since the 2005 lockout (14 seasons), the average points difference between the last wild card and the best non-playoff team is 1.9 points in the East and 3.1 points in the West. In 28 Eastern and Western conference playoff races since 2005, the No. 9 seed has been two or fewer points out.

• In the past 20 NHL seasons, the average points difference between the last playoff seed and the next highest finisher is 2.5 in the East and 3.6 in the West. Out of 40 playoff races in 20 seasons, over half (22) featured the No. 9 seed just two or fewer points out.

So if there was a No. 8 vs. No. 9 play-in game -- the most modest of NHL playoff expansion proposals, according to members of the league's board of governors -- it would mostly feature teams that finished within one to four points of the playoffs.

There's a benefit for the league's top teams in having a play-in game. Not only do they get an extra bit of rest as the play-in round happens, but they also play a team that competed in a mentally taxing extra game on its schedule.

If the gripe from lower-seeded teams is that they shouldn't have to play a No. 9 or No. 10 seed in a play-in game or series in order to qualify for the Stanley Cup tournament, there's a simple remedy for that: Just avoid the playoff bubble.

And as one Eastern Conference governor told ESPN: "It becomes really important to finish first or second, it becomes really important to finish sixth."

But Bettman has been quick to shoot down play-in game proposals.

"There are a couple of owners, a couple of GMs, a couple of coaches that think it would be great. Some have suggested a one-game play-in, but I guarantee you that if the eighth team that would otherwise get to play a seven-game series gets knocked out by a hot goaltender in a one-game play-in, that team is going to be every unhappy if the ninth and 10th teams had an opportunity to do that," the commissioner told Sportsnet in 2018.

While play-in games broaden the postseason for teams, they do present some challenges to players.

"The eight-vs.-nine play-in game might be tough," said Buffalo Sabres star Jack Eichel. "We play enough games as it is. The physical part of it is one thing, but just the emotional part of getting up for one more game and having it one-and-done. If you're the eighth team, you feel like you should be in the playoffs. So why would you allow the ninth team a chance to get it?"

While he's not gung-ho about adding a playoff team, Eichel echoed the sentiment of many players who'd like to see the current postseason format change.

"With the [divisional format] you run into issues, like two teams that shouldn't play each other until later in the playoffs playing each other early. I think the playoff format they had, the 1-through-8, might work," he said. "Every team's journey to the Cup is different. It's built a certain way for that reason."

Of course, the postseason can be built in a variety of ways, as the NHL has shown during its century-plus of history. That extends to its minor league partner, too. Almost 20 years ago, the AHL allowed 20 of its 28 teams to make the playoffs, based on the NHL's urging.

In 2001, the AHL tested a new postseason format at the behest of the NHL, which wanted its prospects to get more postseason experience before getting promoted. So it expanded its playoff field to 20 teams.

There was a qualifying round that featured best-of-three series, with all three games at the higher seed, pitting the No. 7 team against No. 10 and the No. 8 seed against No. 9. The winners of those series were then seeded into the traditional 16-team tournament. In 2002, the Chicago Wolves emerged from the seven-vs.-10 play-in game to capture the Calder Cup, playing five playoff rounds.

But the gimmick was abandoned after a few seasons.

"It was tough to sell tickets on short turnaround and it was expensive to book commercial travel on short notice. Not a great combination," said AHL VP of Communications Jason Chaimovitch. "But there were more meaningful games late in the regular season, and 80-90 extra players got pro playoff experience each year, so I can see why GMs saw a benefit."

The benefits of an expanded playoff field are many. As Chaimovitch noted, many more teams remain in the postseason hunt, so there are more meaningful games through the end of the season. Play-in games would give teams and players a taste of the postseason they wouldn't otherwise sample; and with a hot goalie and a little luck, anything can happen in the playoffs.

But there's an undeniable financial consideration here, too. Consider the revenue generated by teams for postseason games. A play-in game, or series, would be extremely beneficial to their bottom lines. Three years ago, The Tennessean reported that the Nashville Predators made "an estimated $1.2-1.5 million per home contest" in the first round of the playoffs.

For context: One home play-in game could, in theory, cover goalie Juuse Saros' salary for the season.

But for Predators GM David Poile, who has seen his share of different playoff formats during his four-decade NHL front-office career, envisioning any variation on the current divisional draw is difficult, unless the league decides to tackle its divisionally slanted schedule too.

"Never say never, but right now we play an unbalanced schedule. The travel is different from one conference to the other. It's one of these situations where you have to be careful what you wish for," Poile told 102.5 The Game in Nashville last week. "I wish we could come up with a different or better formula. But I'm not sure that we have that. Until you have a balanced schedule, I don't think another system is better than what we have now."

The players seem open to expansion of the playoffs. The general managers share that curiosity, albeit with caveats about what it should look like and the challenges in implementing it. But Bettman has steadfastly refused to consider adding teams, even when the formats wouldn't alter the perfection that is the 16-team Stanley Cup playoff field.

"I have no interest," is a line he has repeated on many occasions.

What Bettman does have an interest in, of course, is what the next collective bargaining agreement for the NHL will look like, and with it the potential windfall of the next U.S. television rights package.

It's no coincidence that the NFL's playoff expansion chatter happens as the league works out its next CBA, with the playoffs and its U.S. TV rights deals negotiated through 2022. It's no coincidence that MLB is talking about playoff expansion as its CBA and part of its TV package both expire in 2021.

The NHL media rights deal expires after the 2020-21 season, and the CBA expires in September 2022.

Perhaps, as with his peers in other sports, that opportunity will pique Bettman's interest in expanding the playoff field.

No matter what happens with the playoff format, there are always going to be complaints and inequities and unforeseen advantages from year to year. For players like Tomas Hertl of the San Jose Sharks, how teams get in or where they're seeded ultimately doesn't matter.

"For me, if you want to win the Stanley Cup, you have to beat anybody in the NHL. So I don't care if it's first vs. eighth, or if you play somebody harder," he said.

"If you want the Cup, you have to beat everybody."

Additional reporting by Emily Kaplan.

It's time for another run at ranking the best NHL prospects. More than 20 such players who were listed on our fall top 100 have graduated from prospect status, and nearly a full additional season since has seen plenty of players rise or fall in how we view their potential. So expect plenty of movement here in our updated top 50 ranking of the top prospects in hockey.

Perhaps the biggest change from the fall edition is the top of the list -- there is no longer a true No. 1. Jack Hughes, Kaapo Kakko, Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes have all graduated, leaving behind a bit of a debate atop the ranking.

Even so, there is a host of promising players in NHL pipelines. Here are my top 50 as of mid-March.

Criteria note: To be eligible for this list, players must under 26 years old and cannot have played in more than 25 NHL games this season. Players who are projected to lose rookie status over the course of this season or have spent the bulk of the season on the NHL roster were also removed from consideration (i.e. Arizona Coyotes forward Barrett Hayton, who has not yet crossed the games-played threshold but has been with the Coyotes all season).

1. Kirill Kaprizov, RW, Minnesota Wild

Age: 22 | Previous rank: 8
Current team: CSKA Moscow (KHL)

The wait may soon be over. Assuming Kaprizov signs as expected, he will come in as the reigning two-time KHL goal-scoring champion. Kaprizov has an Olympic gold medal and a Gagarin Cup title, and no player has posted more points in his KHL career before turning 24. He competes for pucks and makes plays. While there may be an adjustment to the North American style, the Wild should reasonably expect him to be an impact player, a Calder Trophy contender and quite possibly their biggest home-drafted star since Marian Gaborik.

2. Trevor Zegras, C, Anaheim Ducks

Age: 18 | Previous rank: 9
Current team: Boston University (Hockey East)

One of the most dynamic talents with the puck on his stick currently outside of the NHL, Zegras' ability to find teammates and make quick decisions with the puck is at an elite level. His stickhandling can make defenders miss, but he still needs to add muscle to his frame and clean up the defensive elements of being a center. He is as dynamic as they come, and the Ducks have an exciting young talent on their hands.

3. Dylan Cozens, C/W, Buffalo Sabres

Age: 18 | Previous rank: 24
Current team: Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

There was a chance Cozens could have made the Sabres this season, but I think the team made a pragmatic decision in sending him back to the WHL. He is top-three in the WHL in points per game and was a force at the World Junior Championship. An absolute horse, Cozens can fly up and down the ice and is finishing plays a lot better than he did a season ago. There's a consistency to his game. He has gotten better and better as the season has worn on and looks far more prepared to step into the Sabres' lineup as early as next season.

4. Cole Caufield, RW, Montreal Canadiens

Top-flight football in Spain will be played behind closed doors for at least the next two weeks as coronavirus continues to spread across Europe, La Liga announced on Tuesday.

The ban on supporters attending games will also extend to the country's second division.

A statement from La Liga read: "According to information from the High Council of sports [CSD], La Liga Santander and La Liga SmartBank matches will be played behind closed doors, starting today [March 10] and for at least the next two weeks.

"La Liga will continue to be in permanent contact with the Ministry of Health and the CSD to follow its recommendations and / or decisions, prioritising the health of fans, players, club employees, and journalists due to the COVID-19 health crisis.

"For weeks, La Liga has been working on alternative plans in coordination with UEFA in case health authorities decide to suspend any match, creating a plan to play these matches."

The first game affected will be Real Madrid's match against Eibar this Friday in the Spanish capital, where all schools and education centres will remain closed for the next two weeks in an attempt to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Other matches affected this weekend include Barcelona's trip to Mallorca and the Seville derby between Sevilla and Real Betis.

The decision follows confirmation earlier in the day that Barca's game against Napoli in the Champions League on March 18 will also be played behind closed doors.

Barca met with local government officials on Tuesday and quickly reached a decision to play the match against the Italian side without supporters. Barcelona drew 1-1 at Napoli in the first leg.

- Coronavirus: Cancellations and reactions in sports

It was announced on Monday that Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday will also be played in an empty stadium.

Valencia's match against Atalanta on Tuesday and Juventus' game against Lyon next week will also be played behind closed doors. Chelsea's trip to Bayern Munich is also expected to be played without supporters, although there has been no official confirmation.

RB Leipzig vs. Tottenham, Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid and Manchester City vs. Real Madrid are, as things stand, going ahead without restrictions.

A number of fixtures have also been affected in the Europa League this week, including Roma at Sevilla, Wolves at Olympiakos and Getafe at Inter Milan. Gdansk will host the Europa League final and on Tuesday it was announced that all games in the Polish top flight will be played behind closed doors until further notice.

The Catalan secretary for sport, Gerard Figueras, said on Monday that "caution would advise" Barca closed Camp Nou for Napoli's visit.

That decision, sources explained, became a much easier one to take once Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte announced lockdown measures for the entire country on Monday.

All public gatherings and events in Italy -- including the Italian top flight, Serie A -- have been suspended until at least April 3 as the country grapples to control Europe's worst outbreak of coronavirus.

In France, the sports minister Roxana Maracineanu has said that until April 15, Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches (France's two fully professional football leagues) will either be played behind closed doors or with 1,000 spectators depending on the wishes of the organiser.

Germany's Bundesliga is also studying the possibility of playing all fixtures behind closed doors, with Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Cologne the first match to be officially announced with preventative measures in place.

Talks have taken place in England, too, about a contingency plan if coronavirus continues to spread but there are no plans to place restrictions on supporters or cancel games in the short term.

March 10

South Africa and India are likely to avoid shaking hands with each other during their three-match ODI series, which starts on Thursday, and will exchange fist bumps instead as a precaution against COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). The 11-day tour is going ahead after CSA conducted an expert assessment of the risk of traveling given the growing number of global coronavirus infections, and deemed it safe for the team to transit through New Dubai and Delhi and play in Dharamsala, Lucknow and Kolkata. The team has been briefed on precautionary measures and CSA's chief medical officer, Dr Shuaib Manjra, will be traveling with the team.

Other than the lack of handshakes - which will also be the case for England in Sri Lanka - South Africa have not been given any other specific instructions. They will continue to interact with fans and have even taken some photographs with them, including selfies. - Firdose Moonda

March 9

One ticket per person for first T20I - BCB reacts to concerns

The BCB has restricted the sale of tickets - one per person - for the first T20I between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, to be played later today in Dhaka, in a bid to "discourage public gathering" following concerns about the spread of COVID-19. With one person being sold only one ticket, the target is to keep the crowd to one-fifth of the capacity at the 25,000-seater Shere Bangla National Stadium.

March 6

CSA going forward with India tour after medical advice

South Africa's tour of India for three ODIs will go ahead after the organisation completed a risk assessment regarding the spread of COVID-19 across the world. While South Africa reported its first confirmed case of the virus on Thursday, India's health ministry has estimated infections are affecting around 30 people. But a team of experts have deemed the country and the team's transit routes safe for travel. CSA's chief medical officer Dr Shuaib Manjra will make the trip with the team.

March 5

Everest Premier League postponed

The Everest Premier League, Nepal's foremost franchise T20 tournament, has been postponed following a government directive to refrain from mass gatherings amid fears about the transmission of COVID-19.

March 4

PSL games to go ahead in Karachi as scheduled

The Sindh provincial government has ruled out moving PSL games out of Karachi amid fears of the coronavirus outbreak. According to reports, there have been five cases of the virus in Pakistan so far, including three in Federal Areas and two in Karachi, where a school has been shut down till March 13.

March 3

No handshakes for England in Sri Lanka

England's players will not be shaking hands with one another on their tour to Sri Lanka, captain Joe Root has revealed, using "the well-established fist bump" as a greeting instead.