There is one more item to scratch off the list before everyone from Sha’Carri Richardson to Noah Lyles to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone embark on their trips to Paris for the Olympics.

Joe Haden has a formal NFL retirement date.

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)DENVER – U.S. Olympic hopefuls will be able to cut their own deals with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee's marketing partners under a first-of-its-kind plan that has potential to shift the top-heavy sponsorship model that rules the Olympic world. The USOPC unveiled a program Tuesday called AMP —- Athlete Marketing Program — which will give potential Olympians three ways of connecting with the federation's sponsors. The third part allows athletes to sign separate endorsement deals with USOPC sponsors. The Olympics have long used the rule to restrict marketing opportunities for athletes, essentially forbidding them from marketing themselves during the games with companies whose brands compete with Olympic sponsors. There's value in that an athlete's own marketing arrangement can be different from what our organization delivers” in its own marketing deals.

The IOC earlier this year reiterated its support of the rule that restricts protests inside the lines at the games. But in the aftermath of protests that stemmed from George Floyd's killing in May, the committee said it would consider measures that would allow athletes to make stronger protests. Among the board members signing off on the statement are Allyson Felix, Christian Taylor, Emma Coburn, Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Berry was an outspoken critic of the USOPC earlier this year when it made public shows of solidarity with Black athletes, suggesting the USOPC never reached out to her on the issue. The USOPC has formed an athletes' group to look into ways to combat racism, which could include calling for changes in the rule known as Rule 50.

(AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)GENEVA In a track and field season almost entirely wiped out by the coronavirus pandemic, athletes and organizers are setting new marks in creativity. On Thursday, the storied Weltklasse meet will broadcast near-live from Zurich in an ambitious mix of social distancing and technological innovation. If this is what the new normal is for this period then lets attack it full on, the reigning Olympic and world champion said. Simply running on an actual track surface Felix in California, Taylor in Florida will be different with training facilities closed during the pandemic. Four months in the planning, the most complete track meet of the outdoor season is not expected to be a template for the near future.