A10
THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020
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Jordan Poyer during his football camp last
year at CMH Field.
Poyer signs
new deal
to stay in
Buffalo
The Astorian
Hailey Hoff man/The Astorian
Seaside softball players got some practice in before practices and games were canceled through April 28.
Spring sports season in jeopardy
Coaches remain
‘guardedly optimistic’
By GARY HENLEY
The Astorian
It was the one sentence that athletes and
coaches did not want to hear from the Oregon
School Activities Association this week, but
one which did not bring much of a surprise.
In a statement released Wednesday after-
noon, the OSAA, because of the c oronavi-
rus outbreak, “has extended the suspension
of interscholastic practices and contests for
sports and activities for all member schools
through April 28.”
The announcement followed Gov. Kate
Brown’s announcement Tuesday regarding
statewide school closures.
So while it wasn’t unexpected, the deci-
sion may have dealt a serious blow to any
chance that the spring sports season can be
salvaged.
If it is saved, it would be in a much-abbre-
viated form.
While schools are closed, school ball
fi elds and facilities are closed to all athletes,
and coaches cannot conduct any type of
organized practices for their teams.
Athletes are allowed to work out on their
own, but that’s about it.
Or, as Knappa baseball coach Jeff Miller
puts it, “it’s where they all started as little
kids,” just throwing the ball around in the
backyard.
“Our school grounds are completely shut
down,” he said. “I can’t even enter the build-
ing. We’ll do whatever we can. Of course,
some things are a lot bigger than baseball.”
Miller always fi elds one of the top base-
ball teams at the 2A level (four state cham-
pionship game appearances in the last fi ve
years), including his current team, which
was ranked third in a pre-season coaches
poll.
But he’s also being realistic.
The April 28 date wipes out nearly two-
thirds of the season for baseball and softball,
while state championships for golf and track
are held the third week of May.
And if teams can’t practice until April 28,
athletes and team sports would need at least
another week before games can begin.
“We’re going to remain guardedly opti-
mistic that there will be some form of league
season in May, and perhaps extending into
See Spring sports, Page A9
Various sources report that Jordan
Poyer has agreed to a two-year contract
extension with the Buffalo Bills, that will
take the Astoria High School graduate
through the 2022 season.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Ian
Rapoport of NFL Network have reported
that the deal is worth $20.5 million.
After spending time with the Phila-
delphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns,
Poyer will enter his fourth year as a start-
ing safety with the Bills in 2020.
Poyer, who will turn 29 on April
25, has started 47 of 48 regular season
games in his three years with Buffalo. He
recorded 107 combined tackles with two
interceptions last season for one of the
NFL’s top defensive units.
A C lass of 2008 graduate from Asto-
ria, Poyer played at Oregon State and
was a seventh-round draft choice of the
Eagles in 2013. He was released after
three games, and played with the Browns
through 2016.
He has one touchdown in his career, an
interception return off a Tom Brady pass
in 2013.
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