TMZ Sports - Page 50

Well, we've never seen beer and football together quite like this before ...

Sean Payton says since the NFL has closed down his team's facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic ... he's moving the Saints' draft war room to a local New Orleans brewery.

For real.

The coach made the announcement Wednesday ... saying the team will set up its whole draft headquarters at Dixie Brewing Company (which is also owned by Saints honcho Gayle Benson) in New Orleans East later this month.

Payton -- who's just now getting over his battle with coronavirus -- says his team will take every precaution necessary inside the brewery to make sure they're not violating social distancing rules.

Sean says only around six or seven people -- including himself and GM Mickey Loomis -- will actually be on-site ... while the rest of his staff will be there via monitors in the room.

"This facility is fantastic," Payton said ... "We're certainly distanced away from each other. There's plenty of space. And, then the monitors have all the scouts and everyone else, so the total people in the meeting might be 20."

Payton added, each day those who enter the brewery will have their temperatures taken as an extra precaution to keep his employees safe.

The NFL Draft is slated to kick off on April 23. Payton's Saints currently hold pick No. 24 in the first round.

Ric Flair says he's "more than content" with the COVID-19 safety measures the WWE has implemented for WrestleMania 36 -- and trusts Vince McMahon to look out for his daughter's health.

Of course, Mania is set to go down (without fans) this weekend in a virtually empty WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida ... due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And, while at least one WWE superstar has pulled out over health concerns, Ric tells TMZ Sports the wrestling org. is doing everything they can to protect the 'Mania performers, which includes his own superstar daughter, Charlotte Flair.

"I'm more than content that they have put enough safety measure in place." Flair says.

"Keep in mind, they also gave everybody an opportunity to not be part of it. So, anybody that was there, nobody had their arm twisted. It was strictly a voluntary basis."

Flair says the wrestlers are STOKED for WM36 -- explaining, "They worked their whole year, actually some of them work their whole career to be in a high level match in Wrestle Mania."

"Obviously there's gonna be some changes but it's gonna be a great show."

Plus, Nature Boy says he's sick of listening to all of the NFL offseason news dominating the sports media recently ... he's ready for some action already!

"Hey listen, I'm tired of hearing about Tom Brady and that Buccaneers. I'm tired of hearing about Tua, ok?! Let's talking about something that's really taking place!"

Like millions of Americans, Bill Belichick is working from home today. Unlike millions of Americans ... HE'S NOT WEARING SWEATPANTS!!

Instead, the Patriots head coach squeezed into his best pair of tight jeans, set up a cam in his office and just gave a signature Belichick pep talk to America about how to crush the coronavirus!

"Hello, this is Bill Belichick," ... (like we didn't already know).

"I want to reach out to you in these uncertain and unprecedented times to let you know that I, and the New England Patriots, are behind you. We are all in this together."

Belichick shouts out all of the heroes on the front lines -- "medical professionals, doctors, nurses, medical workers and others" -- and praises them for "doing their job."

You know Bill ... the "Do Your Job" thing has become his battle cry over the years.

"We are facing a difficult opponent. It will take teamwork, discipline and commitment to do the right things all the time. That includes staying at home."

"I encourage everyone to shelter in place for as long as necessary as we fight this virus together."

BONUS -- WANNA KNOW WHAT'S ON BILL'S BOOKSHELF?!

We zoomed way the hell in and spotted a few notable hardcovers

-- "Roots" by Alex Haley

-- "Medal of Honor" by Peter Collier

-- "These United States" by Glenda Elizabeth Gilmore

-- "The Best and the Brightest" by David Halberstam

It also looks like he's got a Bon Jovi book in there!

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez just beat the buzzer ... squeezing in one final gym workout before Florida goes on lockdown, and using their pull to make it happen.

The engaged duo slipped out of a gym Wednesday afternoon in Miami after getting what we imagine to be some very exclusive access. Florida had already ordered most gyms closed -- in fact, the door to this gym even said it was closed.

There was an exception for gyms with a capacity of 10 or less -- so, J Lo and A-Rod likely had a private training session -- but even that has to end Thursday.

Governor Ron DeSantis announced a statewide shelter in place order just a few hours after Alex and Jen wrapped up at the gym. It goes into effect Thursday at midnight.

They did play it safe on the way out ... with their security guards wearing masks and wiping down door handles and other surfaces they might touch.

Houston Texans long snapper Jon Weeks wanted to thank 1st responders for all their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic ... so he sent them free lunch -- FROM WHATABURGER!!

The NFL player, along with his adorable daughter, sent burgers, chicken tenders and pies to the Houston Emergency Response Center and several fire departments Tuesday ... and accompanied the food with an awesome thank you video.

"Thank you for everything that you guys are doing," said Weeks, who's been playing for the Texans since 2010. "Thank you for being there on the front lines making the ultimate sacrifice to protect us to make sure that we're safe."

Weeks added, "We hope that you guys can enjoy lunch on the Weeks family today."

In total, we're told Weeks copped 125 burgers, 125 chicken tenders, 75 cherry and apple pies and 80 cookies from Whataburger for the hard-working people ... and they couldn't have been happier about the awesome gesture.

"The firefighters were very thankful," Houston Fire Department spokesperson Sheldra Brigham told TMZ Sports. "Not just for the Whataburger (which we love in Texas!) but the fact that Jon took the time to record a special message made the gesture even more special."

Reportedly, eight Houston firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19 recently, with many still awaiting testing results in quarantine.

But Brigham tells us Weeks' action brought the crew some much-needed joy, saying, "Lunch and a special message from Jon definitely gave us all something to smile about."

A spokesperson for the emergency center added, "The staff is very grateful that they were even thought of."

Here's some good news we can all use ... Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her trusted trainer are still pumping iron despite the coronavirus shutting down gyms across much of the country. Go Ruth, go!!!

The Supreme Court Justice's personal trainer, Bryant Johnson, says his client continues to work out twice weekly inside her private gym in the Supreme Court building. As for the 'rona ... Johnson says 87-year-old Ginsburg "ain't having it" in regards to stopping. Johnson hasn't shut down at her request, and he told Law360 she's his only client right now.

They are taking the pandemic seriously, though. Johnson says they're wiping down every machine and piece of equipment they use thoroughly, and are also trying to maintain social distance between themselves as well. Sounds like it works.

Johnson says he doesn't really need to hold the notorious RBG's hand when it comes to the routine, adding that as soon as he lays a certain exercise area out ... she already recognizes it and proceeds without him having to be so close to her to explain much of anything.

Some of the exercises she does ... planks, push-ups and others.

Ruthie's famously known for getting her sweat on. Stephen Colbert documented his attempt to keep up with her recently, and it was pretty hilarious ... she was kinda out of his league and in her own world when it comes to fitness.

On another note ... it sounds like she's still working when it comes to SCOTUS biz too. Law360 notes she calls into conference chats via phone with the other robes these days.

NFL agent Buddy Baker -- who's repped stars like Doug Baldwin and Jack Doyle -- lost both his parents to COVID-19 on Sunday ... and now, he's begging the public to help stop others from suffering the same fate.

Baker posted an emotional video Tuesday explaining the tragic news ... saying both his mom and dad were in "perfect health" just a few weeks ago.

Sadly, he says, both contracted coronavirus ... and the two -- who were married for 51 years -- died from complications of the disease just six minutes apart on Sunday.

Now, Baker is pleading with others to practice social distancing, self-isolation and quarantining in order to help stop the spread of the disease to others.

"We live in a world of, 'It can’t happen to me, it can’t happen to us, it can’t happen to my family,'" Baker said. "Well, it happened to us."

He added, "I’d like to take this time to make people start thinking about making a change."

Several of Baker's clients backed the agent on social media Tuesday, with Redskins star Terry McLaurin retweeting Baker's message with a prayer emoji.

Call this the biggest assist of the year so far for Marcus Smart ... the NBA player is donating his blood plasma after beating coronavirus to try to help others recover from the disease as well.

Some COVID-19 experts believe by taking the plasma of a person who's beaten the virus and giving it to currently infected people can help them get better.

The science, officials say, is the antibodies in the plasma can help sick people develop similar coronavirus fighters quicker as well.

The problem? Doctors say finding donors has been tough ... and the NBA, according to ESPN, has actually reached out to its teams to try to get its recovered players to participate.

Enter Smart ... whose agent confirmed Tuesday the Boston Celtics star is more than willing to give up his blood plasma for the potential cure.

Smart said on Twitter last week he was cleared by the Mass. Dept. Of Health after being diagnosed with the virus. He claimed he never once felt sick.

Just because you're stuck at home doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy celebrity eye candy!

Thankfully, Cristiano Ronaldo is the hero we all need ... posting a ripped, shirtless quarantine pic while he's essentially banned from leaving the house.

"Breathe in, breathe out. Stay active," Ronaldo posted on IG ... adding, "StayHomeSaveLives."

To his credit, Ronaldo has been using his platforms to encourage people to be SAFE during the COVID-19 pandemic ... posting numerous times on social media to urge his fans to stay home.

Just 24 hours ago, Ronaldo said, "In this difficult moment for the whole world, let’s be thankful for the things that matter - our health, our family, our loved ones."

"Stay home and let’s help all the health workers out there fighting to save lives."