Terrell Owens turns 38 today ... and he's getting wiser with age ... because instead of dropping a fortune on a birthday blowout ... the financially strapped football star has decided to celebrate on the cheap.

For years, T.O. would spend thousands of dollars to honor his special day with high-end bashes all over the country.

But now that he's low on green ... Owens has decided to do the responsible thing ... and have a low-key birthday dinner with his GF and some close friends.

Owens has been telling friends he feels "humbled" by his recent financial troubles ... insisting he's "more grateful for those that love him and have stayed in his corner."

As for his future in the NFL ... we're told T.O. is still confident he'll be back in the league by the end of the year.

Terrell Owens has the second most TD receptions in NFL history ... but he's not too big to practice on a crappy field in Studio City, CA -- with a QB who can hardly throw (no, not Donovan McNabb).

T.O.'s still staying in shape because there are rumblings he might join a team -- possibly the Patriots -- for the playoff run.

Watch the video ... dude still looks pretty sharp. Other highlights: people walking dogs in the background, really bad passes, and T.O. chatting up a pretty girl. 

Someone, please sign him soon.

Some horrible, soulless, scumbag broke into the L.A. home of 1985 Chicago Bears wide receiver Willie Gault and stole his Super Bowl ring ... TMZ has learned. 

Law enforcement sources tell us ... cops raced over to Gault's home after receiving a call Wednesday night about jewelry that had been taken from the home in an apparent burglary.

We're told more than $100,000 in jewelry is missing from the home -- and Gault's rep tells us one of the missing items is Gault's prized '85 Super Bowl ring ... which famously boasts 40 diamonds, including a half-carat diamond in the center surrounded by 13 smaller diamonds.

Sources tell TMZ ... detectives are on the case and an LAPD investigation is currently underway.

Meanwhile, the Gaults are urging friends to keep an eye out for the ring at nearby pawn shops and on eBay.

Tom Brady's go-to receiver Wes Welker kicked off the NFL season by throwing a little party for his family and friends ... complete with a pint-sized wait staff, that Welker specifically requested.

Welker knows a thing or two about being the short guy -- he's listed at 5'9" ... which means he's probably closer to 5'8".

Still, sources connected to Welker tell TMZ ... when the New England Patriots stud was putting together a party back in September, he contacted the service company and asked to have a couple of little people on the wait staff.

The company delivered -- and we're told Welker was super happy with the service. One source who attended the party tells us Welker was "really nice" to everyone ... and probably got a kick out of not being the shortest guy in the room.

TMZ reached out to Welker's rep ... so far no word back.

Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis died from a broken heart ... this according to his death certificate obtained by TMZ.

The document reveals three primary causes of death:

A) Ventricular fibrillation -- a dangerously abnormal heart rhythm
B) Congestive heart failure
C) Cardiomyopathy -- heart muscle disease

According to the death certificate, Al died at the Oakland Airport Hilton at 2:45 AM on October 8th.

The document shows Al had been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy years ago ... and suffered a ventricular fibrillation just 15 minutes before his death. Davis also suffered from Merkel cell carcinoma -- an aggressive form of skin cancer.

According to the doc, Davis -- who was involved with the NFL for 60 years -- underwent throat surgery just three days before his death. Davis also had heart surgery in 1996.

Al was 82 when he died.

Terrell Owens claims his assistant was WRONG when she told a 911 operator that he tried to commit suicide on Oct. 6 ... this according to a statement from his publicist.

T.O.'s rep, Diana Bianchini, tells TMZ ..."Terrell Owens absolutely did not attempt suicide nor did he attempt to overdose on pills on Oct. 6, 2011."

"The facts are that [T.O.'s assistant] arrived at his home that evening after he had already taken a sleeping aid to fall asleep. He was unresponsive because of this."

"Unaware he had taken a sleeping aid prior to her arrival, his assistant became concerned and decided to call 911."

"When the ambulance and police arrived, Owens was responsive and was not held in the hospital. Reports released with the 911 call today are misleading and not factual."

TMZ has obtained the 911 call placed moments before Terrell Owens was rushed to an L.A. hospital for a possible pill overdose on October 6 -- and according to Terrell's assistant, T.O. was trying to kill himself.

During the call, placed at 11:02 PM, the dispatcher asks the assistant on the phone, "Was this a suicide attempt?" -- and she responds, "Yes, I believe so."

While she was on the phone with the dispatcher, the woman claims T.O. was "talking to his girlfriend, ex-girlfriend ... [I]don't really know what you wanna call it."

T.O.'s rep declined to comment.

T.O. was famously hospitalized back in 2006 for a similar incident -- when he insisted he had a bad reaction to painkillers ... despite reports he tried to commit suicide by swallowing 35 Vicodin pills.

T.O. later held a news conference on the matter and stated, "The rumor of me taking 35 pills, I think is absurd. I don't think I would be here if I had taken 35 pills."

Terrell Owens just completed his "Please give me an NFL contract" workout at Calabasas High School ... running drills and catching passes, without the restrictions of a shirt.

Former NFL receivers Jerry Rice and Keyshawn Johnson were on hand ... and didn't hold back their true feelings about the workout -- they weren't very impressed.

37-year-old T.O.is hoping his workout will draw the interest of an NFL team that's willing to take a risk on a guy who just underwent a major knee operation.

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook was arrested early this morning and charged with domestic battery.

Cook was busted by police in Eden Prairie after a neighbor called 911 to report people across the street yelling and screaming. He was arrested without incident.

Cook still in custody and in danger of missing tomorrow's game against the Green Bay Packers. He was scheduled to start.

Back in March, Cook was arrested on suspicion of brandishing a gun during a fight with another man. He was acquitted in a bench trial in May.


A spokesman for the Vikings says Cook has been ruled out for tomorrow's game.

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kim Zolciak somehow thinks her wedding could rival Kim Kardashian's -- because she just mailed out the most paranoid wedding invitations ever ... BANNING guests from bringing cameras to the ceremony.

TMZ obtained a copy of the invite -- which expressly prohibits the use of cell phones, cameras, or other recording devices while she ties the knot with Atlanta Falcons defensive end Kroy Biermann next month.

Kim even warns guests ... they'll have to sign a release if they want to attend the wedding -- because the entire event will be filmed as part of her new spin-off show (yet to be confirmed by Bravo).

According to the invite, the wedding takes place on 11/11/11. Advice to wedding guests: go see "Immortals" instead.

Legendary NFL running back Eric Dickerson played for the Oakland Raiders for one year back in the '90s ... but it's clear, he had NO LOVE for Al Davis.

Dickerson was out in L.A. last night -- when he made a huge statement about his former boss, without having to say too much.

But when we asked about his other former team -- the struggling Rams -- Dickerson couldn't have been more blunt ... it's time to come back to Los Angeles!!