Baltimore Ravens

Move over Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley ... Jamal Lewis says Lamar Jackson is the top runner in the NFL -- telling TMZ Sports he thinks the Ravens QB is a future Hall of Famer!

"It's like watching the era of Michael Vick all over again," Lewis says.

Jackson has been shredding through defenses all season ... and Lewis -- a legendary Baltimore running back -- tells us he doesn't think there's any fluke at all to Lamar's year so far.

In fact, Lewis says he believes Jackson is only scratching the surface of his potential ... and is on pace to make the Hall of Fame one day.

"He's just only going to get better and better," Lewis says. "And, I think that that's where good coaching and a good organization like the Ravens bringing that all together is going to make him a future Hall of Famer."

As for Lamar's skill set now, Lewis says after watching that sick run the 22-year-old had against the Bengals on Sunday, he's convinced the guy is currently the NFL's best runner.

Alex Collins had a massive jug of weed and a gun on the floorboards of his crashed Corvette ... and police video obtained by TMZ Sports shows cops making the shocking find and arresting the NFL RB for it.

Collins skidded off the road at around 4:30 a.m. near the Baltimore Ravens' practice facility in Owings Mills, Maryland when he was a member of the team back in March 2019.

In video we obtained ... you can see a cop pulling up to the scene shortly after the crash -- and it's pretty wild.

Collins' pricey ride -- which looks like the Batmobile -- is rammed against some trees and stuck in a snowy ditch ... and Collins appears to be asleep when the officer opens the passenger door.

Collins explains to the cop he had crashed earlier in the morning and was waiting for a tow ... but after Alex had some issues with expired tags, things got dicey for the 25-year-old.

The cop hits him with a ticket, but explains he smells a strong odor of marijuana from the car as well ... and asks him straight-up how much weed he has in the vehicle.

The running back claims he doesn't know ... saying it belonged to his buddy, Tykheem "TJ" Dunaway, who was a passenger in the car earlier but had walked home instead of sticking around.

TJ eventually showed back up to the scene ... and after the cop discovered the jug of weed and a firearm in the car -- he put Collins in cuffs and questioned TJ.

TJ told the cop the weed definitely belonged to Collins ... saying, "It's his. I didn't know it was in the car until it crashed because we were coming from a party."

Eventually, both dudes were arrested for possession of the weed ... while Collins was also booked for having a handgun in his vehicle.

Collins fought the case in court for months ... but in October, he agreed to a plea deal in which he pled guilty to two misdemeanor charges of possession of a handgun and possession of weed.

In exchange, Collins received probation and a fine ... and had his felony charges dropped.

Collins -- who was cut by the Ravens immediately after the arrest -- is still looking for a team this season ... despite being hit with a 3-game suspension by the NFL over the incident.

Odell Beckham says he had a golden opportunity to retaliate against Marlon Humphrey after Sunday's choking incident ... but chose not to fight back because "it's not MMA."

The Cleveland Browns WR says he was fined by the NFL for the incident -- even though he claims he was not the aggressor and was only defending himself.

But, Beckham says things could have been WAYYYY worse ... if he wasn't such a mature and restrained person.

"There was an opportunity for me to really take things way further," Beckham said.

"He was on the ground, I was standing up still. And, I kind of just let the moment pass."

Beckham says the decision to NOT fight back shows how mature he is now -- "I've come a long way. I probably would have been suspended for the next game if I would have done what I wanted to do."

He added, "This is football, this isn't MMA. This isn't 'Street Fighter.' It's a different story."

Of course, the big dispute is whether or not Marlon actually choked Beckham -- something the Ravens have said did NOT happen.

Beckham deflected when asked straight up about the strangulation ... "I don't know. We grown ass men."

"We get hit every day. We get hit by 300 pounders. I’m good."

Beckham also griped about the fighting fine from the NFL ... saying he's sick and tired of the league taking money out of his pockets.

"I understand the penalty, getting fined for that. But, pants above your knees or a shirt hanging out, we’re talking about a t-shirt that cost $5 to make and you’re getting $5,000 taken from you.”

The Ravens might not beat the Chiefs this weekend on the field ... but they'd WHOOP THAT ASS on the dance floor -- 'cause Baltimore's stars just showed all their moves, and they're insane!!!

Mark Ingram filmed the whole locker room party ... and it's the best few minutes of video you'll see all day.

The rug cutting begins with safety Tony Jefferson showing off some fancy footwork ... and then linebacker Matthew Judon and D-lineman Brandon Williams hop in the mix.

There's a tremendous rendition of the "Chicken Noodle Soup" dance ... and when the DJ switches tunes, there's even more greatness.

Hollywood Brown drops it low ... and Jefferson, who at some point took off his shirt for the party, shows off even crazier moves!!!

Seriously, it's all amazing.

Michael Vick just paid the ultimate compliment to Lamar Jackson ... the NFL legend tells TMZ Sports the Ravens QB reminds him of himself!!!

"I think they're good comparisons man," Vick says. "If anybody looking like me, it's Lamar!!!"

Vick is known as the greatest dual-threat QB in NFL history ... and after Lamar tore up the Dolphins and Cardinals in back-to-back weeks -- we had to ask Mike for his take on LJ.

Vick says he loves that people are comparing Jackson's game to his ... telling us, "That's a dangerous man behind center!!!"

In fact, Vick is so high on what Jackson's been doing to start the 2019 season ... he says he has ZERO advice for him going forward.

"Keep doing what you're doing," Vick says. "Don't change nothing."

By the way, Vick also clapped back at everyone saying Jackson's stats are inflated by playing two sorry teams ... telling us, "You don't go out and throw 5 touchdown passes and call it a fluke."

Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson ... and Lamar Jackson???

Jamal Lewis says that very well could be the NFL's top quarterback list in just a few seasons ... 'cause the Ravens legend tells TMZ Sports he thinks the Baltimore QB has that much potential.

"I really think he can be one of the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL in a few years," Lewis says.

Lamar just set the Miami Dolphins on fire last Sunday, throwing for 5 TDs and 324 yards ... and Lewis says, after that performance, he's convinced the guy has a HUGE ceiling.

"I think he can really break some records in this league," Lewis says.

Of course, Lamar still has his detractors ... some NFL pundits aren't convinced the guy can truly, consistently throw the football -- saying the 'Fins were just that bad last weekend.

But, Lewis is clapping back at all those haters ... saying he thinks Jackson can "take the Ravens deep in the playoffs pretty much every year."

Robert Griffin III's first TD pass since 2016 on Sunday almost never happened ... the former Heisman Trophy winner just revealed he nearly quit football to switch to track.

RGIII was cut from the Browns after the 2016 season ... and that's when he says he thought about giving up the game, writing on social media on Monday that he "contemplated" the move.

Of course, the 29-year-old was a superstar on the track back in the day ... he set state records in high school as a hurdler -- and even killed it when he ran for one season at Baylor.

His wife, Grete, is also a former college track athlete who competed at Florida State. We've posted video of the two training together over the years.

The track dreams appeared to have died after RG3 won the Heisman Trophy in 2011 and becoming an immediate superstar for the Washington Redskins.

But, Griffin says when his whole career bottomed out after his time in Cleveland, he thought about going back, writing on a list of things he's gone through since his Browns release, "The contemplating of a transition back to track."

Griffin ended up sticking with football ... and playing in just his fourth game since '16, he threw a touchdown pass to Mark Andrews in the Ravens' blowout of the Dolphins.

"You see.....there is always more to the story than meets the eye," Griffin says ... "Everyone sees the result but doesn’t know what you had to go through to get there."

"Never count yourself out and always be ready. Thank You @ravens Coach Harbaugh and my great teammates for helping me every step of the way. Let’s keep it rolling."

By the way, RG3's wife gave birth to their 2nd child on Saturday -- 24 hours before Griffin's game. RG3 posted a pic of their brand new baby daughter calling her "amazing!"

There's a rule for Baltimore Ravens rookies ... you don't bring the cinnamon rolls to team meetings -- YOU GET YOUR CAR PACKED WITH JUNK!!!

5th-round pick Daylon Mack learned that the hard way ... because after failing to deliver delicious pastries to his teammates, they stuffed the D-lineman's truck with packing peanuts!!!

Mack recorded the aftermath of the hilarious assault ... showing his ride packed to the brim with the foam popcorn.

In the clip, you can see the stuff spilling out of both sides of his whip ... and just to make sure he got the point, they even filled up the bed!!!

"Who even has the time to put all this stuff up?!" Mack said while surveying the damage.

Of course, 22-year-old Daylon got off somewhat easy ... most teams aren't as nice as the Ravens, and use interior-killing popcorn for the gag.

In fact, we've seen firsthand the kind of damage using the buttery stuff can do ... remember Kenyon Martin?!

Ex-NFL QB Anthony Wright is lucky to be alive today ... a witness to his shooting last week says the former Baltimore Raven was "fading" quickly after he was shot in the back and chest.

It's all in new 911 audio obtained by TMZ Sports ... where a man says he saw Wright get shot "by a guy with a silver 9 millimeter" after an argument in North Carolina on July 1.

"He's breathing, but he's fading," the witness tells dispatch ... "He got shot right in the chest and in the back. Two shots."

Cops say the dispute that started the incident involved a custody situation with Wright's girlfriend's ex ... and led to the 43-year-old needing emergency surgery.

But, police said Wright was in stable condition after the operation ... and it's great news, considering the grim scene the witness painted to dispatch.

"He walked up to him and pointed the gun right at him then and ran off."

Police say they were able to arrest the alleged shooter, William "Willie" Moses Hooker Jr., a few days after the altercation ... and eventually hit him with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill charges.

Hooker is currently in a North Carolina jail under $1 MILLION bond.

Wright was a stud backup for years in the NFL ... playing for the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants.

Think Robert Griffin III is fine with the Ravens being Lamar Jackson's team?? Think again, so says RGIII himself ... who tells TMZ Sports, "By no means am I content with where I'm at."

Of course, the former Heisman Trophy winner signed on to be a backup QB in Baltimore last season ... and he just re-signed to presumably do the same thing this season.

But, RGIII tells us he's got MUCH bigger plans than just holding a clipboard for Lamar in 2019 ... he says he's straight-up coming for LJ's starting job!!!

"Anybody that signs in the league is never content being a backup, so this is just part of the rebuilding process for me," Griffin tells us.

"It started last year, I moved from QB3 to QB2 ... but by no means am I content with where I'm at. I still want to keep going."

RGIII only played in 3 games for the Ravens last season ... completing just 2 passes for 21 yards -- but he clearly showed the team enough, 'cause they were fine with shippin' Joe Flacco off to Denver this offseason.

So, could RGIII really take over Lamar this year??? Stay tuned ...

Earl Thomas was facing a MAJOR issue in his first days as a Baltimore Raven ... his beloved #29 jersey was already taken ... and he'd have to cough up some serious dough to get it.

That is ... until Marlon Humphrey decided to change his mind and give it away FOR FREE -- and his explanation is pretty dope.

"I initially asked Earl for money, and later that day I realized that’s not who I am," Humphrey says.

"So I texted him and said he can have it. I respect what he has done and accolades in 29. Didn’t want to alter that for a number I’ve accomplished nothing in."

MH has a point -- Thomas has been stellar in #29 ... winning a Super Bowl, making 6 Pro Bowls and being named a 1st team All-Pro 3 different times!!!

Battles over jersey numbers have gotten expensive in the past -- Clinton Portis famously offered an old Redskins teammate $40k(!!!) to get #26 in 2004 (that ended in a court battle).

Deion Sanders also bought a teammate a BMW to get his number when he joined the Cowboys.

5:57 PM PT -- Lamar just apologized for making "a bad decision" ... and says he'll "set a better example going forward."

Here's Baltimore Ravens superstar QB Lamar Jackson apparently breaking some laws ... speeding at 105 MPH -- all while holding his phone and recording!

C'mon man -- BE SAFE!!!

LJ posted the (not so smart) footage on his Instagram Story Tuesday ... presumably to show off his icy bracelet and fancy Mercedes.

The problem? You can see in the vid, the speedometer is PASSING 105 MPH ... with his phone locked in one of his hands.

Yeah, ain't exactly a look the Ravens want to see.

Plus, there's a seat belt light on the dashboard, which shows someone in the car ain't buckled up. It seems Lamar's alone in the car. We're HOPING it's a mistake and he's buckled up for safety.

What makes things even tougher for the Ravens to swallow? They've had an up-and-down offseason so far, losing studs like Terrell Suggs and Eric Weddle -- and Jackson also posted he isn't happy about that.

"Lol I wish we could've kept everyone," Jackson said ... "us players have 0 say so."

We've reached out to the Ravens for comment on Lamar's vids ... but so far, no word back yet.

12:50 PM PT -- The Ravens announced they have cut Alex Collins.

Baltimore Ravens running back Alex Collins was arrested following a car crash near the team's practice facility ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

Cops say the RB is still in custody ... but charges have yet to be filed against the 24-year-old star.

We're told Collins crashed into a tree at 6:48 AM ET Friday in the 10000 block of Dolfield Road in Owings Mill, Maryland ... a mere mile from the Ravens' Under Armour Performance Center facility.

The Ravens tell us they've spoken with police and are aware of the situation.

Collins was a stud for Baltimore after they picked him up shortly after he was cut by the Seahawks in 2017 ... rushing for 973 yards and 6 TDs in 15 games.

But, this past season, Alex battled injuries ... and was placed on IR in December before the team really made its playoff push with Lamar Jackson under center.

Still, Collins managed to rush for 411 yards and 7 TDs despite only playing in 10 games.

Collins -- a former Arkansas superstar -- was picked by Seattle in the fifth round in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Elvis Dumervil says he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame ... telling TMZ Sports, "I'm able to compete with anyone in my era of rushing the passer."

The ex-Broncos and Ravens star is widely considered by NFL pundits as a fringe HOFer after playing 11 seasons ... but, he says his resume is good enough in his mind to get in.

"Do I feel like I belong? Of course I feel like I belong."

Dumervil might have a point ... dude was a 5-time Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro -- AND he finished with 105.5 career sacks.

In fact, of the 25 players ahead of him on the all-time sack list that are currently eligible for the Hall of Fame -- only 7 are still waiting on the call.

But, Elvis says you shouldn't even compare him to those guys ... he's telling us it's his own draft class -- one that featured Mario Williams -- that he should be up against.

BTW, while Dumervil waits to become HOF eligible -- he's building up a pretty successful real estate business in Miami ... telling us, he's the owner of over 600 multi-family units!!!

John Elway made a desperate move trading for Joe Flacco ... and it could end up being a HUGE mistake -- so says Elvis Dumervil, who tells TMZ Sports, "Flacco is no Peyton Manning."

Elway took a page out of his 2012 Broncos playbook Wednesday ... acquiring a veteran Super Bowl MVP with the hopes of revitalizing a tired Denver franchise.

The problem? Elvis says Flacco ain't even close to what Manning was when Denver picked him up 7 years ago ... and now the former Bronco is SERIOUSLY concerned for the team's GM.

"It's a big gamble. Definitely desperate, no doubt ... It can be a great deal, or it can be another bad decision by John Elway."

Elvis' biggest issue with the move is Flacco's skill set -- the pass rusher tells us Joe NEEDS a good OC to thrive ... and he's worried that ain't there in Denver.

In fact, Dumervil says if Flacco DOESN'T have an elite play caller ... things are gonna get ugly at Mile High quickly -- the exact opposite of what went down after Elway signed Manning.

"[Elway] did a genius move with Peyton Manning. But unfortunately, Joe Flacco is no Peyton Manning."

Ed Reed sees no QB controversy in Baltimore -- he says the Ravens are Lamar Jackson's team now -- but he does think Joe Flacco needs a new home.

"Flacco might be in Jacksonville, man, if he want to win another Super Bowl."

It's not a diss on his ex-teammate ... Reed says it's just apparent to him the Ravens have moved on to LJ -- and he doesn't want to see Flacco be a backup QB ANYWHERE.

It'll be complicated for the Ravens to pull off sending Joe to the Jags ... his contract creates a BUNCH of dead cash on their salary cap if they let him go.

But, Reed seems to think it'll go down regardless ... and says some of the money they save by jettisoning the QB can be used to buy Lamar more weapons!!!

BTW ... remember when Ray Lewis laughed at the notion that Terrell Suggs was the best Raven ever???