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Colin Kaepernick won't be seen OR heard on the new Madden NFL 19 ... 'cause the free agent QB's name was pulled from a Big Sean verse on the game's soundtrack.

The game doesn't officially drop until next week, but people who have gotten their hands on an early copy have noticed Kaep's name was scrubbed from Sean's verse on YG's song "Big Bank" featuring 2 Chainz and Nicki Minaj.

What you're supposed to hear is "Feed me to the wolves now I lead the pack and sh*t. You boys all cap, I'm more Colin Kaepernick" ... but aside from the obvious edits to keep the lyrics rated PG, the game also took the Kaep shout-out off the track.

A video has been going viral on social media ... and most people are assuming it has to do with Kaep's involvement in kick-starting the National Anthem controversy.

As for Kaep appearing in the game as a player ... that won't happen until he's signed to a team. So, don't hold your breath.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is reminding us all why his nickname is the "Greek Freak" ... 'cause the NBA superstar took his first boxing lesson Thursday -- and it was pretty freakin' scary.

The 6-foot-11 Bucks forward -- lookin' as jacked as ever -- learned how to throw some jabs and hooks ... and the video is wild.

His trainer looks tiny ... and when G throws the haymakers -- there's some hold-your-breath moments.

FYI -- Antetokounmpo ain't the first gigantic NBA player to lace up the boxing gloves ... Shaq actually fought Oscar De La Hoya back in 2009.

Funniest part ... Giannis captioned the vid with "StayFreaky"

If Phil Mickelson ever gets tired of hittin' golf balls, he's got no shot at a career as a dancer -- 'cause Lefty put all of his moves on display for a new commercial ... and they ain't all that great.

The PGA Tour superstar is hockin' dress shirts these days in addition to sinking putts on weekends ... and for his first-ever ad with the shirt company -- he threw down a cascade of dad dance moves.

There was the worm ... a little John Travolta action ... and a bunch of other unrecognizable moves.

The label's called Mizzen+Main ... and Phil's got stake in it -- which explains why he's been rockin' the brand.

Mickelson's donned the shirts during golf tourneys ... and Tiger Woods burned him for it back in April ... telling reporters, "The only thing that was missing was a tie."

Guess ya can say Lefty has 2 left feet.

Earl Thomas ain't playing around with the Seahawks anymore ... issuing an epic ultimatum, saying, "Offer me an extension. Or trade me to a team that wants me to be part of their future."

The All-Pro safety wrote a 1,500-word letter to his fans and Seattle's front office titled, "Here's What's Actually Going On" ... and in it, he explains all his reasons for holding out of 'Hawks camp.

"I’m standing strong on this -- because I’ve got to," Thomas says. "I’m standing strong when it comes to getting what I deserve."

"I’ve been one of the best defensive players in this league for the better part of a decade, and the numbers show that this team plays much better with me than without me."

Earl has made it no secret in the past that he wants to be a part of the Dallas Cowboys if Seattle won't pay him ... though he didn't make reference to that in his letter Thursday.

Instead -- the defensive back was adamant he's too good to let the Seahawks play him like they did with stars Lofa Tatupu and Richard Sherman before him.

Terrance Williams just caught a massive break ... 'cause the Cowboys receiver ain't gonna spend a single minute in jail after allegedly ramming his $200K Lambo into a lamp pole.

The story's crazy ... back in May, officials in Texas observed T.W. wipe out on his bike ... and he appeared wasted.

Cops searched Williams and found a Lambo Huracan key in his pocket ... interesting, 'cause they'd just found a crashed Lambo abandoned nearby.

Williams denied being behind the wheel at the time of the crash ... and actually pointed the finger at his "idiot" friend and fellow NFL player Kendall Wright.

Williams was arrested ... but ONLY charged with misdemeanor public intoxication.

Now, Williams' attorney Chip Lewis (who also reps Robert Durst) ... says prosecutors dismissed the public intox. charge today ... leaving Terrance in the clear legally.

Lewis tells us Williams paid for the damaged pole ... and completed an online alcohol awareness class -- which was good enough for prosecutors.

Ohio State has placed head football coach Urban Meyer on administrative leave in the wake of reports that he lied about having knowledge of a 2015 domestic violence allegation surrounding an OSU assistant coach.

OSU issued a statement saying, "The University is conducting an investigation into these allegations. During the inquiry, Urban Meyer will be on paid administrative leave."

"Ryan Day will serve as acting head football coach during the investigation. We are focused on supporting our players and on getting the truth as expeditiously as possible."

Meyer -- one of the highest paid coaches in college football -- also issued a statement saying, " [Athletic Director Gene Smith] and I agree that being on leave during this inquiry will facilitate its completion."

"This allows the team to conduct training camp with minimal distraction. I eagerly look forward to the resolution of this matter."

The man at the center of the domestic violence allegations is Zach Smith -- who was a wide receivers coach for the Buckeyes for years.

Smith was fired on July 23 after he was charged with criminal trespassing after dropping their children off at his ex-wife Courtney's home during a May 12 incident. The court granted a domestic violence protective order against him.

Smith's ex-wife -- the alleged victim -- claims she told Urban's wife about the alleged abuse, but Urban took no action and then lied about having knowledge of the situation when asked at Big Ten media day.

Courtney has alleged Zach had repeatedly abused her physically since 2009. She also produced text messages to college football reporter Brett McMurphy which show a conversation between Courtney and the wife of another OSU coach in which Courtney was assured Urban was addressing the issue with Zach.

All the [coaches'] wives knew," Smith told McMurphy. "They all did. Every single one."

"I do believe he knew and instead he chose to help the abuser and enable the abuser and believe whatever story Zach was telling everybody," Smith said.

Courtney also told laid out the allegations in an interview with media outlet Stadium.

It took several months, but Bristol Palin has finally confirmed she and Dakota Meyer are no longer husband and wife ... and she's single.

TMZ broke the story in February ... the couple called it quits less than 2 years after their wedding and were no longer living together. We later found out Meyer filed the divorce docs January 29 in Texas.

But the newest 'Teen Mom' didn't make the news official until Wednesday, when she replied to a question on her Instagram Story about whether she was dating anyone with ... "freshly divorced & single forever lezzbereal (I am not ready to date)"

Bristol and Dakota were married in 2016 and have 2 daughters together. It's still unclear what arrangements have been made between the exes about child custody or support.

Shaq is WRONG -- Kobe Bryant is NOT coming back to the NBA ... so says Mrs. Mamba herself, Vanessa Bryant.

There have been rumblings that 39-year-old Kobe is considering a return to the Lakers to join LeBron James for one last shot at a ring before he rides off into the sunset.

And, the rumors got even stronger when Shaquille O'Neal told TMZ Sports over the weekend, "Kobe coming back. You heard it here first."

Now, Vanessa is finally weighing in -- and assuring Laker Nation, Kobe ain't pulling a Michael Jordan.

"Kobe will not be coming out of retirement to play again," Vanessa wrote on Instagram.

"He doesn’t want to play again and frankly we really enjoy spending time together as a family without the crazy game schedule interfering with birthdays, holidays and special events."

Mamba out.

Blake Griffin has reached a truce with baby mama Brynn Cameron in their nasty custody fight -- striking a deal on child support payment and custody right before they were set to go to trial.

Blake and Brynn had 2 children together during their 8-year relationship -- and were supposed to get married back in 2017 ... until he called things off at the last minute and started dating Kendall Jenner.

Brynn went after Blake hard in court docs -- claiming Griffin left her basically homeless and cash-strapped when he bolted.

Our sources tell us a trial was scheduled to begin Wednesday -- but, the two sides were able to privately hammer out an overall custody settlement ... and now the trial is off.

We're told the two have agreed on joint custody on the children. They're both committed to co-parenting in a friendly manner for the sake of the kids.

As for Blake's monthly payments -- there's a report he'll have to fork over $258,000 per month ... but, we're told that number is wrong.

The terms of the settlement are confidential, but we're told the monthly payment is "significant."

Remember when Tekashi69 said Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't score on him??

Well, he didn't say anything about ridiculously hot Instagram models.

The "FEFE" rapper got into a shootout with Brittany Renner -- aka bundleofbrittany -- a former college soccer star who has racked up more than 4 MILLION followers on IG.

The two made a soccer bet -- if he could stop all of her shots, Brit would have to move to NYC. And, if she scored on him ... he's gotta pack up and move to L.A.

Tekashi made a valiant effort -- but the former Jackson State striker just killed him ... even hitting a sick upper 90.

Call the movers?

6ix9ine has boasted A LOT about his soccer skills -- and even hit the pitch with international soccer superstar Mario Balotelli. He is definitely not the worst goalie we have ever seen, but he ain't exactly David de Gea either.

We'll give Tekashi the benefit of the doubt -- maybe he was a bit distracted.

... and so it begins!

Magic Johnson and his wife, Cookie, have boarded their private jet bound for Italy -- where the family will begin their annual $3 MILLION summer vacation!!!

Remember, the Johnson family vacation is straight BALLER -- they rent out insane yachts and sail around the Amalfi Coast ... while visiting with their rich and famous friends.

In fact, Samuel L. Jackson and his wife are already in Europe -- guessing they'll meet up very soon as they usually do.

In the past, Magic's yachts have featured everything from movie theaters to dining rooms and impressive gyms with treadmills and free weights. We'll see if they upgrade for the 2018 edition!

Bon voyage!

Les Moonves won't face criminal charges for a woman's claims he sexually abused her in the late '80s ... according to the L.A. County D.A.'s office.

The CBS honcho's accused of 2 separate incidents of sexual assault -- one in 1986 and one in 1988 -- by an unidentified woman who went to cops in February.

The woman -- listed as an acquaintance who knew Moonves through her job in the TV industry -- claims the 1986 incident included forced oral sex, and the 1988 allegations include indecent exposure and assault.

But, according to the D.A. ... the statute of limitations has expired for all of the alleged incidents, so prosecutors are declining to pursue charges.

NFL rookie Jordan Mailata might look like the Hulk ... but he can SANG like Jack Johnson -- 'cause the seventh round draft pick just SLAYED it on the guitar at Eagles camp!!

If you're unfamiliar ... Jordan is one of the baddest dudes on the planet, having consistently run over guys with his 6-foot-8, 346-pound frame on the rugby pitch in Australia the last few years.

But Philadelphia media members caught the new Eagles OL in a weak moment with his guitar Tuesday ... and the world is now a better place for it.

Jordan belted out 53 seconds of Mark Lowndes' "Hold" ... and it's guaranteed to make you swoon.

Floyd Mayweather says the core of his feud with 50 Cent is that the rapper tried to push out the guy who runs his business ... Al Haymon.

FYI, Al is Floyd's longtime manager -- and Floyd has credited him with having a crucial role in building his near-billion-dollar empire.

So, when Floyd appeared on Complex News and was asked about his beef with 50 -- Mayweather suggested it all began years ago when 50 Cent tried to cut Haymon out of Floyd's business and start his own thing with Mayweather.

Floyd also says 50 publicly claimed Mayweather owed him money -- and clearly that stuck in Floyd's craw.

"I don't owe anyone money."

Mayweather has also taken offense to 50's claim that he's a poser who didn't REALLY buy that famous $18 million diamond watch. He busted it out during the interview to prove 50 wrong.

And, while Floyd had SOME nice things to say about the rapper -- he ripped 50's show, "Power" ... saying this season is "sh*t."

LeBron James says Donald Trump is using sports to create a racial divide in America ... and he won't sit back quietly anymore.

"What I've noticed over the last few months that he's kinda used sport to kinda divide us, and that's something that I can't relate to," James told CNN's Don Lemon at the opening of his I Promise school in Akron, Ohio.

It seems James is referencing Trump's stance on the national anthem demonstrations in the NFL -- the President has suggested firing any player who takes a knee during "The Star-Spangled Banner."

But, James says sports shouldn't divide people -- it should bring people of all races and backgrounds together.

"Sports was the first time I was ever around someone white. I got an opportunity to see them and learn about them, and they got the opportunity to learn about me and we became very good friends and I was like, ‘Oh wow, this is all because of sports.'”

Of course, LeBron has been very critical of Trump in the past -- even calling him a clown.

No tweet from Trump yet ... but guessing that's just a matter of time.

Ex-NFL quarterback Christian Ponder and his wife, ESPN host Samantha Ponder, say their newborn is home and recovering after undergoing emergency surgery just days after she was born.

Sam -- who hosts ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" -- said their daughter, Price, "ended up in emergency surgery in the middle of the night" after a series of "terrifying and sudden events."

"We were short on time and frankly, in shock," Ponder wrote on social media.

Ponder didn't specify the details surrounding the medical emergency -- but says the surgery was a success and now Price is at home and recovering.

"Her recovery in the #NICU was nothing short of miraculous for a tiny body that had just undergone such trauma."