NFL's Jonathan Stewart Hey 'Dancing with the Stars' ... HOLLA AT ME

Published | Updated
021816_johnathan_stewart_3580878
LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN
TMZsports.com

Another day, another NFL stud dying to be on "Dancing with the Stars" ... this time it's Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart who says his two-step skills are dope enough to bring home the mirror ball trophy.

Stewart recently took to Instagram to make it known he wants to be on the show so when we got him out at LAX of course we wanted to know ... dude, you serious?

Turns out he is ... and he told our camera guy he's totally wanting to put on his dancing shoes as long as it doesn't interfere with his day job.

Hey, we're cool with anybody on the Panthers team dancing ... except for that one guy.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Cam Newton Dabbin' In the Club After Crushing Cardinals

Published | Updated

Cam Newton still had so much energy left after beating up on the AZ Cardinals Sunday night -- the Panthers QB hit a North Carolina nightclub to celebrate ... and even did some dabbin' in the DJ booth.

Carolina Panthers HUGE WAFFLE HOUSE Breakfast ...

Published | Updated

The Arizona Cardinals could be in trouble ... 'cause the Carolina Panthers have EXTRA motivation to win on Sunday -- 150 LBS. of BACON & SAUSAGE -- courtesy of Waffle House.

The Panthers have joked that their secret weapon is WH food. Now, one win away from the Super Bowl, Waffle House has plans in motion to hook up Cam and the guys with a HUGE breakfast ... should they be victorious.

"We have reached out to the team and told them to name the place and time," a Waffle House spokesperson tells TMZ Sports. "We will be there ready to provide them with their much-needed Waffle House food."

The menu? 100 to 150 pounds of bacon and sausage ... as well as all the waffles the team can eat!!

#BreakfastOf(possible)Champions

Cam Newton My Father & Son Dab Shirt ... Not For Sale!

Published | Updated

The adorable father, son dabbing shirt Cam Newton wore before Sunday's playoff game is NOT FOR SALE ... with Under Armour telling TMZ Sports it was a custom 1-of-1 design.

Cam rocked the shirt as a tribute to his new baby boy Chosen -- who was born just before Christmas ... but the Internet blew up with people infatuated with the fashion.

But we spoke to a rep for Under Armour who tells us fans of the shirt are S.O.L. ... 'cause it was specially made for the Panthers QB.

"The shirt was custom for Cam and is not available at retail."

That's cool and all ... but with demand appearing to be so high, UA might wanna reconsider.

Carolina Panthers Girl I'LL NEVER SELL THIS FOOTBALL!!!

Published | Updated

The adorable little girl who got a TD ball from Carolina Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart Sunday drove 100 miles with her family to attend the game ... and says she'll NEVER sell it, EVER!!

The lucky fan is 8-year-old Isabella -- who was at the game with her mom, dad and brother who are all Panthers super fans ... and usually sit in the nosebleed section when they attend games.

But Isabella's father, Kelly, tells TMZ Sports he splurged for the playoff game -- dropping more than $2,500 for the killer end zone seats because he felt something special was going to happen.

He was right.

Isabella became an instant Internet sensation due to her priceless reaction when Stewart singled her out and handed her the ball after scoring the 1st TD of the game.

"She let us all hold the ball, she was super excited!"

Kelly says he ordered a case for the ball the second he got home -- and it's currently on display in their living room.

"We're holding on to it forever," Kelly says ... "Never to be sold. We're too big of fans."

Panthers Charles Johnson $30k Walmart Shopping Spree For Families In Need

Published | Updated

Santa Claus is 6'2", 282 pounds and wears a Carolina Panthers jersey... 'cause DT Charles Johnson just hooked up 10 local families with a $30k SHOPPING SPREE!!

Johnson tells TMZ Sports he took 10 families to a Charlotte, NC Walmart ... and gave them 60 minutes to pick out whatever they wanted.

Total bill? 30,000 BUCKS ... according to Johnson.

Although C.J. took care of the whole bill ... teammates Kawann Short, Charles Tillman, and Roman Harper came out to show their support.

So, why drop that much cash? "It's just something I wanted to do."

#Undefeated & #Charitable

Cam Newton Drops $12,000 On Fancy Tail

Published | Updated

Cam Newton is going fox tail crazy -- dropping more than $12k on his new fashionable good luck charms ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Newton's been rockin' the furry new accessory all season -- and plans to continue the trend, picking up more than 60 TAILS at $200 a pop ... so says the guy who makes 'em.

We spoke with Teheran Jones, owner of the Exclusive Game store in Atlanta, who says Cam came up with the idea earlier this year to make the fox tails ... which Jones usually uses on the hoods of jackets.

And Jones says it was a million dollar idea -- 'cause ever since Cam started rockin' the look, his tails have been flying off the shelves -- and even other athletes (including Carl Crawford and Wallace Gilberry) have called to try and harness some of the good luck.

Jones says Newton recently picked up a new batch of the tails to give to his teammates as early Xmas gifts.

So if the Panthers go undefeated we'll all know why ... it's cause the guys got a little tail.

Cam Newton Self Heisman Celebration ... On Sick Custom Cleats

Published | Updated

Cam Newton is honoring someone he considers VERY SPECIAL on his next pair of cleats -- himself ... TMZ Sports has learned.

After the Carolina Panthers QB rocked his custom "dabbing" cleats last month, Under Armour reached back out to Dez Customs and Kreative Customs for a special new pair.

The result -- a tribute to his insane 2010 college season -- the year he won the Heisman Trophy (and basically every other award you can get).

With the Heisman ceremony going down this weekend, the cleats will serve as a 5 year anniversary tribute ... to himself.

We're told Cam will only sport the cleats during WARM UPS -- since they're not Panthers colors -- and will swap into an NFL approved pair come game time.

#HappyAnniversary

Mercury Morris Props to Panthers ... But You're No '72 Dolphins

Published | Updated

TMZ Sports asked Mercury Morris -- the mouthpiece of the '72 Miami Dolphins -- how he felt about the Carolina Panthers making a run at an undefeated season. His response:

"Go ask the Patriots how difficult it is to do it and how they feel about some little kid in Guatemala wearing those perfect 19-0 Super Bowl tees."

The 68-year-old running back says he's impressed with Cam Newton and company, but says at the end of the day -- it only gets harder from here.

"I have to take my hat off to them. It's not easy to get 12 wins," Morris says.

However, Mercury warns that a "ton of teams" have made it to 12 only to lose at game 13. "The Broncos did it, Colts and the Saints a few years back."

"Let [the Panthers] get past that jinx of the 13th game and then come ask me again if I think they will have a perfect season."

Still, Morris says even if they run the table, they'll always play second fiddle to the '72 Fins.

"Do you know the second biggest canyon in the U.S.? No, because everyone only knows about the Grand Canyon. No one cares about the second to do anything."

For the record, it's Palo Duro Canyon in Texas.

Cam Newton CUSTOM DABBING CLEATS ... For Turkey Day Game

Published | Updated

Cam Newton could deliver an epic SCREW YOU to all his anti-dabbing critics -- 'cause he's got a pair of custom cleats coming his way for his Thanksgiving day game ... featuring Cam doing his dance.

Here's what we know ... the cleats were commissioned by Under Armour -- which sponsors Cam -- and designed by two artists, Dez Customs and Kreative Customs.

We're told the artists were informed Cam wanted a special pair of custom kicks when he takes the field against the Cowboys.

The result? Imagery of Cam doing his signature moves ... dabbing and striking his Superman pose. The shoes also include the words "grateful" and "thankful."

We're told he's expected to wear 'em for the game ... but there's always a chance he could change his plans.

Cam's dancing has been a lightning rod for critics lately -- so it'll be one hell of a statement if he straps on the shoes on one of the biggest stages in sports ... the Turkey Day classic.

For the record, we're fans.

NFL's Chris Ogbonnaya EPIC PRANK ON CAM NEWTON Surprise, I'm Not From Africa!

Published | Updated

Cam Newton is totally gonna freak when he sees this ...

His ex-Carolina Panthers teammate Chris Ogbonnaya told TMZ Sports he pulled off the most elaborate prank ever on the superstar QB ... and this video officially marks the end of it.

Ogbonnaya -- who now plays for the NY Giants -- was leaving Mastro's this week when we asked the running back about the best prank he's pulled since he's been in the NFL.

He then told us about how a slight mix-up led to Cam believing he was raised in Nigeria, and how Chris turned that into an epic gag that never ended ... even when he ran into Newton at the Super Bowl last month.

In fact, the only way Newton will learn Ogbonnaya is actually from TEXAS ... is if he watches this video.

All good things come to an end ...

NFL's Greg Hardy Domestic Violence Case Dropped ... Accuser Goes M.I.A.

Published | Updated

Former Carolina Panthers star Greg Hardy is off the hook in his domestic violence case ... after prosecutors say the accuser could not be located to testify against him.

The 26-year-old was arrested in North Carolina back in May after his GF told cops he beat the living crap out of her and threatened to kill her during a jealous late night rage.

Hardy was convicted -- but he appealed the case ... and a hearing was supposed to begin Monday.

But prosecutors told the judge Hardy's ex went off the grid -- and with no accuser, there's essentially no case ... and the charges against Hardy were dismissed.

Hardy was tight-lipped on his way out of the courthouse -- but he's got to be thrilled ... because with the conviction erased, there's a likely chance the former Pro Bowler will end up on an NFL squad next season.

NBA's Draymond Green PELTS SEAHAWKS FANS WITH FOOD ... At NFL Playoff Game

Published | Updated
0-hkck21lh

6:26 AM PT -- Turns out the women that were hanging with Draymond were Steph Curry's wife and mother.

You can see Steph's mom, Sonya, shooting a thumbs down sign at the fans during the exchange.

No word on where Steph was when it all went down.

NBA player Draymond Green THREW FOOD at a bunch of Seahawks fans at CenturyLink Field yesterday during an altercation involving his group of Panthers fans ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

Green's group was seated in a private box -- and sources tell us there was a LOT of smacktalking between his group and the Seahawks fans sitting below him.

But toward the end of the game, when Seattle started piling it on ... things got especially heated -- and that's when the Golden State Warriors bigman grabbed some food and fired it at the Hawks fans.

Someone else in the group also tossed some food down below.

We're told no one got kicked out of the game -- it was already so close to the final whistle that everyone just dispersed. But the Seattle fans definitely had some words for Green as they left.

We reached out to Green and his reps for comment -- so far, no word back.

Cam Newton It's a Miracle I Survived the Crash

Published | Updated

Cam Newton says he's SHOCKED that he wasn't killed or seriously injured in that frightening rollover crash Tuesday -- and says he's been constantly thanking God that he survived.

The Carolina Panthers QB just released a statement on Instagram ... saying when he looks at images of the wreck he immediately begins to think, "soMEone is supposed to be dead or severely injured worse than what I am right now!"

Cam says the accident has strengthened his faith in god ... and says, "Someone has there protective hands on my life shielding me from any danger that may come my way!"

He continued, "I know one thing, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF 'IF' you are holding a grudge against someone, 'IF' you don't tell the people that's close and dear to you that 'YOU LOVE THEM' every chance you get."

"SHAMEonYOU if YOU go another second in life with holding a grudge or HATING on someone, taking life for granted, or just not appreciating the breath you just breathed."

"Trust and believe there are plenty people with illnesses, people in the hospital, or even people that are 6ft under the earth that W1SH they had "another"opportunity to do so!"

He concluded with the hashtag ... "#THANKyouJESUSforALLOWINGmeTOseeANOTHERday"

Cam Newton Released From Hospital Won't Be Charged

Published | Updated

It's been a great morning for Cam Newton -- not only was he released from the hospital following Tuesday's car crash, but he also learned he won't be charged with a crime.

According to the Carolina Panthers, Newton "has soreness but is in good spirits. He's excited to be discharged and begin recuperating with family."

The Charlotte PD tells TMZ Sports ... Cam did nothing wrong when it comes to the accident and he will not be charged.

Cam suffered two "transverse fractures" in his lower back, and his status for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay is still up in the air.

Oh yeah ... Cam was also named NFC Offensive Player of the Week today.

Congrats!

Cam Newton's Truck The Wreckage [Pics]

Published | Updated

TMZ Sports has obtained new pics of Cam Newton's truck -- which show just how bad it was banged up in Tuesday's wreck.

After the collision, which occurred right near Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, Cam's Dodge Ram 1500 truck was hauled to a nearby tow yard.

Sources tell us the truck sustained so much damage from the rollover crash, it's considered a total loss.

It's fortunate Newton didn't have a passenger in the car -- because as you can see in the photo, the roof on the front passenger side caved in when it rolled over. Witnesses say the car rolled at least 2 times.

The truck was not your average Dodge Ram -- we're told it was pimped out especially for Cam ... with a custom lift job and other cool features.

Of course, Newton walked away with only minor fractures in his back -- but he's gotta be bummed to lose the ride.