Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears superstar Brandon Marshall says he's on a 4-week timeout from flying -- and can't get on a plane to NYC for a deposition in his assault case ... all because of his collapsed lung.

TMZ Sports has learned ... the wide receiver was scheduled to appear for the depo on December 9th to defend himself against allegations he punched a woman in the face outside of a nightclub back in 2012.

But in court docs obtained by TMZ Sports, Marshall claims there's no way in hell he could've made it to the deposition because doctors have put him on a "no-fly restriction" due to injuries he suffered during a Thursday Night Football game on Dec. 4th.

According to docs submitted in the case ... the WR's overall condition is "good" and doctors had planned to reevaluate the NFL star toward the end of December.

We did a little digging ... and according to the British Lung Foundation, the reduced cabin pressure in planes makes it more difficult to breathe.

For his part, Marshall has denied any wrongdoing -- and has said his wife was the real victim during the night of the incident ... claiming she was hit with a bottle while leaving the club after a scuffle had broken out.

Brandon Marshall's mother says it's "very sweet" that her son is willing to fight a smack-talking Lions fan who dissed her on Twitter -- telling TMZ Sports, "I'm honored."

As you know ... the Chicago Bears star offered $25k to FIGHT a man named Anthony Kalla after Anthony went on a social media tirade this week and called Brandon's mother a w**re.

"I am honored that my son wanted to have a duel on his mother’s behalf," Brandon's mother Diane tells us. "I think this is Brandon’s way of getting the guy’s attention."

Still ... when push comes to shove, Diane says she does NOT believe Brandon was being serious when he made the offer.

"He’s not going into a boxing ring and putting gloves on to fight anytime soon."

As for Brandon's initial challenge to Anthony -- that Kalla would have to work in an orphanage if he lost the fight -- Diane says she still expects the less fortunate to benefit from the situation.

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots beat up Chicago so badly this weekend, even Tom's wife couldn't help herself from trolling the Bears online ... by bragging about the 51 points TB hung on 'em.

After the game, Tom and Gisele posed for a couples photo ... with Tom holding up 5 fingers, Gisele holding up 1 ... representing the 51-23 beatdown the Pats delivered at Gillette Stadium.

Gisele added the caption, "So happy for my love!!! Go Pats!!! 51 points!!!"

The supermodel has gotten into trouble for talking smack about Tom's teammates in the past -- but blasting opponents is OK, right?

The Chicago Bears are NOT a lost cause ... despite the fact they've lost 3 out of their last 4 games ... this according to Jay Cutler's wife.

Kristin Cavallari was arriving at an event at the Mondrian Hotel in L.A. last night -- striking pose after pose for photogs -- when she was asked about the struggling Monsters of the Midway.

Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs is a huge animal lover -- and tells TMZ Sports he'd be EXTREMELY PISSED if he found out the abuse allegations about Michael Jackson's chimp Bubbles were true.

As we previously reported, famed monkey specialist Jane Goodall claims Bubbles suffered serious physical abuse on MJ's watch -- though several other people who spent lots of time with the primate say it's total crap.

"If that's true, it's despicable," Briggs said ... "I don't ever want any harm done to animals."

But Lance says he isn't ready to condemn MJ yet -- "Just because [Jane] said he was beaten, doesn't mean it was. If she had proof, it'd be different."

He continues, "I'm a fan of Michael's talent so it doesn't take away from that -- but my outlook of him as a person would change."

The Mission: Boxing legend Bernard Hopkins wanted to take a stab at being a TMZ paparazzi on the streets of NYC today.

The Target: MTV star Kristin Cavallari ... who also happens to be married to Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler.

The Result: Bernard started off strong ... but things fizzled pretty quickly when it became clear Kristin had no idea who he was.

The Best Part: Bernard's post-shoot analysis ... where he talks about his paparazzi strengths and weaknesses ... and reminds us that Kristin's smokin' hot.

It's the new craze sweeping the Cheesehead-hating anti-Packers universe -- a Graterhead -- and TMZ has learned, it's got "Shark Tank" star Daymond John's fingerprints all over it.

The Graterheads made their big debut during Monday night's game between longtime rivals the Packers and the Bears -- and the Graterhead creator tells us, it's been two years in the making.

CEO & Founder of Graterhead Jeran Dahlquist says he hatched his plan to create the grater-shaped hat back in 2011 -- and Shark Tanker Daymond John has been instrumental in the product's launch.

Daymond's rep says the businessman hasn't made a financial investment yet -- he's still weighing his options -- but he believes in the product, and has been coaching the company during its infant stages.

If the company shapes up like he thinks it will, we're told Daymond will be investing a sizable sum.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall is taking it one step further with his infamous green shoes -- after disobeying the NFL's direct orders NOT to wear them on the field last night -- TMZ has learned, he's auctioning them off ... for charity.

Brandon announced he'd be wearing the green shoes during last night's game against the Giants -- in honor of Mental Illness Awareness Week -- but the NFL said he'd be fined if he did ... because the shoes violate the League's uniform policy. (The only exception is the pink shoes players are currently wearing to support breast cancer awareness.)

As you can see, Brandon (who was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in 2011) followed through with his promise ... and said he'd match the NFL's fine with a donation to a breast cancer charity. But he's not stopping there.

We've learned Brandon has now decided to auction off the green cleats, and donate the proceeds to his own foundation, dedicated to helping people cope with mental illnesses like his own. The auction is currently at $2,000.

FYI, if you're wondering how much Marshall could get fined by the NFL -- it could easily exceed $10,000.

Marshall was already fined $10,500 last year for wearing orange cleats -- not for any particular cause -- but since last night's stunt would be a repeat offense, the fine could be larger. It's expected to be handed down next week.

NFL star Major Wright just got into serious heat over his side hustle -- AFRICAN DIAMONDS -- and now he's being chased down by a couple of scary loan sharks.

Here's the short of it ... when he's not playing ball, Wright operates a diamond trading company called TDW Diamonds, and allegedly borrowed $75,000 last year in order to purchase raw South African diamonds (ranging from 21-31.5 carats).

Problem is ... the lenders are saying they still haven't been repaid, and the interest rate is borderline mafia-level.

According to their lawsuit, lenders Jimmy Michel and Marc Geffrard claim Wright promised to repay the loan PLUS 100% interest by March 2012 ... a total of $150,000 ... but that never happened.

It's now been more than a year and Michel and Geffrard say they still haven't been paid. They're suing for the full $150,000 plus even more interest.

P.S. -- the loan sharks are gonna get screwed because under Florida law, if anyone charges more than 18 percent on a loan, they forfeit their right to collect any interest at all. So, by (allegedly) signing a dumb contract, the two footballers may have outsmarted the sharks in the end.

The undefeated Chicago Bears take on the winless Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3 -- and if this seems like an easy game to pick ... you're probably right.

Honestly, we didn't want to strain Harv after he evened his record at 1-1 last week.

Charles: So, Bears and Steelers ... Jay Cutler and Ben Roethlisberger -- who ya got?
Harvey: Most people think of Cutler and Roethlisberger ... but I think of my days at the University of Chicago, and the famous Pittsburgh Platter (Google it, if you dare).

Charles: Dear God.
Harvey: And because of that -- although law school was painful -- I gotta go with Chicago.

Charles: What's your take on Cutler's improved play?
Harvey: He kinda acted like a little bitch when he got him walking around L.A. after he left that game with an injury, but I think he's butched it up well.

Charles: Steelers have been sucking. What's the deal?
Harvey: Lotta people think it's karma with Roethlisberger ... I think it's fried food.

Charles: Didn't realize you were checking him out that closely.
Harvey: Just a casual glance.

Ex-Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher says there's only ONE GUY who hasn't called him on the phone since he retired last year ... QB Jay Cutler ... and he's kinda bitter about it.

Urlacher recently sat down with Graham Bensinger and vented about the lack of post teammate communication when Graham asked if any of the Bears have given him the cold shoulder since he left the squad.

Urlacher's response: "I did not hear from Jay ... out of all the guys I played with."

And why so bitter? Urlacher explained ... "I felt like I stood up for him a lot more than anybody else did over the past 3 or 4 years in the media ... 'cause that guy takes a lot of grief."

"Strong men also cry" -- The Big Lebowski

This video is pretty great ... Kristin Cavallari messing with the paps after a night of clubbing in Hollywood -- shakin' 'em down for cab fare in exchange for a photo ... and it's awesome.

It's that classic KC bitchiness we all know and love ... with the reality star shaming the paparazzi for $5 outside Hooray Henry's in Hollywood -- "I just posed for you. Pony the f*ck up."

Eventually, one of the snappers opens his wallet ... but Kristin was clearly not impressed.

It's not like she needs the money -- her husband Jay Cutler is at the end of a 5-year $50 million contract.

NFL star Brandon Marshall is about to blow your mind -- 'cause it's not every day you meet a wine, yoga and Pilates lovin' football star!

We caught up with the Chicago Bears' wide receiver at the Playboy Mansion -- probably not the best time to remind him training camp starts in 9 days, but we did ... and his response was awesomely honest.

"It sucks. Right now ... you got stuff like Espys and Playboy parties. Now you gotta go to camp, you gotta go to a dormitory for a month?"

Brandon also revealed he and Jennifer Aniston have more in common than we would have ever thought -- you gotta see him light up talking about his love of Pilates, yoga ... and fine wine.

Proof Jay Cutler actually went through with it -- Kristin Cavallari just posted this happy wedding photo with her new hubby ... nearly TWO YEARS after he torpedoed their first engagement by dumping her ass.

At least this wedding dress turned out better than the last ones ...

Second time's a charm.

Jay Cutler is finally gonna make an honest woman out of his baby mama ... TMZ has learned the Chicago Bears QB just purchased a marriage license in the state of Tennessee.

We've confirmed ... Cutler and Kristin Cavallari appeared at the Davidson County Clerk in Nashville, TN early this morning ... and dropped $99.50 on the paperwork required to tie the knot.

Sources connected to the couple tell us ... the two are set to swap "I dos" at a ceremony THIS WEEKEND in Nashville ... the city where Jay went to college (he played at Vanderbilt).

The marriage license is only valid for 30 days ... so if Jay has a last minute change of heart this weekend, Kristin still has a couple of weeks to change his mind.

Jay and Kristin were originally engaged back in April 2011 ... but called it off in July.

Just a few months later, they announced the engagement was back on ... and in January 2012, they revealed Kristin was preggo with Jay's kid.

Kristin gave birth to their son Camden on August 8, 2012.

So far, no comment from Cutler or Cavallari.

Congrats!!

UPDATE 12:33 PM PT -- Kristin posted a pic to her Instagram of a pair of wedding rings with the caption: "Im officially Kristin Elizabeth Cutler!!!!!"

Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler might officially be the most hated man in the Windy City -- because last night, one of Chicago's most storied sports legends turned his back on the guy ... TORCHING Cutler's jersey inside a bar.

The video was shot inside Stanley's Kitchen and Tap in Downtown Chicago -- showing Chicago Blackhawks legend Chris Chelios lighting Jay's jersey on fire while some hot chick dangles it from her fingers.

One source inside the bar tells us Chris lit the jersey then said, Cutler's "nothing but a bitch."

FYI -- Cutler has been under heavy fire in Chicago from Bears fans who think he's not just a terrible QB ... but a cancer in the locker room who's bringing down the team.

Cutler's performance on Sunday didn't do much to win over his critics -- Jay had a very underwhelming performance in the Bears victory over the Rams ... throwing an interception and ZERO touchdowns.