Cincinnati Bengals

Former Cincinnati Bengals star T.J. Houshmandzadeh claims he got bamboozled into fronting hundreds of thousands of dollars for a bogus weed business.

The retired WR filed suit against two men -- Damien Marzett and John Wiegman -- for allegedly convincing him to invest $200K into construction for their new dispensary under false pretenses.

In the docs obtained by TMZ Sports, T.J. claims Marzett and Wiegman approached him in 2015, trying to get him to fund a new weed club in L.A. ... which they said would make hundreds of thousands of dollars a month.

He also claims they signed a contract to pay him back interest of $180K by Dec. 2017 if he floated them the dough.

Well, he says he paid ... but never saw any of that money by the due date -- and eventually learned they didn't even have a license to operate a weed club in the state.

The NFL Players Association believes the Cincinnati Bengals violated league policy by trying to get Eric Reid to agree to stop kneeling in exchange for a possible contract.

It's all part of a new grievance the NFLPA filed on behalf of Reid -- who believes he's being blackballed for taking a knee during the national anthem in the 2017 season.

Reid met with the Bengals on April 9 and was reportedly asked if he would kneel during the 2018 season. According to reports, Reid refused to answer the question. He ultimately did NOT get a contract offer.

Enter the NFL Players Association which is saying Reid is getting screwed because the NFL has NO league rule prohibiting players from demonstrating during the national anthem and teams that try to stop them are in violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

In fact, the NFLPA obviously references the Bengals in a news release ... though it doesn't call them out by name.

"According to our information, a club appears to have based its decision not to sign a player based on the player’s statement that he would challenge the implementation of a club’s policy prohibiting demonstration, which is contrary to the League policy."

The situation sounds VERY similar to what Colin Kaepernick went through with the Seattle Seahawks -- which shut down a workout with the QB because he would not agree to stop kneeling.

Kaep and Reid are repped by the same attorneys -- Mark Geragos and Ben Meiselas -- who issued this statement:

"Colin and Eric have taken courageous action at the expense of their professional careers and personal lives. They did these selfless acts because they wanted to shine light on inequity and oppression."

Pacman Jones says he's lucky to be alive -- after power lines fell down Thursday in the middle of the highway near the Bengals practice facility causing multiple cars to crash ... including his.

"I’m driving, these power lines just fall down out of nowhere bruh, in the middle of the highway. Almost got killed," the Cincinnati Bengals star said on video from the scene.

"I’m just so happy I’m alright man. If I wouldn’t have came across man I might be dead."

Jones showed damage to his black Dodge Durango -- but says he's not worried about that ... he's happy he wasn't hurt.

Devon Still -- one of the most beloved pro athletes around -- tells TMZ Sports his days of being an NFL player might be coming to an end.

You know Still's story ... he fought alongside his daughter Leah while she battled cancer -- at the same time he was trying to earn a roster spot with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Together, Devon and Leah have raised millions of dollars for cancer research. In fact, Devon and Leah got an ESPY in 2015 -- the Jimmy V Perseverance Award.

But now, the 28-year-old seems to be at crossroads -- he hasn't caught on with a team since being waived by the Jets earlier this year ... so when we saw him in NYC we wanted to know what his future on the gridiron would be.

"I don't know. We'll find out in a couple of weeks. I'll make my decision about whether I'm gonna continue with my NFL career or move on with my next venture in life."

If Still decides to hang up his cleats ... he definitely has a future as a motivational speaker/fundraiser. Millions of people are rooting for him.

BTW -- We also asked Devon about the controversial hit Kiko Alonso put on Ravens QB Joe Flacco, and Still told us KA's wallet might get a little lighter soon.

Chad Johnson says the NY Giants should be very careful on how they handle Odell Beckham Jr. -- because if they get on him too hard for the dog pee celebration, it's gonna mess up his head.

Look, Chad says Odell is special ... and if going crazy on the field helps him dominate, so be it. The worst thing you can do is neuter him ... get it?

We also asked if it's time to fire Marvin Lewis in Cincinnati -- after the team's 0-3 start.

One of the greatest receivers in Cincinnati Bengals history says it's time for Andy Dalton to step up and play like an elite quarterback ... or he's gonna get benched.

TMZ Sports spoke with T.J. Houshmandzadeh about the Bengals' 0-2 start to the season ... and he says Dalton's miscues are a big reason why they're still hunting for their first win.

T.J. says there are no more excuses now that Cincy fired its offensive coordinator, Ken Zampese ... and says all the pressure's on Dalton to succeed.

Adam "Pacman" Jones is taking Joe Mixon under his wing -- and treated the Bengals rookie to a night out at the Future concert this week ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Turns out, Jones is pretty tight with Future -- they grew up together in Atlanta -- and the rapper hooked the Bengals star up with tickets to his Cincinnati concert Wednesday at the Riverbend Music Center.

We're told Jones invited Mixon as his guest -- and they had a blast together and took pics with fans.

So, why Mixon? We're told Jones quietly mentors a lot of young players on the team -- including Joe -- and he likes the guy.

Joe Mixon has touched down in L.A. -- and just got his first taste of paparazzi and autograph hounds.

The Cincinnati Bengals rookie is in town for the NFLPA Rookie Premiere event -- designed to help 1st year players learn the business of pro football.

Mixon told us his teammates and Cinci fans have been cool with him since he was drafted -- but didn't say much else.

Then he busted out a little Milly Rock in front of the Lehigh softball team ... which happened to be at the same baggage claim.

Props to Pacman Jones' attorney -- 'cause despite all the crazy stuff the NFL star did during a crazed Jan. 3rd tirade in Cincinnati, he won't serve another minute behind bars.

The Bengals star just appeared in court (sporting a nice suit) where he pled guilty to obstructing official business stemming from the incident where he allegedly got into it with a hotel security guard.

Remember, Pacman went off on the guard AND Cincinnati police that night -- wishing death on one of the officers and telling the cop to, "Suck my d**k."

Pacman was initially charged with disorderly conduct and assault as well -- but those charges were dropped as part of his deal.

In exchange, Pacman was sentenced to 2 days in jail -- but got credit for time served ... so, he won't be going back behind bars.

Pacman apologized for his actions in court -- telling the judge he's trying to become a better person and his actions that night were not a true representation of the real Adam Jones.

Pacman's attorneys told the judge he's a "kind person" and only lashed out because he was frustrated. His lawyers also pointed out that Pacman's involved with the Special Olympics and other charitable endeavors.

Pacman's agent tells TMZ Sports, "As you can see there was no assault or head-butting or spitting. He plead guilty to obstructing official business based solely on his tone that night."

The owner of the Cincinnati Bengals is telling fans he knows the team "took a risk" in drafting Joe Mixon -- but he's hoping Joe is a changed man who won't screw up again.

Mike Brown -- who's also the team president -- wrote an open letter to fans who have expressed concerns about Cinci's decision to pick a player who brutalized a woman in 2012.

In the letter, Brown points out Mixon's upside as an athlete -- while condemning the "regrettable deed."

"In making our decision, we took a risk," Brown says ... "In this case, the risk has an upside as well as a downside."

"We believe Joe has put this behind him and that he can turn into the player and community member that creates a plus for Cincinnati. We are going to do everything in our power to make this happen."

"Our hope is that time will prove that this opportunity is deserved, and perhaps -- if given a chance -- Joe can write a chapter in Cincinnati sports history that both he and Cincinnati can be proud of."

Here's the letter in its entirety:

"In the NFL draft last Friday, the Cincinnati Bengals selected a very talented football player who did a terrible thing his freshman year at college.

The player – Joe Mixon – is a top level football player by everyone’s account. Joe’s regrettable deed was that he struck a young woman, another student, shortly after arriving on campus in Norman, Oklahoma, three years ago.

Joe and this young woman recently met in person, came to terms with the incident, and they agreed to resolve their differences so they could move forward with their lives. While the circumstances that led up to the incident are unclear – what is clear is that it is unacceptable for a man to strike a woman.

Since the incident three years ago, Joe was suspended by the football team, pleaded guilty in court, and accepted the consequences of his actions. He later went on to become a good citizen in Norman, a popular teammate, a player respected by his coaches, and one of the most talented players in college football.

The Bengals take pride in our hometown and want to provide winning football on the field and successful players off the field. That is the reason we drafted Joe – he is a rare football talent, and his conduct over the past three years leads us to believe he can help us win football games and also become a productive member of this community.

In making our decision, we took a risk. In this case, the risk has an upside as well as a downside. We believe Joe has put this behind him and that he can turn into the player and community member that creates a plus for Cincinnati. We are going to do everything in our power to make this happen. Our hope is that time will prove that this opportunity is deserved, and perhaps – if given a chance – Joe can write a chapter in Cincinnati sports history that both he and Cincinnati can be proud of.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Cool moment from Snoop ... when he sent a personal, emotional video message to his former youth football player, John Ross -- praising him on getting drafted in the NFL.

Ross famously played in the Snoop Youth Football League as a kid -- and his family has been tight with Snoop ever since.

So, when Ross got drafted in the 1st round by the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, Snoop dug deep into his memory bank to deliver a pretty sweet message to the WR.

By the way, we got Ross right after the draft -- and he told us Coach Snoop can definitely expect some Bengals gear in the mail!

At least one of Pacman Jones' teammates has his back -- with rookie cornerback William Jackson saying he hopes the team doesn't cut the troubled NFL star after his arrest last month.

Jackson was Cincy's 2016 1st round pick -- and says Pacman has been a mentor to him on the field.

But, after Jones was caught on video cussing out a police officer and telling him, "I hope you die" -- many are wondering if the Bengals will finally give Pac his walking papers.

Jackson made it clear he likes the guy and says, "I hope he'll be alright."

By the way, when we spoke with Jackson, he was working with Habitat for Humanity out in North Houston.

Good work.

12:59 PM PT -- Pacman's lawyer Tim Schneider tells TMZ Sports he believes the NFL star was thrown out of the casino under suspicious circumstances.

Schneider says Pacman had been gambling loudly with friends for several hours -- and losing -- and the casino had no issue.

It was only when Pacman's luck began to change that his volume became a problem.

Schneider says when Pacman was asked to leave, he did so without incident and says, "No charges came about as a result of the incident."

Pacman Jones was kicked out of a Cincinnati casino for berating staffers and patrons in the hours before he was arrested at a Hyatt hotel on January 3 ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Cincinnati PD has confirmed Jones was "acting disorderly" at JACK Cincinnati Casino and was asked to leave. Security and police escorted the NFL star out of the building.

One witness tells us Jones had verbally attacked employees at the casino and had an altercation with a casino patron who was trying to record the incident on his cell phone.

We're told Jones also went off on a police officer who responded to the scene and was "fired up" as he left the premises.

Of course, Jones later went to a nearby hotel where he was arrested for allegedly getting physical with a hotel security guard.

When cops arrived at the hotel, Jones continued his aggressive behavior and told the arresting officer "suck my d***" and "I hope you die."

Jones issued a statement saying he was embarrassed by the arrest video and is taking anger management courses.

We reached out to Jones' rep for comment about the casino incident -- so far, no word back.

It's not the first time Jones has been booted from a casino -- he was kicked out of the Hollywood Casino in Indiana in 2015 after going off on casino staffers.

Pacman Jones says he's seeking counseling and anger management after telling a Cincinnati police officer to "suck my d**k" and "die" during an arrest earlier this month.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the Cincinnati Bengals star went insane after cops were called on him for allegedly getting physical with a security guard at a local hotel.

When cops arrived, the guy went berserk -- screaming obscenities, dropping n-bombs, threatening the officer's job and telling the cop "I hope you die."

Now, Jones has issued a statement through his lawyers saying he is "deeply embarrassed and remorseful for his conduct and language."

"Mr. Jones has the utmost respect for law-enforcement and the difficulties police encounter on a daily basis."

The lawyers add, "Mr. Jones is committed to the process of counseling and anger management, in order to ensure that such situations never occur in the future."

TMZ Sports has obtained the Pacman Jones 911 call -- made while the Bengals star was allegedly going crazy Tuesday morning at the Millennium Hotel in Cincinnati.

The caller is the security guard at the hotel who tells the dispatcher a "Bengals player" was causing a ruckus on the property and harassing him.

When asked if the security guard knew the player's name he replied, "He's got dreads and s**t. I can't think of his name. He's #24."

Throughout the call, you can hear yelling -- presumably Pacman -- in the background.

Cops eventually came to the scene and arrested Pacman -- who allegedly resisted and headbutted one of the officers. He later allegedly spit on a nurse during the booking process.

7:10 AM PT -- The Bengals released a statement, saying "We are aware and working to gather full information, but policy is that it's inappropriate for the Club to comment on unresolved legal matters."

Another off-season ... another Pacman Jones run-in with police.

This time, the Cincinnati Bengals star was arrested Tuesday morning after allegedly getting violent at a Hyatt hotel ... and then spitting on a jail staffer.

Jones allegedly went ballistic at around midnight -- banging on a door and screaming and at one point, cops say he pushed and poked someone ... according to WLWT.

When cops arrived, he allegedly resisted arrest and then spit on a jail staffer while he was being booked.

The 33-year-old was eventually booked on misdemeanor assault, disorderly conduct and obstructing official business charges.

He's also facing felony harassment with a bodily substance for the alleged spit attack.

Jones just appeared in court, wearing a red vest and appearing frustrated. The judge set his bond at $37,500 and said he must stay away from the alleged victim.

Jones is no stranger to legal trouble ... back in 2015, he was kicked out of a casino for disorderly conduct.

In 2013, he struck a woman in a nightclub incident (he was found not guilty).

In 2011, he was arrested for disorderly conduct while intoxicated and resisting arrest.

He was also arrested in 2005 ... and 2006.