Dallas Cowboys

Dez Bryant is gunning to trademark his famous Twitter hashtag -- #ThrowUpTheX" -- in an effort to make sure he controls the use of his slogan on social media ... TMZ Sports has learned.

FYI -- the Dallas Cowboys star has been throwing up an "X" signal with his arms as a TD celebration for years ... and it's become his signature move with fans who often tweet pics of themselves to Dez "throwing up the X."

Now, we've learned Dez has filed documents with the United States Patent and Trademark Office ... looking to trademark #ThrowUpTheX for use in "news bulletins."

We did some digging ... and essentially, the "news bulletins" category covers computer software and other digital platforms that seems to cover social media.

So why trademark a hashtag? We spoke with Dez's rep who says they want to make sure no one else can take the hashtag and use it for unapproved non-Dez related activities.

Bryant has also started a "Throw Up The X" clothing line ... and we're told he hopes to grow the brand into an Under Armour-type company ... eventually signing other stars to endorsement deals.

Currently, the trademark for #ThrowUpTheX is pending -- and could take months until officials make a decision.

Michael Sam says he's incredibly grateful to Jerry Jones for giving him a shot with the Dallas Cowboys ... calling the opportunity a "dream come true."

Sam just went to Twitter and wrote, "As a kid growing up in Texas I always loved the Dallas Cowboys, so to join this incredible organization is really a dream come true."

Michael Sam has the blessing of The Playmaker ... 'cause NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin tells TMZ Sports he "loves" that the defensive end signed with his beloved Dallas Cowboys.

The "Michael Sam to Dallas" move was a bang-bang play -- with the whole deal unfolding in just a couple of hours ... starting with a phone call from Dallas to Sam's camp around 11AM Tuesday.

Our NFL sources tell TMZ Sports ... the whole thing was like a whirlwind -- and Sam had no idea he was in the cards for Dallas until the phone rang.

After that, Sam hopped on the first plane to Texas -- where he'll join the practice squad ... pending a physical.

Michael Sam is heading to Big D -- where he's reportedly going to be signed to the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad.

Sam was cut by the Rams over the weekend despite having a monster preseason ... where he recorded 2.5 sacks.

According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, the Cowboys spent the day calling several players and gauging their reactions to signing Sam ... and apparently, the feedback came back positive.

For a guy who's usually dishing out the hits, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick took a pretty big one on his Hollywood Hills mansion ... selling the place for roughly $700k less than he wanted.

Scandrick originally listed the 3,300 square foot home last year fro $2.85 million -- but when no one bit for that price, he chopped it down ... and eventually let it go for $2.1 mil.

Scandrick bought the place back in 2011 right after signing a huge $27 million contract with Dallas ... and we can see why -- the place is pimp ... with sick views and sunken spa and retractable glass walls.

Tony Romo might've given up off -season golf to rehab his ailing back, but that OTHER football? Not so much -- cause TMZ Sports has video of the Cowboys QB kickin' it hard on the soccer field.

Marion Barber III -- former Dallas Cowboys running back -- was arrested in Texas yesterday ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

According to police records, Barber was arrested just after 8PM on Sunday night -- and he's being held for "mental detention and observation."

The only way Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett and quarterback Tony Romo could become more hated by sports fans is if they ... oh, we don't know ... threw on a couple of Duke shirts and went to last night's Duke/North Carolina game.

Oh, would you look at that.

The only people who don't find this photo offensive are Yankees fans, Heat fans, Notre Dame fans and anyone who roots for King Joffrey Baratheon on "Game of Thrones," the Yellow King on "True Detective," and the zombies on "Walking Dead."

"Basketball Wives" star Draya Michele says her NFL star boyfriend ain't a fan of the VH1 show -- and he hates it so much, he offered to pay her TWICE HER SALARY to quit.

Draya -- who's dating Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick -- dropped the bombshell on Big Boy's Neighborhood show on L.A.'s Power 106 this week ... admitting the reality show has been "really hard on my boyfriend."

"We watch it together and he’s came to the point already. It’s been episode one, we saw 60 minutes of what is going to be going on for 12 weeks and he’s like ‘You know what? I don’t think you should do this next year How much are they paying you again? I’ll pay you double to sit your ass on the couch.'"

It seems Draya not only turned down the offer ... but said she hopes to have her own reality show in the future.

Dez Bryant tells TMZ Sports ... he would NEVER consider playing for another team in the NFC East -- because he wants to spend the rest of his NFL career on the Dallas Cowboys!!!

The wide receiver was ballin' it up at the Gridiron Celebrity Hoops charity event in Harlem yesterday when he told us straight up ... he doesn't even WANNA THINK about playing for another squad.

"I don't even think about leaving Dallas ... I'm Dallas forever. It's gonna stay that way."

NBA star Kenyon Martin has picked a longshot to win the Super Bowl ... a reaaaaal longshot.

Martin was leaving a shoe store in Harlem last night when we asked for his pick to win the big game -- his answer? THE COWBOYS!!!

Obviously, there's a bit of a problem with that pick ... since, you know, they're not exactly playing.

Eat your vitamins and say your prayers brothers ... 'cause TMZ has learned Brooke Hogan is officially single again.

Sources close to Brooke tell us Hulk's daughter ended her engagement to Dallas Cowboys center Phil Costa a few weeks ago ... after he proposed in Vegas back in June.

We're told Brooke realized things had moved way too fast, too soon ... so she decided to call it quits and focus on her music -- before making things official forever.

Our sources say Hogan recently moved back to L.A. to put the finishing touches on her new album ... and she wanted to be closer to Momma Hogan.

Brooke posted this ringless photo a few days ago.

Looks like she won't have much trouble finding a rebound dude.

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.

Ex-Dallas Cowboys QB Troy Aikman needs just one more home in Dallas ... then he'll have one for each of his Super Bowl trophies ... cuz dude just dropped millions on ANOTHER swanky new mansion ... TMZ has learned.

The Fox Sports commentator paid $4.3 million for a 5-bedroom red brick home overlooking Turtle Creek Lake in the Highland Park area. One of the main selling points -- according to the listing -- DUCKS in the backyard. Obviously he's never had ducks in the backyard ... because they crap everywhere.

The neighborhood must be great ... because this is the 2nd crib he's bought there in the last 3 months --- in July, Aikman spent $4.25 million for a 10,000 sq. foot house not far away.