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This.Is.Insane.

What if we told you there was a full-contact tackle football league where ex and future professional players break each other off viciously WITH NO HELMETS? Crazy, right?

Crazy enough to be damn true ... it's called A7FL ... a 7-on-7 pigskin league with absolutely zero safety equipment protecting the players from demolishing each other.

We spoke to A7FL's CEO and co-founder, Sean Korkusuz, who says the 2-year-old organization is starting to pick up steam.

"The response we have been getting since we have been doing this has been tremendous," Korkusuz says.

As far as the players ... Sean says there's athletes of all talent levels who play in the A7FL right now ... and some of them have left to pursue careers in the softer, less hardcore league.

"Daryl Virgies is a guy who came through our league then went to a small college in Virginia, he just had his NFL pro day in the last few months."

As far as the safety of the players, competing in such a brutal game with no protection ... Sean had only one thing to say.

"All athletes sign a player injury waiver and all athletes must be 18 or older."

LeBron James is putting that new $100 million contract to good use, 'cause the Cavs superstar brought 5,000 kids and their families to an amusement park on Tuesday.

The annual trip to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio encourages Akron kiddos to focus on their education before entering LBJ's "I Promise" initiative -- which offers a free college education after high school.

TMZ Sports spoke with a rep from CP, who tells us, "It’s an honor to work with a wonderful, dedicated group of people who provide so much to Northeast Ohio – and we’re happy to provide a 'Best Day' experience for their program families here at the park.”

LeBron teamed up with Chase Bank to help pay for the shindig ... which also offers an opportunity to attend a sit-down convo with the King himself.

Hugh Hefner can officially slap a "SOLD" sign onto his Playboy Mansion, and then head back inside for dinner ... after hammering out a deal with the PBR heir who almost lost it 11 days ago.

The escrow closed Tuesday for Hef's neighbor Daren Metropoulos -- and we're told it went for a final price of $100 million ... a nice discount off the $110 mil offer Daren nearly closed earlier this month.

We're told the compromise was lower price, but Hef gets to maintain access to the home for the rest of his life. Bottom line: Daren can't pop over whenever he wants. However, as the new landlord ... he does get to approve all parties at the mansion.

Daren -- a master re-brander of products and the Pabst Blue Ribbon heir -- who's been living next door since 2009 has already given the thumbs-up to Playboy's Midsummer Night's Dream Party next Saturday ... and the annual Halloween bash.

We're told he plans to connect the adjacent home he owns with the Playboy Mansion and restore both estates to their original versions. Daren was represented by Coldwell Banker agent Jade Mills & Mauricio Umansky represented Playboy.

When Tennessee Titans linebacker Avery Williamson takes the field on Sept. 11th ... he'll be playing with a special set of cleats created to honor those who passed on 9/11.

The NFL regular season happens to begin on the 15 year anniversary of the terror attacks -- and many of the players are planning to pay tribute to the victims, first responders and other people affected by the tragedy.

One of those players is Williamson -- who approached cleat customizer Billy Hobbs at True Blue Customs and asked for a special design ... and Hobbs came through strong.

Hobbs airbrushed a pair of Nike Vapors to resemble the American flag, and added the words "Never Forget" and "9/11" to the back of each cleat.

Several NFL players have talked about playing on 9/11 -- including NY Jets center Nick Mangold -- who previously said, "It is truly an honor to open the season at home, at MetLife Stadium, on the 15th anniversary of 9/11."

2:08 PM PST -- We spoke with the Wisconsin Attorney General's office who says they haven't made a decision whether to refile charges.

Brendan Dassey -- the man who was convicted for helping Steven Avery in a murder chronicled on "Making a Murderer" -- has been ordered to be released.

A federal judge just ruled Dassey's constitutional rights were violated when he was grilled, then tried for the murder of Teresa Halbach.

The judge ruled authorities crossed the line by interrogating the then 16-year-old without an adult present. The judge said authorities exacerbated the problem by assuring Dassey they were on his side.

And the judge said, "Dassey's borderline to below average intellectual ability likely made him more susceptible to coercive pressures than a peer of higher intellect."

And the judge had problems with the bluffs -- investigators told Dassey at least 24 times they knew exactly what happened to Teresa. The judge said the false assertions had a "powerful effect" on Dassey -- presumably prompting his confession.

The judge also had problems with Dassey's first lawyer, Len Kachinsky ... who allowed the prosecutor's investigator to grill the client when Kachinsky wasn't present. The judge called Kachinsky's conduct "indefensible." That, however, does not appear to be the basis for the ruling.

Wisconsin prosecutors have 90 days to decide if they want to retry Dassey.

10:55 AM PST -- Thomas tells TMZ, "I love Criminal Minds and have put my heart and soul into it for the last twelve years. I had hoped to see it through to the end, but that won't be possible now. I would just like to say thank you to the writers, producers, actors, our amazing crew, and, most importantly, the best fans that a show could ever hope to have."

Thomas Gibson won't get his kicks from "Criminal Minds" anymore ... because he was just fired.

Producers put the word out Friday ... he won't return to the show for the 12th season.

TMZ broke the story, the actor was suspended from the show after kicking a writer/co-executive producer in a dispute over a scene that Gibson was directing. And, as we reported, a few years ago he was ordered to anger management classes after striking someone else on the crew.

ABC, which produces the show, and CBS, which airs it, issued a blunt statement: "Thomas Gibson has been dismissed from Criminal Minds. Creative details for how the character's exit will be addressed in the show will be announced at a later date."

The model who claims she's pregnant with Julian Edelman's baby just set up a sexy photo shoot ... and damn, 6 months preggo never looked so good!!!

Scottie Pippen and his wife are FURIOUS at Christian Laettner -- claiming he still hasn't paid them back the hundreds of thousands of dollars he owes them ... and they want to collect, NOW.

Around 2007, Pippen invested a ton of money with Laettner and his partners to buy a stake in the Memphis Grizzlies ... but when the deal fizzled, he never got his money back.

Pippen sued Laettner and his partners and was awarded a $2.5 million judgment -- but has NOT received the full amount.

Enter Larsa Pippen ... who took the beef public this week -- tweeting at Laettner, "Hey @laettnerbball are you ever gonna pay us back homie?"

"It's crazy you've been f***ing us around forever @laettnerbball. Homie how do u sleep at night."

Sources connected to the case tell us Laettner still owes at least $600,000 to the Pippens.

Yeah, we'd be pissed too.

John Saunders' wife found the ESPN legend unresponsive and not breathing early Wednesday morning and called 911 ... law enforcement tells TMZ Sports.

Hastings-on-Hudson Police Chief Anthony Visalli tells TMZ Sports ... emergency responders raced to Saunders' New York home around 4 AM -- but were unable to resuscitate him. He was pronounced dead at the home.

We're told a detective was sent to the home -- but found nothing suspicious. Since there were no signs of foul play, the medical examiner rejected the case.

We're told the exact cause of death is still unknown.

Travis Barker is a badass with sick drumming skills cause not even a blood-spraying finger can hold the man down.

The Blink-182 drummer lost a chunk of his finger after going all hardcore at a gig in Ohio. After the show, Travis posted a pic of the horrifying injury. Check out the pic ... but you've been warned.

The band's playing a bunch of shows until the tour ends Oct. 7 and we're told he's rockin' on -- with or without his finger.

Someone get the man a first aid kit.

A rep for the Israeli national team says the actions by the Lebanese delegation to block Team Israel athletes from getting on a bus Friday were driven by "hostility and anti-Semitic behavior."

Kesha is about to be reunited with her precious tiger jacket after it was stolen out of her dressing room this weekend ... and the culprit has a very fishy explanation.

The singer went to social media Monday night and begged her fans to help find the jacket -- and said it's so important to her, she'll kiss whoever finds it "on the f***ing mouth."

Well, the social media APB worked -- because sources close to Kesha tell us she was contacted by a person who said they have the jacket and wanted to return it.

So, how'd they get it?

The person insists they "accidentally" took it from the dressing room ... and didn't mean any harm.

Yeah right.

Bottom line -- we're told Kesha is pumped to get it back and isn't planning on going to the cops.

No word if she still plans on delivering that mouth kiss.

The baseball offers seem to be flying in for Tim Tebow ... and now another minor league team says it has real interest in the ex-NFL quarterback.

We spoke with Mike Candela -- general manager of the Bakersfield Blaze (Seattle Mariners Single-A minor league affiliate) ... who says, "We are definitely interested in Tim Tebow."

"We would love to invite him out to see a game and before that we would set up a meeting for him to speak with the our team and coaches and put him up in a hotel."

Tebow announced he's pursuing a career as a pro baseball player -- and has been working with MLB legend Gary Sheffield.

He's already received a contract offer from the Schaumburg Boomers, an independent Frontier League team based in Schaumburg, Illinois.

And the Cleveland Indians posted a pic of Tebow in their uniform.

Stay tuned ...

Donald Trump did not boot a baby out of his rally for crying ... so says the kid's mother, who's defending the candidate and scoffing at reporters who trashed him.

Devan Cierra Ebert says she was halfway out the door with 18-month-old Vinnie when Trump told the VA crowd, "Get that baby out of here!"

Ebert has reached out to Trump's people to make it clear ... she harbors no resentment and actually thinks Trump said what he said in good fun.

She also makes it clear ... no one's paid her off to say this.

Mike D from the Beastie Boys told cops he's out thousands of dollars in surf and skate gear and now police are on the hunt to catch the thief.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... L.A. Sheriffs Dept. got called to the Beastie Boy's home Friday after Mike D claimed someone broke into his outdoor storage shed at his Malibu pad where he had loads of surfboards, skateboards and other miscellaneous surf gear.

Mike reported that around 15-20 surfboards were part of the heist ... and 3 were worth $1,000 each.

Sheriffs are investigating.

Bad news for the Bruins ... Snoop Dogg's football star son has left the the UCLA football team again ... school officials confirm to TMZ Sports.

Cordell Broadus was not with the rest of the team at the first day of training camp Monday morning -- raising some red flags. Plus, L.A. Daily News reporter Thuc Nhi Nguyen says he wasn't on the official roster.

Now, UCLA associate director of communications Steve Rourke confirms ... he's NOT on the team.

Broadus was one of the top high school WRs in the country -- and accepted a scholarship to play for the Bruins last year. But he quit the team to pursue other interests before the 2015 season.

He rejoined back in March saying he "missed the game" -- and wanted to earn his spot back as a walk-on.

But sources connected to Broadus tell us ... his head wasn't completely in it and he recently decided to leave the program ... again.