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United Airlines staff was merely following "established procedures" when security was called to remove the passenger ... according to United, which is finally explaining its side of what went down before the video.

TMZ has learned United CEO, Oscar Munoz, fired off an email to all employees Monday afternoon after the airline was blasted on social media for the way the man was dragged off the jet. Munoz explained the crew "sought volunteers and then followed our involuntary denial of boarding process (including offering up to $1,000 in compensation)."

The flight was overbooked, and 4 passengers needed to be "re-accommodated" -- to use United's word.

Munoz added in his email, "When we approached one of these passengers to explain apologetically that he was being denied boarding, he raised his voice and refused to comply with crew member instructions."

Munoz says the man got more and more "disruptive and belligerent," and continued resisting ... running back onto the plane.

The CEO makes it clear he supports the actions of his United crew, but says "there are lessons we can learn." The Chicago Dept. of Aviation has already suspended the officer who forcibly lifted the passenger from his seat, leaving his face bloodied.

How do you rebound from blowing a 26 point lead in the 4th quarter? If you're LeBron James ... you hit the club!!

Bron -- along with J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson -- hit up LIV nightclub in Miami hours after the Cavs lost to the Atlanta Hawks in ATL.

It was a shocking loss since the Cavs were up 26 points going into the 4th quarter. The game went into overtime where the Hawks put 'em away.

But after the final buzzer, the guys got on a jet and flew to Miami and partied with the likes of boxing star Adrien Broner.

The Cavs play the Miami Heat on Monday -- but LeBron will reportedly sit the game out to rest up.

2:57PM PT -- The 49ers just announced they've cut Tramaine Brock.

49ers CB Tramaine Brock was arrested for felony domestic violence near San Francisco ... after he allegedly got physical with a girl he was dating.

Santa Clara police say they responded to a report of domestic violence on Thursday night at 9:35 PM. When they arrived, cops say they made contact with a woman who had visible injuries.

Officials tell TMZ Sports that Brock was NOT on the scene when they arrived ... but later went to the station to talk to cops. He was then booked for felony domestic violence.

Cops say the woman's injuries were minor, and she did not require medical attention.

Brock, 28 -- one of the best players on the 49ers defense -- was taken to Santa Clara County Jail. A judge has not yet set bail.

Ex-Florida Gators player Daniel McMillian -- who's gunning to picked in the NFL Draft -- was arrested for sexual assault and kidnapping Thursday night in Gainesville, FL ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to a police report, McMillian -- who was a LB on the team for 4 years -- invited a woman over to his apartment around 3:40 PM. When she arrived, he allegedly took the girl into his room and exposed himself.

Cops say the woman told D.M. she was uncomfortable and tried to leave, but he blocked her exit. He then allegedly grabbed her butt, before she kicked McMillian in the genitals, and ran out of the apartment.

The former 4-star high school recruit was booked for 2 felonies -- sexual assault and kidnapping -- and is being held in jail on $40k bond.

Paul O'Neill -- founder of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra -- has died after a private battle with a chronic illness, the band confirms. He was 61.

Law enforcement tells TMZ ... Paul was found dead in a Tampa hotel room. There are no signs of foul play, but police don't know yet how long he was deceased before they responded to a 911 call. We're told the Medical Examiner has his body now.

Paul's band says, "The entire Trans-Siberian Orchestra family, past and present, is heartbroken to share the devastating news that Paul O’Neill has passed away from chronic illness," a statement said on the band's official Facebook page.

"He was our friend and our leader -- a truly creative spirit and an altruistic soul. This is a profound and indescribable loss for us all."

O'Neill created the band back in 1996 and hit it big with its metal-infused take on classic Christmas songs. The band has sold more than 12 MILLION albums.

Rick Ross just struck a plea deal in his kidnapping trial ... and he's dodged multiple felony bullets.

The rapper was in a Fayette County courtroom Tuesday facing kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery and other charges for allegedly holding a groundskeeper on his Georgia estate at gunpoint, forcing him into a guesthouse and pistol-whipping the guy.

Under the deal, Ross pled no contest to 1 felony count of aggravated assault. The other felony charges were dropped. Ross was sentenced to time served in jail -- he had been locked up for a week. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.

Now here's the sweet part of the deal for Ross. He's being sentenced as a first time felony offender ... that means when he pays the $10k fine -- which he'll do Tuesday night -- the conviction is erased from his record.

But it's not that easy. Prosecutors got more ... Ross pled no contest to 5 misdemeanors -- assault, battery, 2 counts of pointing a pistol at someone, and possession of less than 1 oz of pot. For the 5 misdemeanors he was given a total of 60 months probation.

One huge benefit for Ross ... under the deal, his travel will not be restricted.

Drake just wrapped his latest tour and hooked himself up with a sweet little souvenir ... for $120,000.

Sources close to the rapper tell TMZ famed jeweler Ben Baller hand-delivered the pricey new OVO logo chain to Drake Monday night in L.A. and as you can see ... he was into it.

We're told the owl piece is made of solid gold and has 40 carats of ice blue, canary and white VVS diamonds. Plus, some pink sapphires sprinkled in 'cause ... why the hell not?

IF & Co. Jewelers designed the ballin' chain and pendant.

#BoyMeetsIce

You may not have seen the last of Phil Simms on CBS.

With Tony Romo coming in as the new #1 game analyst -- the question now is what happens to Simms?

Our sources tell us straight-up there has been no official decision on whether Simms will get his walking papers or be reassigned ... but a decision is coming.

What we do know is Romo will be the new lead guy, as first reported by Sports Business Daily ... and "talks are going on" regarding Phil's future with the network.

Ray Rice DID meet with the head coach of a New Jersey high school football team -- but it was NOT about a job and he has NOT been hired ... so says the school's athletic director.

Reports surfaced earlier Monday that Rice took a position to be the running back coach at Don Bosco Prep in Bergen County.

But it's not the case ... so says Athletic Director Bryan McAleer -- who tells TMZ Sports, "It's crazy how rumors start."

Alex Rodriguez brought a secret weapon to a business meeting Monday ... his GF, Jennifer Lopez.

Alex arrived at the NYC office building alone just before 1 PM ... we're told for a "post baseball opportunity." J Lo arrived shortly thereafter and they left together at 1:30.

We're told A-Rod respects J Lo's business acumen and wanted her there. He's been fielding offers since his retirement and we're told this meeting was important enough that he wanted her take.

Ex-Alabama football star Ryan Anderson says he did not threaten Deshaun Watson and force him out of a Tuscaloosa bar this weekend ... claiming he only got involved to HELP the QB.

Anderson -- a projected NFL Draft pick -- was seen on video along with Tide alum Wallace Gilberry talking to the ex-Clemson QB right before he was escorted out of the Innisfree Irish Pub on Friday night.

Multiple reports say Anderson and Gilberry told Watson to leave -- but Anderson's rep tells TMZ Sports that's NOT the whole story.

We spoke with Anderson's publicist, Bob Broderick, who says Ryan and Wallace only approached Watson because some patrons were getting hostile toward him.

Broderick says Anderson suggested Watson leave before the patrons escalated the situation -- and Anderson even offered to pick up Watson's tab as a friendly gesture.

Martin Lawrence didn't cut corners on his engagement to Roberta Moradfar -- instead he plunked down about a half mil for her rock .... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected to the couple tell us Martin worked for months with Iconic Jewels Beverly Hills to create the custom 5 carat emerald cut engagement ring. He added another carat for the band alone, which has Martin and Roberta's initials spelled out in diamonds.

Martin popped the question Friday night to Roberta, a nurse practitioner ... just a few hours after the ring was delivered to his home.

This will be his third marriage, but he's clearly not gun-shy.

Mazel.

A man who says he has ties to Fetty Wap has been charged with 2 counts of attempted murder in connection with the robbery and shootout in Paterson.

Sylvester Huffin was charged Monday with 2 counts of first degree attempted murder, as well as 3 other weapons charges. On his social media Huffin says he's an executive manager at Fetty's label, RGF Productions.

Law enforcement sources tell us Huffin is the alleged gunman who accidentally shot himself in the thigh during the shootout. We're also told detectives went to interview Huffin at the hospital he checked himself into that night, and surveillance footage appears to show him as the shooter.

As we first reported, shots fired from Fetty's camp were the only ones that landed, injuring 2 guys in Raheem "Fuzz" Thomas' crew. Fuzz has been charged with aggravated assault, robbery and multiple weapons violations.

9:00 AM PT -- Raheem "Fuzz" Thomas is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon in Paterson ... and law enforcement sources tell us cops are preparing for the worst. We're told there will be extra patrols outside the courthouse due to worries about rival gang members.

The same guy busted in the Fetty Wap shootout is now charged with jacking his chains -- Raheem Thomas was arrested again Tuesday night.

Cops booked Raheem, aka Fuzz from Muscle Team Entertainment, for armed robbery and gun possession. Our law enforcement sources tell us cops booked him based on seeing video of the robbery where Fetty's jewelry -- including his 1738 chain -- was stolen.

Additionally ... he was all over social media flaunting Fetty's bling.

We're told officers went looking for Fuzz and when they found him he was packing a handgun with hollow point bullets.

He'd already been booked for aggravated assault and gun possession after his initial arrest.

TMZ obtained video from the Paterson, NJ deli right after the robbery went down ... and it shows Fuzz clearly holding a handgun.

Drake had no choice but to cancel his Amsterdam concert because he had a prior engagement ... with a bathroom, due to extreme food poisoning.

Sources close to Drizzy tell us he ate some bad sushi on Monday, and it messed up his stomach. We're told it was so bad he had to get medical treatment immediately. It wasn't enough though ... he was still too sick to go onstage, which seriously pissed off the entire arena full of fans who'd already been waiting in their seats for 75 minutes when they got the bad news.

It was the third time in 3 months Drake had to postpone an Amsterdam gig ... which explains why fans threw crap onstage. He's promised to make up the show Wednesday.

We suggest a simple bowl of rice beforehand.

Floyd Mayweather is selling one of the most rare and expensive cars in his collection -- his Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita -- one of only 2 in the world.

Floyd's car guy, Obi Okeke, tells TMZ Sports Mayweather is selling the car to replenish his multi-million dollar car collection. We're told FM also plans to purchase a $20 million yacht, 'cause ... why not?

Mayweather bought the insane car -- which has 1018 horsepower, top speed of over 254 MPH, and 0 to 60 time of 2.8 seconds -- for $4.8 million in 2015.

The whip is currently being stored in L.A. while a stupidly rich buyer is found.