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Donovan McNabb says Saquon Barkley landing the "Madden NFL 26" cover is "absolutely well-deserved" ... but breathe easy, Eagles fans -- the former face of the game tells TMZ Sports he doesn't believe in the infamous "curse" surrounding the honor.

We caught up with McNabb -- who graced the cover of the iconic series back in 2005 for "Madden NFL 06" -- and talked to him all about the running back joining him as the only other Philly great to receive the recognition.

McNabb believes the folks at EA Sports would have made the right call in either Barkley or quarterback Jalen Hurts ... especially after what they were able to accomplish in winning a Super Bowl this past season.

Jonathan Joss, the "King of the Hill" voice actor shot and killed Sunday, was a deeply complicated man whose demons helped lead to his tragic fate, his ex-girlfriend tells TMZ.

Brandy Trejo, who dated Joss for 13 years during the height of his career, tells us … Joss was the most "self-destructive person" she ever met … and to her, it seemed like he couldn't stand it when something good happened to him.

What's more ... Brandy says she witnessed him drive his neighbors crazy for years with his outbursts and outlandish behavior ... so when she learned a neighbor allegedly killed him in an argument -- she was not shocked.

12:30 PM PT -- A spokesperson for Warner Bros./Discovery tells TMZ ... “We dispute Mr. Simmons’ allegations, stand by the filmmakers and their process, and will vigorously defend ourselves against these unfounded allegations.”

9:23 AM PT -- Attorneys for Russell Simmons -- Imran H. Ansari and Carla DiMare -- tell TMZ, "Russell Simmons has filed a claim of defamation in court regarding the film 'On the Record.'

"Despite voluminous support for Mr. Simmons in the form of credible information, persuasive evidence, witness statements, and calls for further investigation by notable members of the media, politics, and the civil rights movement, the defendants simply disregarded it, and released, and continue to re-release globally, a film that tremendously disparaged and damaged Mr. Simmons with its salacious and defamatory accusations, that he vehemently denies.”

Russell Simmons claims HBO Max ignored mountains of evidence refuting the sexual assault claims against him when it produced a documentary about the cases ... and now he's suing the streamer for $20 million.

According to docs filed in New York, Simmons says the 2020 documentary "On the Record," "disregarded or suppressed" more than 20 witnesses who refuted the allegations multiple women made against the music mogul.

Simmons says that information was readily available to several bigwigs at WarnerMedia, the parent company of HBO Max, including CEO John Stankey. He claims civil rights leaders and members of Congress urged HBO to review the evidence supporting Simmons' denials ... although he doesn't name any of them.

Retired FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer is all for the FBI telling their agents to lay off the Pride Month celebrations this year ... but she says it's not about the LGBTQ+ community.

Catch the clip ... Jennifer tells us the reasoning behind the email sent out by a rep for the Federal Bureau of Investigations to all employees -- coming after the transition from the Biden to the Trump administrations -- was to put a stop to gathering during company hours and using FBI time and resources.

Coffindaffer claims that so much money and energy go into banquets thrown for monthly events -- such as Pride Month, Women's History Month, and Black History Month -- putting an end to these events will allow FBI agents to focus on their core mission ... putting bad people in prison!!!

The New York Knicks can stop their head coaching search ... 'cause Metta World Peace says he's the guy for the job!!

TMZ Sports caught up with the former NBA star following the shocking firing of Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday ... and MWP explained he's dead serious about leading the N.Y. sidelines.

"I would love the opportunity just to coach," the 45-year-old said. "I'm not interested in nothing else. I've been preparing for this."

Anthropologist and "Expedition Bigfoot" star Mireya Mayor weighs in on a recent snap of Bigfoot being spotted in Upper Colorado River ... but she tells us to hold the applause!!!

The internet has stirred up a new video of what looks to be like our never-before-seen mystical friend lurking through the woods of Colorado -- a hotspot for Bigfoot sightings.

Observers claim the large, hairy hunk was caught walking around all by its lonesome, and shot a clear video of what appears to depict the secretive Sasquatch, and posted it online.

John Brenkus -- the host of the Emmy-award winning show "Sport Science" -- died by suicide last week, the Virginia Department of Health, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner tells TMZ Sports.

Brenkus' family announced the passing to the public on Sunday -- writing in a statement on X that Brenkus "had been battling depression."

"John lost his fight with this terrible illness on May 31st, 2025," they said. "His heartbroken family and friends request privacy at this time, and encourage anyone who is struggling with depression to seek help."

Actor Tray Chaney saw his son celebrate his 19th birthday from a hospital bed in the ICU this Sunday but he had a glimmer of good news on Tuesday ... telling TMZ his son's on the mend!!!

Tray says his son Malachai Chaney was moved out of the ICU and into a stabilized room earlier today ... after being flung nearly the length of a football field, when a tornado came flying through their Atlanta suburb neighborhood last week, destroying their home.

Chaney's description of the events sounds like a Poltergeist film ... "The Wire" star says the windstorm levitated him in bed, right before he saw the walls closing in on him.

A former escort who took part in sexual encounters with Diddy and Cassie during their relationship says Cassie always treated him with respect ... but, he says it seemed like there were certain things she simply wasn't allowed to do.

Shawn Dearing -- one of more than 10 men who prosecutors say participated in "freak-offs" with the former couple -- joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday ... coming forward to discuss his experiences with the stars after his identity was revealed publicly earlier in the trial.

Dearing has nothing but kind words for Cassie ... saying she always treated him with the utmost respect. He says she once complimented him -- saying he had an "energy" about him -- and he says the compliment brought light into his life at a very dark time.

Comedian and actress Fortune Feimster is pulling the plug on her marriage to wife Jacquelyn Smith, officially filing for divorce in Los Angeles after more than four years of marriage.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Fortune filed earlier this week, citing the usual “irreconcilable differences.” The breakup appears to be amicable -- and there won’t be any financial fireworks thanks to a prenup the couple had in place.

The pair tied the knot in a pandemic wedding back in October 2020, after dating for several years. But after nearly a decade together, things have quietly come to an end.

The man who allegedly shot and killed "King Of The Hill" voice actor Jonathan Joss confessed to the police right after the deadly attack ... bluntly stating, "I shot him," according to a police report.

The report, obtained by TMZ, gives a detailed account of what led up to Sunday's violent encounter outside Joss' home in Texas.

Police say it all started around 7 PM when a woman drove Joss from Austin to his old home in San Antonio to see if he had mail.

Dak Prescott has begun rebuilding in Texas ... TMZ Sports has learned construction on his new mansion in Prosper is now underway.

Check out these photos we obtained on Monday ... you can see multiple structures have been erected on the Prescott property that used to feature a multi-million-dollar house.

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback, of course, knocked it down back in October ... with the hopes of putting a more modern pad in its stead. And, as you can see, QB1's dream is clearly on its way to becoming a reality.

The Italian businessman who was allegedly kidnapped and tortured in NYC for nearly 3 weeks, wasn't always in distress during that period ... according to a bizarre video of him cooking crack in an air fryer.

TMZ obtained a 20-second clip, which seemingly illustrates a much different picture of Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan's alleged captivity in the SoHo townhome where police say John Woeltz and William Duplessie tortured him for 17 days. In the video, Carturan appears to be tied around the chest to a wheelchair, but his hands are free and he's smiling and joking with at least 3 other people in the room.

Carturan -- whose face we've blurred because he's an alleged victim -- is fiddling with an air fryer on a table, and you can hear a male voice say, "You're in a wheelchair cooking crack" ... and someone else says, "That's so whack."

NBA YoungBoy's tourmate EBK Jaaybo got arrested just days after their 45-show tour was announced, but fans can keep hope alive for now ... he's expected to be a free bird by then!!!

Sources connected to the tour tell TMZ Hip Hop that contrary to the popular internet rumors, EBK Jaaybo has NOT been dropped from the "Make America Slime Again" tour, and should be able to hop onstage come Sept. 2 when the tour kicks off in Dallas.

We confirmed the charges with Arkansas State Police -- EBK was popped on drugs, weapons, theft by receiving, and animal fighting/cruelty on May 18, and transported to the Pope County Detention Center ... where the Stockton, CA rapper is currently sitting on ice.

Jonathan Joss, the voice actor who portrayed John Redcorn on the animated TV show "King of the Hill," was shot dead Sunday evening, allegedly by a neighbor ... and now we know what the suspect looks like.

TMZ has obtained a copy of Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja's mug shot ... he was arrested Sunday about a block away from the shooting scene and charged with murder -- and is being held on $200K bond.

Police and eyewitnesses previously told TMZ ... the two men -- neighbors in San Antonio -- got into a heated argument before Ceja allegedly shot and killed Joss.

8:41 AM PT -- San Antonio PD tells TMZ ... Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja was arrested and charged with murder. Bond has been set at $200K.

Actor Jonathan Joss -- best known for his work in the animated series "King of the Hill" -- has died after being shot by a neighbor in Texas, TMZ has learned.

According to the San Antonio Police Dept. and eyewitnesses ... Joss got into a heated argument with his neighbor at a house on the city's south side Sunday night -- leading to a bloody confrontation.

Police say the unidentified neighbor whipped out a gun and pumped several bullets into the actor before fleeing in a vehicle. Officers responded to a call of a shooting in progress and received a description of the car.