Football

Florida high school football legend Sam Bruce -- who played briefly for the Miami Hurricanes -- has tragically died at 24 years old ... his former H.S. announced on Thursday.

In a post on the St. Thomas Aquinas football team's Facebook page, officials wrote, "R.I.P. Sam Bruce ! We Will Miss You and We Love You !"

Bruce's former 7-on-7 team, the South Florida Express, also confirmed the tragedy on Thursday ... writing in a tweet, "We are saddened to hear about the loss of one of the greatest players to ever come through SFE."

"Your infectious energy, and the ability to make anybody laugh will forever live in our hearts. We spoke with Sam's family, they just ask you to pray for their family during this time."

Further details surrounding Bruce's death have not yet been revealed.

Bruce was a superstar on the gridiron for Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas ... lighting up fields so often, he got the nickname, "The Samborghini."

Bruce eventually earned a four-star rating and received dozens of scholarship offers ... before he eventually signed with the Miami Hurricanes in 2016.

Bruce did not play in a game for the 'Canes, however, as he was dismissed for violations of team rules just months into his freshman season.

Bruce went on to attend Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. and Southeastern University ... and later played for the Indoor Football League. He said in 2021 that he had been involved in the making of the Kurt Warner biopic, "American Underdog."

Bruce's former teammates and others in the football world have been mourning his death on social media Thursday ... with Chad Johnson even posting a heartbroken emoji on his Twitter page.

The NFL Draft is here -- and since the big event is in Vegas this year, the draftees had to make sure their fashion game was on point ... and they certainly didn't disappoint!!

Aside from the picks and wild moves, the most talked about part of the night is always the swaggy 'fits these future superstars decide to wear when their names are called ... and lucky for you, we got the best looks all in one place.

Getting things started off is Cincinnati DB Ahmad Gardner who lived up to his nickname by rockin' a baby blue suit, white shirt and some bling that says "SAUCE" in all caps.

Utah Utes linebacker, Devin Lloyd, is photoshoot fresh with a black shirt and custom burgundy suit -- which appears to have different pictures of his career and personal highlights.

21-year-old Kayvon Thibodeaux hit the red carpet to chat with Hall of Famer Michael Irvin and Melissa Stark ... wearing a Dolce & Gabbana suit and shoes from Italy.

Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams is wearing a red suit with a white shirt ... and as for the feets, he's sportin' some red and white Louis Vuitton trainers.

FYI, on the G.O.A.T. app, the kicks Williams has on his feet cost about $5K.

Jermaine Johnson II, a defensive end for Florida State, pulled up to draft donning a smooth gold and black blazer with black pants and black loafers.

Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal has his hometown of Okeechobee in Florida literally woth him for his big moment ... with the city's name designed on the inside of his blazer.

USC star wideout Drake London has a flashy chain with his initials "DL" on it ... as he's wearing a burgundy suit with a white shirt and handkerchief

Sneakerheads brace yourselves ... Odell Beckham just put his Ohio crib on the market for $3.3 million -- and the walk-in closet looks just like Footlocker!

Take a look (the awesome video was shot by EZ Media) ... the 13,800-square-foot pad sits on 2.13 acres in Columbia Station -- 20 miles west of Cleveland -- and comes with 4 bedrooms, 7 baths, a huge kitchen and 3 car garage.

The two-story home comes has a whole bunch of entertainment with the club-like bar, movie theatre, golf simulator, game room that's big enough for a hockey rink, pool and Ping-Pong table plus a private one for live-stream gaming.

There's also a swimming pool with a slide and gym with a basketball hoop for outdoor fun.

But, what stood out the most was this insane custom-made walk-in closet that looks like a sneaker boutique with the outrageous amount of room for probably 100 pairs of kicks!

Well, OBJ is considered one of the best-dressed players in the game right now so it makes sense why he had this Footlocker-looking closet made.

This cool pad was listed this week by Megan Pettine of Keller Williams ... and has a $3.3 million price tag.

Of course, OBJ is officially giving O-H the deuces after the 3x Pro Bowler was released by the Cleveland Browns last November.

Beckham ended up signing a one-year deal worth up to $4.25 million with the Rams and won his first Super Bowl this year. He's currently a free agent.

Derek Stingley Jr. has clearly upgraded his drip ahead of the biggest day of his life ... the top NFL draft prospect is now rockin' a brand new, massive "STING" chain!!

The former LSU superstar -- who's expected to be selected with one of the first 10 picks Thursday night -- showed off the ice to TMZ Sports out at Splash lounge (owned by Jizzy Mack, Floyd Mayweather's TMT bodyguard) in Las Vegas on Wednesday night ... and it's awesome.

The pendant is huge -- almost the size of one of his pecs ... and the chain it's clasped to is covered in diamonds as well.

Stingley Jr. apparently got it in the last couple weeks as he prepped for the big NFL draft night ... because as recently as January, he was wearin' a much smaller version.

No word on what it cost Stingley Jr. to upgrade ... but the dude is about to be a multi-millionaire, so he can certainly afford it.

As for how he's feeling just hours before becoming an NFL player ... watch the clip, the cornerback obviously ain't nervous about much before his life changes forever.

Tom Brady can pick defenses apart and memorize every play in the book, but the G.O.A.T.'s kryptonite appears to be a movie script -- 'cause the NFL superstar joked about fumbling his lines while on set of his new flick, "80 for Brady."

TB12 was all smiles alongside his costars -- Rita Moreno, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Sally Field -- in a pic posted to Instagram on Thursday ... saying he's "so grateful for these legendary women and the entire team that’s working to bring this story to life."

As previously reported, "80 for Brady" -- made by Paramount and Endeavor -- follows a group of 4 friends who attend Super Bowl LI ... and it ends up being an unforgettable trip.

Brady is producing and acting in the project ... and according to the Buccaneers QB himself, it ain't going too great so far.

"How many times do you think I had to call for my lines?"

Of course, we're sure the 7-time champ is just messing around ... after all, he was incredible in "Ted 2."

Forget jewelry, cars and fancy booze ... top NFL draft prospect Ikem Ekwonu tells TMZ Sports he's gunnin' to buy a dope new pad as the first big purchase with his rookie money!!

The former N.C. State offensive lineman -- who's projected to be a top-five pick on Thursday night in Las Vegas -- says once the cash hits his bank account following the draft, he'll be looking to spend some of it on a new place.

"I'll find a nice place to stay," "Ickey" told us out in Vegas on Wednesday night. "Apartment, condo -- something."

Ekwonu will certainly have a lot of grandiose homes to choose from when the shopping begins ... because, after all, top-five picks in the draft make around $30 million on their initial deals.

As for where Ekwonu will be buying the land -- no one's sure yet ... some experts have him going to the Jacksonville Jaguars at #1 overall, and some have him going to the Houston Texans at #3.

Deebo Samuel should backpedal on trade requests and stay in San Francisco ... so says Dez Bryant -- who's advising the wideout to reconsider his future with the 49ers.

Dez explained his thoughts on the situation to TMZ Sports at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas on Wednesday night ... saying he believes Samuel might regret it if he is ultimately traded this offseason.

Bryant tells us he's concerned Samuel won't be used well in a system outside of San Francisco's -- and he's hopeful Deebo will see that and mend the fences with the Niners before they jettison him.

"If we strictly talking about football," Dez said, "I think the 49ers is a great place for him. Kyle Shanahan, he is a genius. He knows how to get you the ball. And, a lot of organizations don't know how to do that."

Don't get it twisted ... Dez says Deebo still deserves a massive contract -- and he tells us if he were runnin' the Niners, he'd have no problem cutting that fat check for the superstar receiver.

"Pay him what he wants," Bryant said. "Go ahead and pay him, because he deserves it."

Deebo, though, seems to be firm in his demands to leave the Bay Area -- in fact, over the weekend, he was seen making an "it's over" gesture regarding his Niners career while partying at a nightclub.

A sex worker in Nevada tells TMZ Sports she's so grateful for the revenue that the NFL Draft has brought her this month ... she wants to give Thursday's #1 overall pick a free "sex romp."

Roxanne Price -- a 27-year-old licensed sex worker -- tells us that Las Vegas escorts have taken a hit during the COVID pandemic ... but with the NFL draft coming to town this week, big money is finally starting to come back to the industry.

And, Price wants to thank the NFL for it all ... specifically by giving the draft's #1 overall pick this week top-notch service at the Chicken Ranch Brothel just outside of Las Vegas -- 100% free!

"The least I can do is offer the top draft pick the most valuable thing I possess, my premium erotic services at no charge," Price tells us. "It's my way of saying, 'Thank you' to the athletes that inspire us all."

Roxanne -- the 2017 Lover of the Year winner -- tells us her offer comes with a complimentary limo service and a promise to "cater to his fantasies."

And, if the #1 pick doesn't have time this weekend, Roxanne tells us he can schedule it for a future date.

FYI ... according to most mock drafts, the Jaguars will likely pick either Georgia pass rusher Travon Walker or Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson with the top pick.

Lamar Jackson is showing once again he's got MVP game both on the field and off of it ... surprising kids at his old elementary school on Wednesday with signed jerseys and books.

The Baltimore Ravens star pulled up to his former Cypress Elementary stomping grounds in Florida to deliver the gifts ... and in pics from his visit, you can see everyone was thrilled to hang with the quarterback.

Lamar personalized autographs on some of the Ravens jerseys he brought for the kids ... and he also handed out copies of his children's book, "I Dream, You Dream, Let Us Dream," which he wrote to inspire kids worldwide.

In addition to putting a smile on the kids' faces, Jackson also visited with his former first-grade teacher -- who he shared a warm embrace with.

Officials at the school were pumped over the QB's visit ... tweeting Wednesday afternoon, "It's a great day at Cypress when NFL Quarterback Lamar Jackson comes to give copies of his book to our students!"

Peyton Manning is helping Demaryius Thomas' legacy live on at Georgia Tech -- the Hall of Famer just announced he's establishing a scholarship program at GT ... all to benefit the hometown of his late friend and teammate.

The Broncos legend shared the news on Wednesday ... saying his family's PeyBack Foundation is partnering up with DT's alma mater to launch the Demaryius A. Thomas Scholarship Endowment.

"An important part of Demaryius' legacy was the way he inspired the next generation to pursue their dreams with the same perseverance and determination that defined him," Manning said.

The scholarships (full and partial) will be for students in Laurens County, Georgia -- where DT was born and raised -- who plan on attending Georgia Tech.

To be eligible, students must have a 3.2 or higher GPA in high school ... and involvement with community service. The scholarship covers students until they graduate -- as long as they maintain good grades.

"Through this scholarship to Georgia Tech, Demaryius will have a lasting impact on deserving youth from his hometown area who can follow in his footsteps and accomplish great things in life."

Manning and Thomas were teammates on the Denver Broncos from 2012 to 2015 ... and won Super Bowl XLI.

"Demaryius Thomas was an incredibly talented and unselfish teammate but more important, he was a special person and friend."

As we previously reported, Thomas was tragically found dead after going into "cardiac arrest" at his Georgia home last December.

NFL star Laremy Tunsil is turning one of the lowest moments of his life into potentially one of the best for someone ... announcing Wednesday he's making his infamous draft day gas mask bong video into an NFT for charity.

Tunsil said the non-fungible token was minted on Wednesday morning as a 1-of-1 ... adding that a portion of the proceeds that it nets will go toward The Last Prisoner project, an org designed to help those who were jailed for cannabis offenses.

In announcing the NFT, Tunsil said he hopes the sale and subsequent donation officially puts the day and the moment in his rearview mirror for good.

"I'm looking toward and excited for the future," the Houston Texans left tackle said, "and am grateful for all of those that supported me on my draft night and those that have and will continue to support my journey!"

If you're unfamiliar ... the video -- showing Tunsil smoking a substance out of a gas mask bong -- was posted to the football player's social media without his permission just minutes before the 2016 NFL Draft.

Tunsil was projected to be a high pick -- perhaps going as early as the top 5 -- before the video's release ... but after it got out, he tumbled to the Miami Dolphins at pick No. 13.

Tunsil has since gone on to have a stellar career -- he's made two Pro Bowls in six seasons -- but he's said the April 2016 night was one of his lowest moments.

"Probably one of the worst feelings I ever experienced in my life," Tunsil said in 2021 in a rare interview about the moment to Complex. "I don't wish that situation, that experience on nobody else."

Forget dumbbells and plates ... Aaron Donald's clearly found a better way to get jacked -- lift his wife, Erica!

The L.A. Rams star and his sweetheart revealed what a late-night sweat sesh looks like at the Donald household on Tuesday ... and, apparently, it features Aaron bench pressing Erica over and over again!!

Erica posted the footage of the impromptu workout to her social media page ... and it's pretty impressive -- on both of their ends!

In one of the clips, Erica can be seen carrying Aaron on her back. In another, Aaron -- in Fendi designer sweatpants -- can be seen benching Erica more than 10 times from the floor.

The couple then turned the training into a competition -- jokingly slapping each other's arms during a plank-off.

Of course, as impressive as the workout was for AD -- it's hardly the craziest thing we've seen the guy do when it comes to fitness ... remember when he benched 495 pounds?!?

Vince Wilfork's son, D'Aundre Holmes-Wilfork, pleaded guilty earlier this month to stealing Super Bowl rings and other prized possessions from the New England Patriots legend ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

According to court documents, Holmes-Wilfork pleaded guilty to felony theft of property greater than or equal to $300,000 as part of a plea deal that he struck with prosecutors on April 20.

Holmes-Wilfork received five years of deferred community supervision as part of the agreement ... meaning the conviction will essentially go away if he keeps his nose clean for the next five years and meets all the conditions of his probation.

As we previously reported, Holmes-Wilfork was initially charged in 2021 with stealing Vince's SB rings, AFC championship rings, 2001 Miami Hurricanes national championship ring and other jewelry.

At the time, authorities said Holmes-Wilfork took the jewelry and sold it without Vince's permission in 2020. According to authorities, police said Vince told them he believed the goods were worth around $400k.

Court records show the stolen jewelry was ordered on April 20 to be returned to Vince.

Great news for Rams fans ... star defensive tackle Aaron Donald purchased a $17 million Hidden Hills home after selling his old crib in Calabasas, so it sure looks like AD isn't leaving Los Angeles!!

Yes, Rams fans, breathe.

Of course, droves of Rams fans feared the future Hall of Famer was ready to retire when he sold his Calabasas mansion for $6.258 million a few weeks ago.

But, as it turns out ... the man was just upgrading (not that the OG house wasn't awesome) estates!!

Donald's new 12,000 square-foot pad features 8 bedrooms, 9 nine baths, a game room, movie theater, gym with a steam shower and sauna.

There's more ... the luxurious home includes a spacious living room with a fireplace and a private office for studying that playbook.

In fact, with AD's latest purchase, the 3-time defensive player of the year is basically neighbors with his Super Bowl-winning quarterback Matthew Stafford and head coach Sean McVay.

As if that wasn't enough, Donald's new residence -- which was originally constructed in 1983 -- has a four-car garage and an outdoor pool.

If there was ever any doubt that AD wasn't coming back -- and planned on hanging up his pads -- he now has 17 million reasons to play next season.

Sandro Dazzan and Cooper Mount of The Agency held the listing.

Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley might be done for real this time, 'cause after rekindling their romance a few months back, the A-list couple has reportedly broken up once again.

Remember, the couple briefly split in February -- after about two years of dating and an engagement -- but it didn't last long 'cause they were spotted out together shortly after ending the relationship.

38-year-old Rodgers took 30-year-old Woodley to teammate David Bakhtiari's California wedding at the beginning of March. The NFL MVP also shared a mushy Instagram post with the actress, thanking Shailene for showing him "what unconditional love looks like."

But, it seems it ultimately wasn't meant to be ... the couple has recently split, according to multiple reports.

Shailene reportedly wanted to make the relationship work, but soon realized after getting back together that everything had to be on Aaron's terms ... and that didn't work for her.

The couple started dating shortly after the Packers QB and Danica Patrick broke up in 2020. Aaron shocked his fans at the beginning of 2021 when he announced he'd popped the question to Woodley.

Somebody is about to live like a Super Bowl champ -- one lucky buyer just copped Cooper Kupp's California mansion for $5.25 million!!

The 6,893 square-foot property is located in the mountainous area of Westlake Village, CA -- almost 40 miles west of downtown Los Angeles.

The pad has 5 bedrooms and 6 1/2 baths ... and features an all-white kitchen, a game room, gym and library. The mansion also has a luxurious gas-heated pool and spa in the backyard, which will be perfect for the new buyer's guests to come and party.

The estate -- listed with Barbara Preston of Coldwell Banker Realty -- just sold this week for the asking price of $5,250,000.

But, don't panic, Rams fans -- this sale doesn't mean the Super Bowl MVP is on his way outta L.A. Remember, the wide receiver signed a 3-year extension in 2020 ... so he's staying put for a bit.