Football

Damar Hamlin is continuing to make steps in his road to returning to NFL action -- on Tuesday, the defensive back got in some work at Bills practice ... and he looked GOOD!!!

Just over four months after he went into cardiac arrest on the field during a "Monday Night Football" game ... Hamlin was out at Buffalo's organized team activities -- and while he didn't fully participate in the practice, he still showed off some athleticism at the workout nonetheless.

According to reporters on the scene, Hamlin did some calisthenics with his teammates, got in some agility work ... and even hit some drills with his fellow DBs.

Video from the sidelines shows the guy doesn't appear to have lost a step at all since his Jan. 2 medical episode ... he caught the ball with ease and flashed some big-time burst.

Following the practice, Bills head coach Sean McDermott insisted Hamlin didn't do a whole lot on the field ... telling reporters they're taking things very slowly with the 25-year-old.

"We're taking it one day at a time and just support Damar in every way possible," McDermott said.

For now, there's no public timetable for an official return to practices -- or games, for that matter -- for the Bills safety ... though docs have cleared him to play, and it seems like only a matter of time before he's got a helmet and shoulder pads strapped on.

Foster Moreau is back doing what he loves ... the Saints tight end took the field for New Orleans offseason workouts on Tuesday -- the first time he's been able to practice since his March cancer diagnosis.

The 26-year-old participated in Day 1 of the Saints' organized team activities ... and he looked like he hasn't lost a step whatsoever.

The former Raider caught balls, ran crisp routes ... and got in some blocking work too.

Of course, he spent a lot of the afternoon snagging passes from new Saints quarterback Derek Carr ... and the former Las Vegas teammates sure appeared to have some great chemistry.

Saints head coach Dennis Allen spoke with reporters following the workout about Foster -- who signed a three-year, $12 million deal with New Orleans earlier this month -- and he praised the tight end, saying the guy "looks good physically."

The whole scene is pretty incredible ... considering in early March, doctors discovered Moreau had Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the body's immune system.

Jalen Ramsey is saying goodbye to both L.A.'s football team this year AND the insane mansion he called home in the city ... TMZ Sports has learned he's put his pad up for sale following his trade to the Dolphins.

The former Rams cornerback -- with the help of Compass agent Lee Mintz -- just listed the property on Monday for $13,995,000 ... and while it's a hefty price tag, it ain't hard to see that it's definitely worth it.

The home, located in the swanky Hidden Hills, has seven bedrooms, eight and a half bathrooms ... and comes with its own basketball court and sauna.

It's also got a theatre room, a wine room, and an insane fitness room.

The backyard also has a luxury pool, a newly built guest house -- and plenty of incredible landscaping. There's even an area in the yard to train for uphill sprints!!

The 28-year-old, who initially bought the place from Howie Mandel in 2020 for $9.5 million, sure didn't seem thrilled to have to part ways with the home ... saying in a statement Monday, "It is tough coming to terms with selling it because I do love it."

"You can relax, play basketball, be healthy, workout," he added, "you can do it all here."

Of course, Ramsey doesn't have much use for the place these days ... after being traded to Miami back in March -- he won't be needing to be in L.A. too often for the foreseeable future.

Univ. of New Mexico tight end Jaden Hullaby, who started his collegiate football career at the Univ. of Texas, has tragically died at just 21 years old.

Hullaby's family said in a statement on social media on Sunday that they had feared for his safety ... after they hadn't been able to make contact with him since last Thursday. He was last seen on a freeway in Dallas, the family said.

In an update on Monday -- Hullaby's brother, Landon, announced the UNM athlete had sadly passed away.

"Forever living through you big brudda," Landon wrote. "I love you so much and I got you and the family forever I swear get your rest King 🕊💔 LLJAY"

No other details surrounding his death have been revealed.

UNM said in a statement following the news that it was praying for "Jaden’s family and all who knew him." UT head coach Steve Sarkisian added in a statement of his own that he and the Longhorns were heartbroken as well.

"He was a great person and someone we all enjoyed being around, coaching and spending time with," Sarkisian said. "All of our thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates, and we want to send our deepest condolences to them in such a difficult time."

Hullaby was a touted running back prospect in the Longhorns' 2020 class who switched to linebacker when he got to the Austin campus. He played in just two games in his two seasons for the school ... before he transferred to UNM prior to the 2022 season.

In his one year with the Lobos, he played tight end, and piled up 44 receiving yards and 59 rushing yards in eight games.

Tom Brady is one step closer to going from under center to overseeing a team ... the ex-quarterback has reportedly struck a deal with Mark Davis to buy a piece of the Raiders.

The future of Hall of Famer and the Las Vegas owner had been in talks for weeks about a potential agreement ... but according to NFL insider Albert Breer, the deal is now done.

All that's needed for TB12 to be referred to as Owner Brady going forward is an approval from at least 24 of the league's other owners. Breer reported Monday that vote will not happen in the spring, but is expected to happen soon.

If and when the move becomes official ... Brady will reportedly not have a say in the team's business or football affairs -- though FOX's Jay Glazer still told us earlier this month he expects the future Hall of Famer to have a huge impact on the org. nonetheless.

Of course, this would not be Brady's first foray into sports ownership ... he's already a Major League Pickleball Team owner -- and he's got a part of Davis' WNBA team, the Las Vegas Aces, as well.

The XFL is bringing back their HBCU Showcase ... the league announced they're hosting a tryout at Clark Atlanta University in Georgia this June, and are hoping to find a bunch of players for the upcoming season!

On Monday, the professional football league revealed the showcase will be open to all HBCU athletes on June 17 at the ATL campus, where league hopefuls can display their skills in front of scouts.

"When the XFL says it’s a 'League of Opportunity,’ we mean it and you can see it in the actions we take to offer equal opportunities to players across the country," XFL Senior VP Doug Whaley said.

"This showcase at the historic Clark Atlanta University allows us to shine a spotlight on HBCU players and give them a chance to showcase their skills for our personnel evaluators."

The XFL -- which was purchased by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and business partner Dany Garcia for $15 million in 2020 -- held their first HBCU showcase last year at Jackson State University ... and 100 players from historically black colleges and universities played in the 2023 season.

D.C. Defenders head coach Reggie Barlow -- who coached at two HBCUs before moving to the XFL -- said the league is doing a great job when it comes to creating opportunities for athletes outside of Division I schools, and he's proud to be a part of it.

"I know firsthand the number of talented players that attend a historically Black school who aren’t able to continue their careers past the collegiate level," Barlow said.

"I’m humbled to be part of a League that gives players – and coaches – of all backgrounds an opportunity to continue their football careers."

The NFL also welcomes HBCU athletes ... in fact, last year 33 players from HBCUs were on 17 teams last year.

Kroy Biermann says his estranged wife, Kim Zolciak, spends so much time gambling their money away online, she can't take care of their kids ... and now he's asking the judge to order a mental evaluation for her.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Kroy says Kim's been showing some "very troubling behavior" that's accelerated in the months leading up to their divorce.

Kroy claims Kim has admitted to him that she's spending a lot of time and money on online gambling and other games of chance, and he claims her "compulsion" has devastated the family financially.

What's more, Kroy claims Kim is so consumed with online gambling she's unable to properly care for the couple's four minor children ... and as a result, he says he's concerned for the kiddos' safety and well-being.

Kroy says it's in the best interest of their kids for Kim to sit for a psych exam ... he suspects her alleged gambling problem may be the result of underlying mental health issues like depression, anxiety, narcissistic personality disorder, bipolar disorder or ADHD.

TMZ broke the story ... Kim and Kroy are deep in the hole, owing more than $1 million to the IRS.

The divorce is getting uglier by the day ... Kroy's legal papers come on the heels of Kim asking a judge to step in and force Kroy to get a drug test.

As we first reported ... both Kim and Kroy filed separate divorce petitions earlier this month, and they are both seeking custody of the kids ... and the recent filings indicate things are getting nasty.

Oakland A's fans won't like this ... but ex-MLB star Adrián González tells TMZ Sports he believes relocating the team to Las Vegas would be "a great move" for the franchise.

The Athletics appear to be on their way out of the Bay Area after partnering this week with Bally's Corporation to build a potential new stadium right on The Strip ... and González said in L.A. he likes the idea of it all.

The former Dodgers first baseman tells us seeing the success of the NHL's Golden Knights, the WNBA's Aces and the NFL's Raiders leads him to believe the MLB would thrive in Sin City as well.

"Vegas is doing really well with sporting teams," he said.

Of course, there's still a chance the A's could remain in Northern California ... the team is reportedly asking for around $400 million of public funding to help build the new Vegas stadium -- but if Nevada lawmakers shut that request down, the franchise could possibly explore options to stay put.

One man that would certainly be thrilled about that is A's legend Dave Stewart, who told us last month he's hoping for "a miracle" to keep the team in Oakland.

If the sports TV biz somehow doesn't work out for Pat McAfee ... he's got a HUGE future as a WWE wrestler -- at least, that's according to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who gushed over the former NFL punter's work in the squared circle earlier this week.

The Texas Rattlesnake couldn't have heaped more praise on the 36-year-old when talking to us about the ex-Indianapolis Colt ... saying the guy simply has a sky-high ceiling in the WWE if he would ever join the org. full-time.

Austin, of course, would know a thing or two about the topic ... not only is he a WWE legend himself -- but he got a firsthand look at the way McAfee worked in the ring at WrestleMania 38 last year, and he was blown away.

"Pat has a natural feel for the business," Stone Cold said. "Epic performer. Great on the stick. Athletically, that match he had with [Austin] Theory was awesome."

Austin also had big praise for the way McAfee took his "Stone Cold" Stunner during their wild, beer-filled meetup in the 'Mania 38 ring.

In fact, Stone Cold said it was one of the three most memorable Stunners he's ever performed.

"I think he's amazing," Austin said of McAfee. "He's very entertaining. And, as a human being, I like him a whole lot."

McAfee, though, appears to be all-in on his television career at the moment ... his "The Pat McAfee Show" has taken off -- gaining so much popularity, it was actually just acquired by ESPN.

New York Jets star Sauce Gardner will never forget Jessica Alba now ... 'cause just a couple weeks after he didn't know who she was during a Knicks game meetup -- he scored some custom cleats with her face all over them!!!

Sauce got the feet heat this week from artist Mike Jordan ... who thought it was absolutely hilarious that the NFL defensive back couldn't recognize her while the two were at Game 2 of the Heat-Knicks playoff series with Aaron Rodgers.

If you missed it, Sauce revealed two days after his Madison Square Garden man-date with his new QB that he truly had no knowledge of the actress as she sat right near him in a courtside seat. In fact, he said Rodgers made fun of him for it all night.

Jordan tells TMZ Sports ... he wanted to commemorate the funny ordeal by drawing up some Alba-themed kicks for the 22-year-old cornerback.

On one of the Nike Vapor spikes, Jordan featured a depiction of Alba in her movie "Honey." On the other, he drew Alba from her Susan Storm role in the "Fantastic Four."

Jordan says both shoes took a few days to complete ... and he ultimately ended up dropping them off for Sauce at the Jets' facility on Tuesday.

"I wanted to do something fun," Jordan said of the spikes. "I hope Jessica likes them, too."

Jim Brown, arguably the greatest football player of all time, has died at the age of 87, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

"It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my husband, Jim Brown," Monique Brown tells us. "He passed away peacefully last night at our L.A. home. To the world he was an activist, actor and football star."

"To our family, he was a loving and wonderful husband, father and grandfather. Our hearts are broken."

We're told Jim hadn't been doing well ... and was recently visited by several of his close friends including Marshall Faulk, Eric Dickerson and Flavor Flav.

Brown, a first-round pick in 1957 (6th overall), went on to win 3 NFL MVP awards. Jim was named to 8 First Team All-Pro teams over the course of his incredible career. He led the NFL in rushing 8 times, and rushing touchdowns, 5. He won a championship in 1964.

Aside from his prowess on the football field, Brown was also a legendary lacrosse player at Syracuse, where he earned All-American honors.

After his athletic career, Jim went on to star as a Hollywood actor ... in films like "The Dirty Dozen" and "Any Given Sunday."

In addition to his incredible athleticism and talent on the big screen, Jim was also one of the most prominent voices on the civil rights scene.

Brown held the Cleveland Summit in June 1967, in support of Muhammad Ali, who refused to serve in the Vietnam War.

Brown was joined by Bill Russell and Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), and others.

The Cleveland Browns released a statement on Friday ... saying, "Legend. Leader. Activist. Visionary."

"It's impossible to describe the profound love and gratitude we feel for having the opportunity to be a small piece of Jim’s incredible life and legacy. We mourn his passing, but celebrate the indelible light he brought to the world."

"Our hearts are with Jim’s family, loved ones, and all those he impacted along the way."

Brown, whose #32 was retired by the Browns, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971 ... and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995. He's also a member of the Lacrosse HOF.

Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim Porter also spoke on Brown's passing ... saying, "When Jim Brown’s name was announced in a room, other Hall of Famers stood and applauded him."

"His persona has stood the test of time -- a fearless and dominant football player. Jim will always be remembered as one of pro football’s greatest individuals."

Brown was last seen out in public during Super Bowl weekend ... appearing at the NFL Honors ceremony, where Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders announced the league's annual rushing trophy would be named in his honor.

Flav shared a picture with Brown from that night in his tribute to the legend ... saying, "Today, I lost my mentor and hero. RIP Jim Brown. My deepest sympathies to your wife, Monique and your entire family."

LeBron James also shared a touching post in Brown's honor ... saying, "We lost a hero today. Rest in Paradise to the legend Jim Brown."

"I hope every Black athlete takes the time to educate themselves about this incredible man and what he did to change all of our lives. We all stand on your shoulders Jim Brown."

Brown's life off the field was not without controversy -- he was arrested over numerous allegations of violence against women spanning several decades. He was charged with rape, sexual battery and assault in 1985, although the case was later dismissed.

Brown was also busted for smashing the windows of his wife's car in 1999 ... and served three months behind bars after skipping mandatory domestic violence counseling.

R.I.P.

We discussed Jim Brown's legacy in a recent episode of the Last Days Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

A man begged cops over and over again at the scene of the Henry Ruggs car crash in Las Vegas to get help for the ex-NFL star "ASAP" ... newly released police video shows.

In the footage, which was captured on Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept. officers' body cameras just after Ruggs had crashed his Corvette into Tina Tintor's Toyota on Nov. 2, 2021, you can see one of the people at the scene of the fiery wreck was desperate to get aid for Ruggs.

Repeatedly, the man can be heard on camera telling a cop to have medical personnel rush to Ruggs quickly ... as 23-year-old Tintor and her dog were dying in a blaze just feet away.

"I know somebody probably in there," the man said of Tintor's Rav4, "but this is Henry Ruggs right here. This is Henry Ruggs right here. He plays for the Raiders. He needs help ASAP."

An officer told the guy to calm down ... but he continued to plead for aid for the former wide receiver as cops surveyed the crash site.

"Hey, look, he plays for the Raiders," the man repeated. "He needs help ASAP, bro."

Eventually, a cop told the man and others at the scene medical responders were on their way to Ruggs, who was sitting on the street near a curb.

The video also shows just how horrifying the crash was -- in the clip, you can hear explosions coming from Tintor's vehicle as it burned in the middle of the roadway.

After the scene had been cleared, cops were seen on video discussing the crash ... with one officer saying he believed he could see skid marks and debris several yards away from where the two vehicles came to a stop following the collision.

As we reported, Ruggs was ultimately hit with five charges over his role in the crash ... after authorities alleged he had been traveling at 156 MPH while drunk just moments before he slammed into Tintor.

Ruggs, 24, reached an agreement with prosecutors to close out the case earlier this month ... pleading guilty to one felony count of a DUI resulting in death and one misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter. In exchange, the rest of the charges against Ruggs were dropped.

Tom Brady and Travis Scott are sharing some of their immense wisdom ... mentoring a group of star rookie quarterbacks including #1 overall pick, Bryce Young, as they transition from college to the pros.

TB12 and La Flame both found the time to attend a luncheon hosted by Michael Rubin at his L.A. home ... where the trio gave all kinds of advice on business and brand building to CJ Stroud, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson, in addition to Young.

Video shows Brady telling the guys not to be discouraged, even in the face of adversity, a window into how the 7x Super Bowl champion overcome failure during his legendary career.

Tom also shared one of the keys to his longevity, saying he didn't get complacent with his early success, remembering he was selected No.199 in the sixth round. That allowed him to play more than 20 seasons.

"I just outlasted everybody," Brady said. "There's another me back there. So how do I keep my edge on everybody? I had to keep working. I didn't go, 'Hey, I'm good. I won three Super Bowls.'"

Rubin's message to the guys was simple ... mistakes are a part of the process, but don't let them stress you out ... saying it's all about how you bounce back.

"Every day we're screwing things up," Rubin said. "We've just got to get a lot more right than wrong and keep learning from it ... The tougher s*** gets, the more focused I am."

As for Travis, he drilled home the importance of Young, Stroud, Richardson, and Levis having a core group of people they can rely on daily, and hold them accountable.

New England Patriots player Ty Montgomery is providing a life-changing opportunity to a group of former foster kids this summer ... sending them to Israel for what is being described as a "transformative experience."

TMZ Sports is told -- the wide receiver will send 11 foster care alumni to the Holy Land for a 10-day Jerusalem Encounter tour ... with the intent to give them some guidance right as they adjust to living on their own.

The trip will include a tour of Israel, reading the Bible, and getting a better understanding of the history behind their faith ... something Montgomery did back in 2022.

Of course, the cause means a lot to Montgomery ... whose mother, Lisa, raised foster kids throughout his childhood.

Montgomery spoke about his decision to help out ... saying, "I want to send these people to Israel because God has asked me to, and I believe this experience will transform their lives."

"Those who have been in the foster care system will always hold a special place in my heart. I know the love they need. I saw it firsthand as my mom raised 17 foster youth alongside me."

"What better way to impact the lives of those exiting foster care than providing this experience of a lifetime."

Montgomery is hoping to make the trip an annual thing through his charity My 10 Percent ... and has already gotten financial support from NASCAR stars Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace to help the cause.

Antonio Brown might be taking matters into his own hands to help his struggling National Arena League team ... 'cause the former Pro Bowl receiver is considering unretiring to play for the Albany Empire.

Brown's tenure as a team owner has gotten off to a shaky start ... with the two-time defending champions struggling to get wins and put butts in seats at home games.

But, AB is now looking into solving both problems in one swift motion by dusting off his helmet and cleats ... because a rep for the former Pittsburgh Steelers star says he could possibly become a player-owner as soon as May 27 when the Empire host the Fayetteville Mustangs.

"He wants his team to win and give the community a good show," the rep tells us. "But, we will see."

TMZ Sports spoke with NAL commissioner Chris Siegfried about the "Put That S*** On" rapper's potential plans ... and he says Brown has not submitted a player contract to the league offices just yet.

If Brown does file the paperwork, we're told he has the league's support if he so chooses to play.

We also asked if there were any restrictions that would keep AB from playing while he holds ownership (some leagues like the NBA have a rule against it) ... and Siegfried pointed out the pretty unique circumstances, considering the NAL hasn't had an owner with Brown's youth and athletic abilities in the past.

Brett Favre is speaking out after months of silence ... and while he only briefly addressed the Mississippi welfare scandal, the Hall of Famer talked politics, flat out saying the U.S. was better off under President Trump.

"I think Donald was a non-political president, and I liked that about him," Favre told Jason Whitlock in a lengthy conversation Tuesday on the TV personality's "Fearless" podcast. "Was he perfect? Absolutely not. Am I perfect? Absolutely not. I'm flawed just like the rest of 'em. We're all flawed. But, I really felt like he had our country in a better place and really cared about our people in our country."

"Black, white, Hispanic, Asian -- you name it," the former Packers quarterback continued. "I think if you were an American citizen, he cared about you, first and foremost. I don't know if our current president has the same mentality."

It's no secret the NFL legend is a supporter of #45 ... something Brett told Jason has seriously hurt his checkbook.

"It's cost me money," Favre admitted.

The former Green Bay signal-caller also talked about one of the most polarizing issues in the country, transgender people ... a topic which Favre feels strongly about.

During the chat with Whitlock, he said, "To think that a young man who identifies as a girl, I don't understand -- just hear me out -- can go into a girl's bathroom and use the restroom with girls, and for us to think that's OK, I think is wrong. I'm sorry."

He went on to agree with Whitlock's opinion that transgender women shouldn't be allowed to compete against biological females in sporting events.

As for his alleged role in the Mississippi welfare scandal -- where he's been accused of working with government officials to obtain $5 million from welfare funds to build a volleyball facility at Southern Miss. -- Favre said he couldn't speak much about it due to a gag order.

He did say, though, he's looking forward to openly speaking about it all soon.