Football

Josh McDaniels out ... Andre Rison in?!?

The ex-NFL star says if he had things his way, that'd absolutely be the case in Las Vegas ... telling TMZ Sports he "would love to" be the next head coach of the Raiders.

"[Mark Davis] knows that," the former Raiders wideout said. "And, I think the whole world knows it as well."

It might sound farfetched to some ... but Rison has quietly been working to be the honcho of a major football team for years.

The 55-year-old tells us over a decade ago he began the process of learning the coaching ropes alongside Deion Sanders ... and now, he clearly believes he's ready to take over the headset at a bigtime program.

Rison says turning around his alma mater, Michigan State, would be ideal ... but replacing McDaniels in Vegas is also a dream of his.

"It would be a great opportunity," Rison said, "a great chance to not only show the world, but show myself the dedication I have given in the coaching game."

For now, linebackers coach Antonio Pierce is getting the first crack at the Vegas gig ... but in the offseason, Mark Davis is expected to conduct a wide-ranging search for McDaniels' permanent replacement.

Taylor Swift salió para tener una cita de viernes por la noche en Nueva York, pero no fue exactamente con su galán de la NFL Travis Kelce, estuvo, en cambio, con su amiga y músico Phoebe Bridgers.

Taylor llegó a la famosa taberna Minetta en Greenwich Village para comer algo con Bridgers, mientras Kelce se prepara para un partido de fútbol en Alemania.

Taylor se veía estilosa en su atuendo de otoño, luciendo un suéter de color canela, pantalones marrones y tacones gruesos. Phoebe fue toda de negro, lo que contrasta con su brillante pelo plateado, que la destaca de la multitud.

El propietario de Minetta Tavern, Keith McNally, dijo más tarde a los medios que Taylor y Phoebe comieron ostras al horno y foie Gras amouse bouche. McNally señaló que a Taylor "realmente le gustaba" el foie Gras.

Después de la cena, las chicas se fueron, pero no antes de que Swift posara con el chef. A Taylor realmente le debe haber encantado el foie gras.

Pero no tanto como su novio Travis, que este domingo jugará con los Kansas City Chiefs contra los Miami Dolphins en Alemania.

Travis fue interrogado acerca de su relación con Taylor durante una conferencia de prensa el viernes en Frankfurt antes del partido.

Cuando un reportero le preguntó por una actualización de su romance, Travis dijo: "El último estado es que fui a verla la semana pasada". El periodista también quiso saber si estaba enamorado de Taylor, a lo que el jugador respondió: "Voy a mantener mi relación personal como algo personal".

Taylor Swift went out for Friday date night in NYC, but it wasn't with her hunky NFL beau Travis Kelce ... linking up instead with fellow musician Phoebe Bridgers.

Taylor arrived at the famed Minetta Tavern in Greenwich Village to grab some grub with Bridgers last evening -- while Kelce was prepping for a football game in Germany.

Taylor looked stylish in her autumn attire, sporting a tan sweater, brown dress pants and chunky heels. Phoebe was wearing all black, which contrasted with her bright silver hair, making her stand out in the crowd.

Minetta Tavern owner Keith McNally later told the media ... Taylor and Phoebe noshed on baked oysters and foie Gras amouse bouche. McNally noted Taylor "really liked" the foie Gras.

After supper, Taylor and Phoebe left the restaurant, but not before Swift posed for photos with the chef. Taylor must have really loved that foie Gras!!

But, not as much as she digs her boyfriend Travis, who will be playing with the Kansas City Chiefs against the Miami Dolphins in Germany this Sunday.

Travis was grilled about his relationship with Taylor during a Friday press conference in Frankfurt ahead of the game.

When a reporter asked for an update on their romance, Travis said, "The latest status is, ‘I got to see her last week.'" The journalist also wanted to know if Travis was in love with Taylor, and the tight end replied, ‘I’m going to keep my personal relationship personal.'”

Ex-NFL star Devin Funchess is keeping his hoop dreams alive ... telling TMZ Sports he's still hoping to suit up for an NBA team -- and he's putting in the work nonstop to make it happen!!

29-year-old Funchess made headlines last year ... revealing after five seasons on the gridiron, he wanted to take his talents to the hardwood.

We caught up with the 6'4", 225-pound athlete about how the process is going this week ... and it's safe to say he's dead set on making it to the Association.

In fact, he's putting his skills to the test with California's Statham Academy squad in the Asia Basket Dasmariñas Tournament in the Philippines this weekend (DF dropped 10 points, grabbed 7 boards, and had 4 blocks in their first game).

"My end goal is the NBA, get a few seasons over there just like I did in the NFL. Just to be able to compete against the best players in the world, that'll be a blessing to me. I've done it in the football realm already. And it's nothing but dedication, repetition and just having fun."

Devin -- who first dunked a basketball when he was 10 -- has been working with NBA trainers to hone his craft ... and played against pros like Michael Beasley, Amar'e Stoudemire and John Wall.

Funchess explains his unique experience as a football veteran will help bring experience to a squad -- even though he'd technically be a rookie.

But he's not looking to come in the league and be LeBron James -- Funchess says he's just looking to make an impact and help teams win.

Of course, basketball was Devin's first love ... but after an issue with his coach in his junior season of high school ball, he switched his focus to football. He went on to play at Michigan before suiting up for the Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Justyn Ross allegedly roughed up his girlfriend, broke her stuff ... and then knifed her Mercedes during an altercation that led to his arrest last week.

The allegations are all spelled out in newly released court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports.

In the docs -- an affidavit -- prosecutors say cops told them the incident between Ross and his girlfriend happened in Johnson County, Kansas on Oct. 23 ... after the football player allegedly found out the woman had been cheating on him.

According to the documents, the woman told cops that after Ross viewed her phone ... he got in her face, pushed her, threw her to the floor, and then began throwing objects at her. The docs say the woman was seen with "a small scratch" on her hand following the incident.

Officials say the woman also told cops Ross broke several of her items during the confrontation, including jewelry, a cell phone, a laptop and her Mercedes key.

The docs also note that two neighbors say they witnessed Ross push the woman ... as well as "run a knife across" the woman's vehicle.

According to the docs, however, Ross told cops he had thrown the woman's stuff out the door after he found out she was cheating him. He allegedly admitted to breaking a computer -- though he claimed it was his. He denied breaking anything else that belonged to the woman, the docs state.

As we reported, Ross was ultimately arrested over the allegations and charged with one count of domestic battery with no priors as well as one count of criminal damage of less than $1,000. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at a hearing on Oct. 24. He's due to appear before a judge once again on Dec. 4.

As for his football career, he was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List on Oct. 27, which means he's not currently allowed to play in games or practice with the Chiefs ... though he can still attend meetings and get any necessary medical treatment while his criminal case plays out.

Travis Kelce didn't seem to be too keen on answering questions about Taylor Swift while out in Germany on Friday ... especially when the inquires turned to whether or not he was "in love" with his new girlfriend.

Kelce sat down with media members out in Frankfurt to preview the Chiefs' Sunday international game against the Dolphins ... when suddenly, one reporter began prodding the tight end about his latest romantic partner.

First, the journalist wanted a relationship update ... which Kelce kind of gave.

"The latest status is I got to see her last week," he said with a smile. "That's the latest status right there."

Then, the questioner asked straight up, "Are you in love?"

Kelce, however, dodged the question like it was a linebacker in the middle of a football field.

"I'm going to keep my personal relationship personal," he said.

The Swift questions didn't end there, though ... because just before Kelce got off the podium, one reporter wanted to know if Swift would be in attendance for the big game against Miami at Deutsche Bank Park.

But, as he did with the previous questions, Kelce sidestepped the inquiry as well.

Of course, we shoulda seen this one coming ... after all, Kelce promised a few weeks ago he was going to keep his relationship with Taylor a little more under wraps -- and while he's bent the rules here and there, it seems he's done now.

Travis Kelce no parecía muy dispuesto a responder preguntas sobre Taylor Swift, en  su paso por Alemania este viernes, especialmente cuando las preguntas apuntaron a si estaba o no "enamorado" de su nueva novia.

Kelce se sentó con los representantes de los medios en Frankfurt para abordar el partido internacional del domingo entre los Chiefs y los Dolphins, cuando de repente, un reportero comenzó a preguntarle sobre su último romance.

En primer lugar, el periodista quería una actualización de la relación, que Kelce más o menos le entregó.

"El último estado es que fui a verla la semana pasada", dijo con una sonrisa. "Ese es el último estado, ahí mismo".

Entonces, el reportero le preguntó directamente: "¿Estás enamorado?".

Kelce, sin embargo, esquivó la pregunta como si fuera un linebacker en medio del campo.

"Voy a mantener mi relación personal, personal", dijo.

Pero las preguntas sobre Swift no acabaron ahí porque justo antes de que Kelce se bajara del podio, un reportero quiso saber si Swift asistiría al gran partido contra Miami en el Deutsche Bank Park.

Pero como lo hizo con el resto del interrogatorio, también eludió la pregunta.

Por supuesto, debimos haberlo previsto, después de todo, Kelce prometió hace unas semanas que iba a mantener su relación con Taylor un poco más en secreto, y aunque ha flexibilizado las reglas de vez en cuando, parece que ahora sí dejará de hacerlo.

Even though Nick Saban might look like he got into a fight with Francis Ngannou this week ... he revealed Thursday his eye is actually busted up because he's been screaming too much.

Many had been wondering what was wrong with the 72-year-old coach after he had been spotted in public multiple times this week with an eyeball seemingly full of blood.

Pat McAfee even joked with the Alabama honcho during his appearance on the "Pat McAfee Show" early Thursday morning -- asking if the seven-time national champion had suffered an injury squatting too much.

Initially, Saban said he had no idea what was wrong ... but during his hit on his weekly radio show on Thursday night, he announced it was simply a wound he got from yelling at his Crimson Tide players.

"[The doctor] comes to see me after practice today," Saban said. "And, he looks at me and he said, 'You been coughing?' And I said, 'No.' And he said, 'You know, you can get this from yelling.'"

"He said, 'You got it from yelling. There's nothing wrong with you. You just got it from yelling. You busted a blood vessel in your eye from yelling too much.'"

Saban and his cohosts got in a good laugh over it all ... with Nick even joking of his appearance, "It looks like I've been in a gang fight and my gang didn't show."

Saban should be fine going forward ... as the Mayo Clinic describes the issue as a "harmless" one that should subside in just a few days.

Tennessee Titans star Treylon Burks was strapped to a backboard and carted off the field after suffering a scary injury during Thursday night's game ... but, thankfully, he now appears to be doing OK.

The terrifying moment happened late in the fourth quarter of Tennessee's tilt with the Steelers in Pittsburgh ... when Burks attempted to make a circus catch to keep a late-game Titans drive alive.

The 23-year-old jumped up for the ball, grabbed it with two hands ... but when he came crashing to the grass, it slipped from his grasp as his head and neck slammed violently into the ground.

Burks lay motionless for several moments ... before trainers and medical personnel rushed to stabilize him.

The wide receiver -- a former first-round pick -- was eventually taken to the locker room ... where Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said he was showing positive signs of recovery.

"He's alert, moving," Vrabel told reporters after the game. "I'll have more of an update hopefully tomorrow, but he's back there being evaluated. But, I would say that the way it looked -- it's probably better than how it looked."

Texas Tech security didn't have to worry about fans invading the football field on Thursday night -- but they did have to deal with an opossum storming the pitch ... and the animal was sure pissed off when guards wouldn't let it continue its jaunt.

The wild scene played out at the end of the first quarter of the Red Raiders' game against TCU in Lubbock, Texas ... when an opossum somehow broke into Jones AT&T Stadium and made its way onto the field.

Broadcast cameras showed the marsupial got to the 15-yard line ... before security went to chase it down so play could resume.

Eventually, officials were able to corral it with an animal snare pole ... but you can see, the little beast was not pleased at all to be detained. In fact, it hissed and showed its teeth the entire time that it was being dragged away.

The opossum was ultimately removed from the stadium ... and the game went on -- but after TTU was able to beat TCU, 35-28, its fans asked to keep the critter!!

"Our lucky possum!!!" one Red Raiders supporter wrote on social media.

Seems the school is at least somewhat open to the idea ... its president was actually seen petting the opossum following the incident -- and the team ended up making a pic of the little guy its background image on X.

BMW's ready to come-a-knockin' for Kroy Biermann's luxury whip ... the company's asking a judge to let it take back a Rolls-Royce he allegedly hasn't paid for in over a year.

According to the new docs, obtained by TMZ, Kroy failed to respond to BMW within the allotted time ... after the company filed, months ago, for a writ of possession. That's legal-ese for ... we're ready to repo the damn car!

With Kroy going radio silent, BMW wants the judge to give 'em the green light to get the car back from the former NFL linebacker.

TMZ broke the story, BMW sued Kroy in June for allegedly missing his lease payments on the $400,100 luxury SUV.

The docs claimed he owed $5,297.64 per month from July 2020 to July 2023 -- totaling a whopping $190,715.04 -- but the company says his last payment was in September 2022.

Don't forget, the repo request comes as Kroy and Kim Zolciak are deep in the hole financially amid their messy divorce.

The 2 recently asked a judge to push pause on the foreclosure of their mansion -- adding the scheduled November 7 auction going through will mean they will suffer "irreparable injury to the marital estate depleting it in its entirety."

Big Boi's performance at a college football game went south real quick when he decided to share the stage with an owl that wasn't exactly feeling the vibe ... and tried to fly the coop, real quick!

Here's the deal, BB hit the stage in Georgia after Kennesaw State University's game with one of his pet owls, Kennesaw State's mascot is an owl, on his arm -- obviously thinking it would be the perfect crowd-pleaser. Ahhh, the best-laid plans of owls and men!

It did NOT go as planned, as you can see in the video... the owl got spooked right away during Big Boi's Saturday night performance and tried to fly away, but he was leashed to rapper's gloved right hand.

Sleepy Brown did his best to distract the crowd while Big Boi called in some help -- hopefully from a professional handler -- and the show went on, but it made for an awkward walk-out nonetheless.

He also shared a clip of him and the owl before the game and, at least backstage, it seemed chill.

Kennesaw State hasn't had a live owl mascot in a few years and its current mascot Scrappy is a costume.

La actuación de Big Boi en un partido de fútbol universitario se fue rápidamente al carajo cuando sacó un búho vivo al escenario, ¡pero el pájaro no estaba de humor y se puso a la ofensiva rápidamente!

Bib subió al escenario el fin de semana pasado después del partido de la Universidad Estatal de Kennesaw en Georgia, y como la mascota de la escuela es un búho, debió pensar que sacar a un búho de verdad sería la idea perfecta. Spoiler, no lo era.

Obviamente, las cosas no salieron según lo planeado, el pájaro se asustó de inmediato durante la actuación de Big Boi después del partido y trató de despegar, pero parece haber estado unido a él y no lo logró.

Terminó pidiendo ayuda, y, finalmente, el espectáculo continuó sin el ave nocturna.

Big Boi ha sido un amante de los búhos durante años, de hecho, hizo una entrevista con Rolling Stone en 2019 con sus pájaros mascota y pudimos notar que todos tienen nombres: Tula, Simon, Whodini y Hootie.

Ja'Marr Chase could look more like Ja'Marr Uno this weekend ... 'cause after striking an agreement with Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson this week -- he's promised to recreate one of the Bengals legend's epic touchdown celebrations!!

The deal was consummated on Thursday afternoon ... after the Cincinnati superstar initially offered it to Johnson during his media availability earlier in the day.

Chase told reporters if the former Bengals wideout would pay the fine, he'd go and grab a broadcast camera after scoring a TD just like Johnson did nearly 16 years ago.

And, it didn't take for Johnson to shake on the pact ... because just minutes after he became aware of Chase's words, he tweeted out, "Say less I’ll pay the fine."

Chase, of course, will now have to find the endzone against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night in order to try to duplicate the celly ... though it shouldn't be too hard for him, considering the tear he's currently on.

Chase has recorded 31 catches in his last three games ... and he's scored four times in that time frame as well.

Ex-NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf believes he wouldn't be where he is today if it weren't for Matthew Perry ... crediting the late "Friends" star with playing a pivotal role in his sobriety.

Leaf -- who's approaching 12 years clean after battling drug and alcohol addiction in the past -- poured his heart out about his friend on his "Straight Line" podcast with PointsBet this week ... just days after 54-year-old Perry was found dead at his L.A.-area home.

The former No. 2-overall pick kicked off his tribute by stating Perry was "instrumental in my recovery" ... before going into detail about how the actor offered his support without hesitation over a decade ago.

"I got out of prison and when I got to Los Angeles, Matt put his arm around me immediately," Leaf said. "And he carried me for like, the first six months probably in Los Angeles, trying to learn how to be a sober person really in a public platform."

"I don't know if I’m here right now, being able to do stuff like this -- or anything -- if it weren’t for him, and him sharing his story and making me understand that you can be a guy in the public eye that everyone knows and still be sober, be humble and be about helping other people."

Leaf explained even as Perry dealt with his own drug, alcohol and mental health issues over the years, he didn't ever leave his side and continued to assist in the athlete's sobriety.

The 47-year-old said his takeaway from the tragedy is Perry was so much more than a TV star -- he was a guy who wanted to help others, and that's how he will remember him.

"There's a lot of people that I owe for the life I now have, get to live ... and he's certainly at the top of that," Leaf said.

Vontae Davis has avoided further jail time in his DUI case ... TMZ Sports has learned after cutting a plea deal with prosecutors last month, the ex-NFL star was sentenced to 12 months probation.

According to court records, Davis made the pact with officials on Oct. 23 ... agreeing to plead no contest to a lesser charge of reckless driving.

In exchange, prosecutors agreed not to move forward with the other charges against Davis.

As part of his sentencing, the 35-year-old former Buffalo Bills defensive back was also ordered to pay fines and fees and cover the medical bills for the folks injured during the incident. He also must complete 50 hours of community service.

Davis had been facing six total charges -- including DUI -- stemming from allegations that he drunkenly crashed his Tesla into the back of a Toyota truck on Feb. 4 in Broward County, Fla.

The scene of the accident was terrifying ... both vehicles were totaled -- and shortly after the crash, Davis was seen appearing to be fast asleep next to the wreckage.

To make matters worse, Davis -- who played in the NFL for 10 seasons and made two Pro Bowls -- could seemingly hardly stay awake while being questioned by cops in the back of a squad car.

He did, however, ultimately tell officers he had drank two "mixed drinks" before getting behind the wheel. He added, though, he had no recollection of the car accident.