Football

More proof Josh Jacobs is lucky he wasn't critically injured ... 'cause TMZ Sports has obtained photos of the Las Vegas Raiders star's 6-figure Acura NSX -- and it's destroyed.

As we previously reported, the 22-year-old running back was involved in a single-car accident around 4:42 AM near the Vegas airport on January 4.

Jacobs was transported to the hospital with a gnarly gash on his forehead. As nasty as the injury was ... it's now clear it could've been a lot worse.

The photos -- taken at a Sin City tow yard the day of the accident -- show the purple 2019 Acura NSX with HEAVY damage to the front of the vehicle.

The NSX -- license plate "IAM28" (Josh's Raiders #) -- retails for about $160K ... and goes 0-60 in under 3 seconds, and has a top speed of about 190 MPH.

Officials initially suspected Jacobs might've been under the influence of alcohol, but blood alcohol tests indicated his BAC was "below the legal limit and therefore DUI charges are not being filed against him," according to the DA.

Legally, Jacobs didn't escape totally unscathed ... he was hit with 1 misdemeanor charge of "Duty of Driver to Decrease Speed Under Certain Circumstances."

Most importantly, the 2019 1st round draft pick out of Alabama -- who rushed for 1,065 yards and 12 touchdowns last season -- wasn't more seriously injured.

As dope as the supercar is ... it can be replaced.

Washington State Cougars star QB Jayden De Laura has been suspended from the football team indefinitely ... this, after the freshman was arrested for DUI over the weekend.

TMZ Sports has confirmed ... JDL was pulled over around 2 AM on February 6 ... after a police officer claims he blew a stop sign before heading the wrong way down a 1-way street.

During the stop, cops claim De Laura reeked of alcohol ... so they conducted a field sobriety test, which didn't go so well for Jayden.

The football player was ultimately arrested and transported to a local station where he was booked for DUI.

Once De Laura arrived to the station, officials say he was given the opportunity to take a breathalyzer test, but declined.

The QB received a criminal citation for driving under the influence and 2 traffic infractions -- wrong way on a 1-way and another for 'no driver's license on person.'

Cops noted De Laura was cooperative throughout the incident.

The University of Houston football team has suspended freshmen defensive end Chidozie Nwankwo -- after the highly touted freshman was charged with domestic violence for allegedly choking his girlfriend.

Officials say the 18-year-old -- listed at 5'11", 293 lbs -- is accused of choking his girlfriend in a January 28 incident at an apartment complex located on the UH campus.

Official documents show Nwankwo was formally charged on Feb. 3 with assault/impeding breathing. He has since been released from custody but the UH football team has suspended him in the wake of the allegations.

"We are aware of the serious allegations regarding Chidozie Nwankwo," the school announced.

"He has been suspended from the Houston football program, pending further information. We will have no further comment regarding this specific case."

Nwankwo was a prized recruit for the Cougars coming out of  Foster High School in Richmond -- reportedly receiving offers from major programs including LSU, Baylor, Texas Tech, Arkansas and Boise State.

Tim Tebow's still got that Heisman arm!!

The former NFL quarterback threw a missile at Shaquille O'Neal's gut during a star-studded dodgeball game at the basketball legend's Super Bowl pre-game party ... and the video is awesome!!

It was all part of "The Shaq Bowl" ... with big-name guests like Tebow, Ezekiel Elliott, Diplo, The Miz, Anthony Anderson, Nelly, Offset and more participating in a bunch of competitive events like dodgeball, tug of war, sit-up challenge, wing eating contest and more.

Things got pretty intense during the dodgeball portion of the event -- people were laughing, but you can tell there's some serious speed on some of those throws ... and Tebow was mowing down the competition.

But, the best moment was when Tebow had Shaq trapped in the back with no teammates left ... and the former QB-turned-baseball player let it rip with a fastball straight to the stomach!!!

Tebow’s dominance continued during the tug-of-war portion of the night ... when TT and his team DESTROYED Zeke's team so badly that Shaq had to jump in and help. But, the NBA legend couldn't stop Tebow. He was like a man possessed!

Along with the competitions, there were musical performances by Migos, Jack Harlow & DJ Diesel himself ... so yeah, it was lit.

Shaq might be too big for dodgeball ... after all, the 5 D’s of dodgeball -- dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge -- probably weren't created for 7 footers!!

Tyrann Mathieu can come through big time for PETA if he intercepts Tom Brady in the big game ... a fan is dangling a 6-figure carrot for the dog-loving Kansas City Chiefs star.

The animal rights org tells TMZ ... an anonymous fan has offered to donate a whopping $100,000 to PETA if Tyrann makes an interception in the Super Bowl.

We're told the money is earmarked for PETA's fieldwork team, which operates in parts of Virginia and North Carolina and provides free pet services to low-income communities.

$100k would go a long way for dogs in distress in those areas ... PETA's fieldwork team provides free food deliveries, custom-built doghouses and straw bedding, plus flea, tick and fly-strike prevention to those poor pooches struggling through another rough winter.

Tyrann, known as the Honey Badger for much of his football career, is a longtime PETA supporter with a special place in his heart for man's best friend.

In fact, Tyrann's the star of two viral PETA videos ... he once trapped himself in a hot car to demonstrate what happens to dogs locked in the same situation, and also shivered inside a walk-in freezer to illustrate how dogs suffer when they're left outdoors on frigid nights.

PETA tells us they'll be cheering Tyrann on Sunday when his Chiefs take on Brady's Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55 down in Tampa, knowing he'd be stoked to secure the big donation.

Tyrann intercepted TB12 when the two teams met in the regular season ... can he do it again???

Kansas City Chiefs star Tyrann Mathieu claims Tom Brady crossed a line during the Super Bowl ... saying the Buccaneers QB "called me something I won't repeat" in their heated exchange.

Mathieu and Brady butted heads several times during the big game -- most notably after the Bucs scored a late touchdown before the end of the first half -- with many accusing the Chiefs safety of being the instigator.

The 28-year-old went to Twitter to share his side of things following the crushing loss ... saying he's done nothing but admire Brady for years, and it was the 7-time champ who went too far.

"He called me something I won't repeat but yeah I'll let all the media throw me under the bus as if I did something or said something to him," Mathieu said in a since-deleted tweet.

"Go back to my previous games against TB12 I showed him nothing but respect. Look at my interviews about him ... I show grace."

Mathieu also spoke about the altercation after the game ... where he had a much more vague response.

"It's football," he said. "Guys are gonna go back and forth."

TB12 has yet to respond to the accusation ... we'll keep you posted.

"I think you got the wrong guy!"

That was Byron Leftwich's response to a reporter who confused the Tampa Bay Bucs assistant coach with another guy from the Bucs coaching staff, Todd Bowles.

(Take palm. Place directly on forehead).

See, this is Byron Leftwich on the left -- a former star NFL quarterback who is now the offensive coordinator for the Bucs.

On the right is Todd Bowles -- the defensive coordinator for the Bucs. He was previously the head coach of the New York Jets.

The reporter was clearly confused -- and asked Byron a question about how the Bucs defense managed to shut down Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes.

Byron immediately realized what was happening ... and chuckled to himself as he corrected the reporter.

"Shut Pat Mahomes down? I think you got the wrong guy," Leftwich said ... "I didn’t have anything to do with that, that was Todd!!

So, how did the reporter mix these guys up??? Byron seems to have an idea ... and all he could do is laugh it off.

And, to make things worse ... even the person running the news conference messed up Byron's name when introducing him to the media. Byron -- NOT BRYAN -- handled that like a champ too.

Funny, "Saturday Night Live" just did a sketch this weekend about how Bucs coach Bruce Arians looks exactly like Chiefs coach Andy Reid ... but at least those two sorta look alike!!!

TURN UP, TOM BRADY!!!

Check out the wild scene in the Tampa Bay Bucs locker room right after they won the Super Bowl -- players slamming champagne, firing up cigars and getting pics with the greatest QB of all time!

"Hey, I appreciate you TB," linebacker Devin White told Brady ... "That's 1 for me, that's 7 for him!"

The scene in the locker room was wild -- everyone was just as excited as you'd expect them to be.

Antonio Brown got in on the celebratory action too -- flexin' and yelling, "We the champs!!!"

The only issue is COVID protocol seemed to go out the window -- we couldn't spot a single player celebrating with his mask on.

Then again, they were all tested rigorously before the game ... so hopefully, everyone is safe.

On the field, the wives and GFs were also going H.A.M. -- check out Rob Gronkowski's GF, Camille Kostek, celebrating with Gisele, her longtime friend from the New England Patriots days!

And, there was good reason for those 2 to be stoked -- 43-year-old Tom threw TWO touchdowns to 31-year-old Gronk in the Bucs' 31-to-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs!

For those hoping to land Aaron Rodgers in a trade this offseason, his Packers teammate, Marcedes Lewis, has some bad news for ya ...

The Green Bay tight end tells TMZ Sports there's NO WAY IN HELL the Packers jettison their star QB -- not even for a treasure trove haul!!

"He is Green Bay," Lewis said of the future Hall of Famer. "If we want to do what we want to do, year in and year out, he has to be a part of it."

Of course, for a day or two after Green Bay lost the NFC Championship Game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it sure looked like a Rodgers trade was coming.

Aaron told reporters he believed his 2021 future was up in the air ... and given the team had just drafted Jordan Love with its first-round pick, the writing seemed to be on the wall.

But, damn near EVERYBODY in the Packers' organization has insisted the last few days that Rodgers isn't going anywhere ... and when we got Lewis out at LAX this week, he said they ain't lying.

"Nobody's even thinking that," Lewis says.

Sorry, NFC North.

Ben Roethlisberger should call it a career ... so says his former teammate Ike Taylor, who tells TMZ Sports the QB NOT retiring this offseason could hurt the team for years down the road.

Ike kept it real with us when breaking down Ben's future ... saying while the 38-year-old has more than earned the right to play in Pittsburgh next season, he's not sure if it's the greatest move for the franchise.

"You're setting them back a year or two or three [with a comeback]," Taylor says of the Steelers. "The reason why I think you're setting them back is because you've seen the progression in Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow -- before he got hurt -- and Baker Mayfield."

"So, we're talking about three young quarterbacks in one division. Who you going to pick last?"

Taylor says the answer to that question is Ben ... which is why he wants to see Roethlisberger ride off into the sunset this offseason so Pittsburgh can find a QB who can keep up with the rest of the AFC North's young guns.

"Ain't nothing wrong with shutting that thing down," Taylor says. "It's hard for a lot of people to shut it down. It's hard."

Don't get it twisted, though ... Taylor had tremendous praise for Ben, saying the guy's career was second to none.

And, if Ben truly is willing to take a massive pay cut to stay under center in the black and gold ... Ike says the Steelers don't have much of a choice other than to bring him back.

But, Taylor did advise Ben that he's got to take a page out of Tom Brady's book -- and get his body right for next season so he can have success as a pocket passer.

There's more ... Ike also spoke with us about another one of his former teammates, Antonio Brown, and says it wouldn't surprise him if AB won Super Bowl MVP honors on Sunday.

Lawrence Taylor is settling the greatest quarterback of all-time debate once and for all ... and in LT's eyes -- the G.O.A.T. is Tom Brady.

TMZ Sports talked to Taylor -- widely considered the greatest defensive player in the history of the NFL -- and we asked him who he believed was truly the best ... Brady or Joe Montana.

"Well, if you're asking me who is the greatest quarterback I've ever played against, I'm gonna say Joe Montana. But history, if ya look at it, there's been what, 54 Super Bowls and this is like [Brady's] 10th. He's played in 20% of all Super Bowls," Taylor says.

LT continued ... "There's nothing I can say. He is the G.O.A.T. He is one of the greatest players this game has ever seen and I'm quite sure, unless Mahomes tries to break his record, there's nobody that's gonna beat that record."

Of course, Brady is 6-3 in the Super Bowl ... and is looking to win his record 7th ring on Sunday against the K.C. Chiefs.

Montana never lost a Super Bowl ... but only won 4 rings.

Taylor -- a 2x SB champ and the 1986 NFL MVP -- says it's definitely an advantage that Brady didn't have to face the ruthless LB ... but at the end of the day, it's undeniable that TB's the best.

"You look at what he has done, every year, no matter what he is given, he plays and he makes 'em a winner, he makes 'em relevant. He's the Michael Jordan of football."

Debate over.

We also talked to Lawrence -- along with his business partner Phil Zamloot -- about their company, Tridelix ... where the duo says they're revolutionizing the printing biz.

Darren Waller LOVES playing for the Raiders ... but the tight end says he'll be at peace if he's traded for Deshaun Watson this offseason -- acknowledging the NFL "is a business."

"Crazier things have happened," Waller tells TMZ Sports. "I enjoy being where I'm at with the Raiders and that time will come to an end whether it's 10 years from now or it's by Monday."

"So, I just try to enjoy being here as much as I can."

Waller's name has been kicked around recently in the wake of Watson-to-Las Vegas trade rumors ... and the rumblings have grown so loud, Darren says they've actually reached his ears.

Waller, though, tells us he's trying to not let it affect him ... explaining, "There's always stuff circling around, but I'm just happy to be where I'm at right now."

As for his quarterback, Derek Carr, who's also been rumored to be a part of a potential trade package with the Texans for Watson ... Waller stood up for the Las Vegas QB and said he wants the guy to stick around.

Darren explained, "I like what Derek brings to the game. His efficiency, his leadership and he can spin the ball pretty well too."

Waller added, "I understand how people may want Deshaun Watson because he's an exciting player and that's just undeniable but I definitely appreciate Derek and I'm grateful for the relationship with him and also his game and the way that he plays."

Indianapolis Colts superstar Darius Leonard says he's officially DONE talking about a possible Andrew Luck unretirement ... telling TMZ Sports, people just need to "move on."

"It's been like two years now and all you hear is 'Andrew Luck. Andrew Luck,'" Leonard says. "We gotta move forward one of these days."

Luck famously called it quits just before the 2019 season began ... and with the retirement announcement coming so swiftly and stunningly in the preseason, rumors of a potential return just haven't died.

In fact, Colts ownership, coaches and players have been asked about a Luck comeback repeatedly over the past few days and weeks ... particularly after Philip Rivers announced his own retirement.

But, Leonard says he believes his former teammate is seriously done ... and he's ready now to just let Luck go.

"It just sucks that that's the topic," Leonard said. "He's been retired for two years and we've been playing these games for two years without him and we're still answering questions about him. We gotta move forward."

Leonard continued, "We as players are tired of hearing the same remarks about Andrew Luck. He did all he could do. We appreciate him. We respect him. But, he's retired now so now we gotta move forward."

As for who the team will move forward with ... Leonard ain't so sure -- with Rivers' retirement and Jacoby Brissett set for free agency, there's not many answers on that front at the moment.

So, we had to ask the linebacker ... what about a trade for Deshaun Watson?!

Karrueche Tran had a fun night on the town without ex-NFL star Victor Cruz on Thursday night ... seemingly confirming reports the couple has called it quits.

The former "Claws" star hit up Catch in L.A. -- and was all smiles underneath her mask during what appeared to be a fun night out with her lady friends.

We didn't see Cruz at the restaurant -- so, we asked Tran if the reports about the two officially breaking up after 3 years are true.

"I don't know," Tran said playfully to our photog as she left Catch with her friends around 1:30 AM.

If Cruz and Tran are actually done, it was a great run -- the couple seemed inseparable after going public in December 2017 ... taking romantic vacations and providing tons of 🔥 content in Miami over the years.

34-year-old Cruz and 32-year-old Tran are both rich, successful and pretty easy on the eyes ... so it shouldn't be hard for either side to find love again.

The Weeknd's guaranteeing he'll be the MVP of his halftime show at the Super Bowl ... because he's not bringing any special guests to join him.

The singer went on NFL Network Thursday and explained that in order for his vision to play out properly and for him to include all the songs he wants, it doesn't make sense for other entertainers to be involved in the performance.

We're told the chatter about The Weeknd venturing into the stands at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium is true, but it's part of a pre-built set ... not like he'll be mingling with random fans in the seats.

Our sources say this plan was put into place with COVID precautions in mind, and to cut down on the number of people involved in the stage construction and removal.

Another fun fact, The Weeknd is the first Canadian performer to solo headline the halftime show, a major feat considering heavyweight Canadian talent like Justin Bieber, Drake and Rush.

As we reported ... The Weeknd also promised at Thursday's media event to try his best to keep his show PG-rated, saying he wants to be respectful to families watching all around the world.