Football

JuJu Smith-Schuster says the news of his season-ending injury was a heartbreaker -- with the Steelers WR breaking down in tears while discussing it at his charity event.

JuJu got hurt during Sunday's game against the Broncos -- severely injuring his right shoulder ... which required season-ending surgery.

It didn't stop the 24-year-old from hosting his luau charity event for the JuJu Foundation on Monday ... and with his right arm in a sling, he opened up about when the doctors delivered the horrible news.

"Last night was the hardest night for me because football has done so much for me in my life more than you guys will ever know," Smith-Schuster said, fighting back tears.

"When I got the call from the doctors and you know shoulder injury I thought, you know, you put it back in and you be fine in two weeks."

"They said it was season-ending injury and I sat there and I cried. I cried all night. I cried because I love this game so much more than anyone you will know."

Things are looking up for JuJu, though -- the Pro Bowler had successful surgery on Wednesday ... posting a photo on IG in his hospital bed with a thumbs up.

"I’ll do everything in my power to recover," Smith-Schuster says, "and I’ll put in another full offseason of work next year to perform to the best of my abilities next season."

"Thank you to the doctors and hospital staff for taking care of me, and to the Steelers organization for supporting me during this tough time!"

The guy taking over for Jon Gruden was in his feels while speaking with reporters on Wednesday ... 'cause interim head coach Rich Bisaccia nearly broke down in tears over his new job with the Las Vegas Raiders.

61-year-old Bisaccia -- LV's special teams coach -- has been coaching since 1983 ... and is finally getting his first opportunity to lead the charge with the Raiders this weekend.

When asked about getting to this point in his career, Bisaccia -- who was part of Gruden's staff with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- got pretty emotional as he reflected on his parents, siblings, children and grandchildren who helped him along the way.

"To have an opportunity to be the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders ... wow, right?" he said. "I guess really that's the only thing I'm gonna get choked up about. Holy s***."

Bisaccia hilariously regretted the expletive slip -- saying, "Can't say that, can't say that."

Coach also addressed Gruden's exit ... saying, "No one person is bigger than the Raiders shield."

More fallout for Jon Gruden over his email scandal ... EA Sports just announced it's removing the former Las Vegas Raiders coach from its ultra-popular Madden 22 video game.

EA put out a statement Wednesday saying it's in the process of pulling the virtual coach after it was revealed the 58-year-old sent racist and anti-gay emails from 2011 to 2018.

"EA Sports is committed to taking action in maintaining a culture of inclusion and equity," reps from the video game company said.

"Due to the circumstances of Jon Gruden's resignation, we are taking steps to remove him from Madden NFL 22."

EA added Gruden will be replaced by a "generic" AI ... with the full removal expected to take place in a title update "in the coming weeks."

The news is the latest in a long line of blows for Gruden ... who lost his job with the Raiders on Monday -- and then lost an endorsement with Skechers on Tuesday.

Carl Nassib -- the only openly gay player in the NFL -- was granted a day off by the Raiders on Wednesday ... after his former head coach, Jon Gruden, was ousted for spewing homophobic comments in emails.

Las Vegas Raiders general manager, Mike Mayock, just told reporters Nassib requested the "personal day" following the departure of Gruden ... explaining, "He just said he's got a lot to process."

"There's a lot that's been going on the last few days," Mayock said of Nassib's situation. "And, of course, we support that request."

Mayock added that he's already spoken with Nassib multiple times in wake of Gruden's exit ... and is planning to meet with him later Wednesday as well.

Mayock did not elaborate on if he expected Nassib to play Sunday when the Raiders take on the Broncos.

As we previously reported, Gruden stepped down as Raiders head coach after emails from the 58-year-old containing anti-gay rhetoric surfaced this week.

Some of the messages included the vile words "f*****" and "queer."

Nassib has yet to publicly comment on it all ... but he did say just a few weeks ago that he avoided going public with his sexual preferences sooner because, among other reasons, he "didn't know if guys would be supportive or not."

Colin Kaepernick is still not giving up on his dream of returning to the NFL ... saying he's still up at 5 AM and training 5 or 6 days a week in case a team finally calls.

The quarterback -- who hasn't played a down in the league since the 2016 season -- made the revelation in a recent interview with Ebony ... explaining he still has a goal of winning the Lombardi Trophy.

"I am still up at 5 a.m. training five, six days a week," Kaepernick said, "making sure I’m prepared to take a team to a Super Bowl again."

The 33-year-old last played for the 49ers on Jan. 1, 2017 in a loss to the Seahawks ... and never signed on with a team again after that.

Kap claimed repeatedly that he believed the league was blackballing him over the way he started kneeling demonstrations during pregame national anthems.

In fact, the QB sued the league a few years ago ... and the parties settled out of court. The NFL didn't publicly admit to blackballing Colin.

But, in his recent interview, Kaepernick made it clear he still believes teams are avoiding him over it all ... adding that he hopes his training will "expose" the situation.

"You're gonna have to continue to deny me and do so in a public way," Kaepernick said. "And you’re gonna expose yourself by that, but it won't be because I'm not ready or not prepared."

In the meantime, Kaepernick said he's also focused on other aspects of his life -- like his production company, charity work ... and even acting.

Colin said he's been working with acting coaches and wants to have more on-screen roles in the future -- explaining it all feels similar to quarterbacking.

Hope you have a strong stomach ...

Deion Sanders is showing how his foot is healing after having surgery 3 weeks ago -- by posting a gnarly photo of the bloody surgical wound.

Remember, the Jackson State football coach went under the knife in September for a dislocated second toe that he's had since his NFL playing days ... with the doctor saying "it's gotten worse" over the years.

The procedure went off without a hitch ... and the Hall of Famer was told to keep off his left foot for the next six weeks.

Halfway through recovery, Coach Sanders wanted to give a super-gross update on how things are going ... and if you can get over the gruesome stitch job, it's good news for the legend!

The 54-year-old posted a photo via IG -- you can see the stitches going up and down the first and second toe on his left foot pulling the bloody skin together ... and it's pretty gnarly!

But, it hasn't stopped Prime Time from coaching the JSU Tigers -- he's been riding a golf cart and this dope custom 3-wheel scooter during team drills.

Jeff Fisher is calling BS on Jon Gruden ... saying the coach was dead wrong when he claimed in an email that the NFL forced him and the Rams to draft Michael Sam.

Fisher released a lengthy statement late Tuesday night refuting Gruden's claim that Roger Goodell was the one who pressured the head coach to pick Sam in the 7th round of the 2014 NFL Draft due to the pass rusher's sexual orientation.

"As a head coach for over 20 years," Fisher said, "we drafted or didn't draft players based on a variety of qualities. Their sexual orientation would never -- and should never -- play a part in the decision-making process."

Fisher added, "The NFL never encouraged or discouraged me regarding the selection of a potential prospect."

In one of Gruden's many crass emails sent between 2011 and 2018 that were made public this week ... Jon wrote to a Washington Football Team exec that he believed Goodell urged Fisher to take Sam because he was gay.

In the email, Gruden used an anti-gay slur to describe Sam.

Fisher said in his statement he's still a big supporter of Sam's ... and praised the courage it took for him to go public with his sexual preference.

"I continue to support Michael, and his decision to come out as the first draft eligible openly gay player in the league," Fisher said. "It took courage to serve as a role model for those competitive football players who may also happen to be gay."

Sam played in all four of the Rams' preseason games in his rookie year ... but was cut just before the regular season began. He later signed a contract to join the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad, but was cut after just a few weeks there as well.

Ryan Russell, an openly bisexual NFL free agent, tells TMZ Sports he was sickened by Jon Gruden's racist and homophobic comments ... and the incident serves as proof the NFL has much work left to accomplish.

"I was deeply upset, shocked, appalled even that a leader of an organization, a leader of young men, football culture in general, would have so many negative, derogatory, hateful really, discriminatory things to say about so many different kinds of people," Russell says.

29-year-old Russell -- a 5th round draft pick of the Cowboys in 2015 -- has an interesting perspective. The DE announced he was bisexual in mid-2019.

So, despite players like Carl Nassib and Russ being open about their sexuality, has progress actually been made within the league?

Russell says yes.

"I think there's definitely been progress" ... just nowhere near enough.

"We're not done yet. There's much further we need to go, and much more we need to do. There's still work that needs to be done."

Of course, Gruden resigned days after the emails came to light. He's since been taken out of the Bucs' (where he won a Super Bowl) ring of honor. He's also been dropped by Sketchers -- his biggest individual sponsor.

As for Roger Goodell and the NFL's power structure ... Ryan has some advice on how to move forward.

"Putting 'End Racism' on the field in paint means nothing if it isn't painted within your staff, if it's not painted within the bread of your organization, your foundation," Russ tells us.

NFL punter Marquette King -- who was cut from the Raiders after Jon Gruden allegedly took issue with his personality -- is hoping teams give him a second look in wake of the coach's email scandal ... saying he was never the problem in Oakland.

King -- an All-Pro in 2016 -- was released in 2018 after reports claimed Gruden wasn't a fan of his outspoken personality and over-the-top celebrations.

The 32-year-old is now speculating if there was a deeper reason behind the move in light of Gruden's misogynistic, racist and homophobic emails being leaked this week ... joining "TMZ Live" to share his reaction to the bombshell scandal.

"Once I found out, it was kinda like, now I really wonder what was the real reason why I did get let go," King said. "I'm still kinda curious about that, about why I got let go. It's just been a whole roller coaster full of emotions, period."

King -- who says he never even got the chance to meet Gruden before getting cut -- spent the past 2 years questioning who he is as a person and whether he really was an issue ... adding he found himself in a "really dark place" in the weeks following his release.

King insinuates Gruden created a narrative that made him untouchable to other teams ... and now that the coach is out of the league, it could lead to new opportunities.

Jon Gruden is out in Las Vegas ... but there will still be a Gruden on the Raiders' staff.

Jon's 27-year-old son, Deuce Gruden, is staying put in his role as an assistant strength and conditioning coach with the team, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported late Monday night.

Of course, Deuce is accused of no wrongdoing ... but it's interesting nonetheless, given the way Jon was ousted on Monday.

As we reported, Jon resigned in disgrace following reports that he sent multiple emails from 2010 to 2018 that contained anti-gay and misogynistic language.

In a statement revealing his intentions to step down as Raiders head man, Jon said he was "sorry" for it all ... adding, "I never meant to hurt anyone."

Deuce, meanwhile, has yet to publicly comment on the situation ... but it's clear, he's not letting it affect his job status with the team.

Deuce was initially hired on Jon's staff after the 58-year-old took over the head coaching reins in 2018.

It's somehow getting worse for Jon Gruden, because his emails don't just include racist language ... now there's a report he also used homophobic slurs aimed at Roger Goodell.

Gruden, who already apologized for a racially insensitive email he fired off in 2011, reportedly referred to the NFL Commissioner as a "f*****" and "clueless anti-football p****" ... according to emails obtained by The New York Times.

Gruden also reportedly wrote Goodell should not have pressured former NFL coach, Jeff Fisher, to draft "queers" in 2014 ... referencing Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted into the NFL.

The alleged homophobic language might not sit well in Gruden's locker room ... he's currently the coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, who have defensive lineman Carl Nassib on the roster, the first active player who is openly gay.

According to The New York Times, Gruden fired off the emails from 2010 to 2018, when he was out of pro football and working as an analyst for "Monday Night Football" on ESPN.

Gruden reportedly aimed homophobic slurs at Goodell in several instances, as well as using other offensive language to describe NFL owners, coaches and media.

Even Barack Obama and Joe Biden were reportedly mentioned in Gruden's emails ... with Gruden ripping Obama during his 2012 re-election campaign and referring to Biden as a "nervous clueless p****."

As we reported ... Gruden's been on the hot seat since a 2011 email was uncovered, where he says NFL Players Association president, DeMaurice Smith, had "lips the size of Michelin tires."

Gruden apologized for the racist email a second time Sunday, after his team lost to the Chicago Bears, saying he doesn't "have an ounce of racism in me."

The new report also says Gruden mocked Caitlyn Jenner in his emails, after she received an award from ESPN in 2015 following her transition.

Gruden's currently in the 4th year of a 10-year, $100 million contract to coach the Raiders ... and it's unclear if he faces any discipline.

Jon Gruden apologized for his racially insensitive 2011 email once again on Sunday ... insisting he's not a racist and telling reporters, "I can't tell you how sick I am."

The Las Vegas head coach met with media members just minutes after the Raiders' 20-9 loss to the Bears ... and it wasn't long before Gruden had to answer questions about an 11-year-old email that contained racist language.

"I apologize for the insensitive remarks," the 58-year-old said. "I had no racial intentions with those remarks at all."

If you missed it ... during a probe into allegations of workplace misconduct in the Washington Football Team's organization, an email Gruden had sent to a team exec had been discovered by NFL investigators.

In the body of the message, Gruden had said NFL Players Association president DeMaurice Smith had "lips the size of Michelin tires."

Gruden initially apologized on Friday, claiming the comment was not a racist one ... but rather a unique way of calling Smith a liar.

On Sunday, he reiterated that stance yet again ... adding, "I stand here in front of everybody apologizing. I don't have an ounce of racism in me."

"I'm a guy that takes pride in leading people together. I'll continue to do that for the rest of my life. And again I apologize to D. Smith and anybody out there that I have offended."

Gruden said he had yet to meet with NFL officials over the email ... but acknowledged that could happen in the next few days.

It's unclear if the coach faces any discipline. League sources said Friday a probe was ongoing.

Raiders owner Mark Davis, meanwhile, said Gruden's words were "disturbing" and added, "we are addressing the matter with Coach Gruden."

Baker Mayfield's wife is going OFF on fans blaming the Browns QB for Sunday's loss ... saying all the haters need to "wake up" and quit being so ungrateful.

Baker and Co. fell to 3-2 after a heartbreaking 47-42 loss to Justin Herbert and the Chargers at SoFi Stadium ... with #6 going 23-32 for 305 yards and 2 touchdowns in the effort.

Despite having an overall decent game, some fans criticized the 26-year-old signal-caller for not coming away with the dub.

Enter Mrs. Mayfield, who fired back at all the anti-Baker hate with a passionate Instagram post Monday morning.

"For all you fans who are blaming yesterday’s loss on Baker, wake up," Emily said. "It was one hell of a game and that game could have gone either way. He left it all on the field."

Baker's wife of 2 years says he has worked his ass off since he joined the team in 2018 ... and hasn't received the acknowledgment he deserves from the fans.

"You truly don’t know what you have. I have watched him give his all and change the entire  culture in Cleveland, yet he gets so little credit for it."

"He never asks for recognition and continues to carry the weight, day in and day out, despite the hate."

Emily calls for the Dawg Pound to start supporting the guys on the team instead of tearing them down all the time ... saying, "The hate does nothing for them."

The Philadelphia Eagles fans initially believed to be banging in a bathroom stall at the Carolina Panthers' stadium Sunday were NOT arrested over the incident ... TMZ Sports has learned.

A rep for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department tells us officers were dispatched to a men's bathroom during the Eagles vs. Panthers game at Bank Of America Stadium ... but they could not confirm if the couple was, in fact, engaging in intercourse.

Instead, we're told the cops simply arrived due to reports of a woman in the men's bathroom -- which, they say, is a violation of stadium policies.

The CMPD spokesperson says the couple was taken out of the stall and escorted out of the venue ... but they were not ultimately arrested.

Still, video from the scene showed the whole incident created quite the spectacle regardless.

In clips filmed by witnesses in the bathroom, you can see several males crowded around the stall while the two were in it.

Unclear exactly what was going down behind the closed door -- cops only said the two were fully clothed when they arrived on scene.

Jon Gruden could lose his job over his 2011 racist email ... so says Raiders legend Tim Brown, who claims firing the head coach is on the table for Las Vegas owner Mark Davis.

"If Mark thinks that there's a problem here, Mark will make a move," Brown said over the weekend during an interview with "SiriusXM NFL Radio," according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

"That's how serious Mark is about this kind of stuff. Mark is not going to play this racist stuff. He's not going to allow this stuff to happen."

In a 9-year-old email that Gruden sent to a Washington Football Team exec ... Gruden used racist language to criticize NFL Players Association president DeMaurice Smith.

"Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of Michelin tires," Gruden wrote.

Gruden -- who was an analyst for ESPN at the time -- has apologized vehemently for his language ... but has insisted there were no racial undertones to it.

Instead, Gruden claimed he was just trying to use a different wording of "rubber lips" -- a phrase he says he often uses to describe liars.

Regardless, Brown said he could see Davis bringing out the axe and starting a search for a new head coach over Gruden's words.

"He loves Gruden," Brown said of Davis, "but he loves things being right more than he loves Gruden."

For his part, Brown defended his former head coach -- who he played for with the Raiders from 1998 to 2001 -- saying he does NOT believe the 58-year-old is a racist.

"The way I talk about Gruden, people think he's my dad or something because I have that kind of admiration for him," Brown said.

NFL rookie Kadarius Toney is apologizing for swinging on a Dallas Cowboys player during the N.Y. Giants' loss on Sunday ... saying he let his emotions get the best of him.

The incident went down with 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter ... when safety Damontae Kazee slammed Toney to the ground after making a first down catch.

The 22-year-old quickly bounced up and threw a punch in retaliation ... and was ejected from the game.

Joe Judge was clearly pissed with Toney's actions ... barking at the receiver as he made his way to the sidelines.

Now, Toney is owning up to his mistake ... saying, "Wanna take the time out to apologize to the entire organization, Owners, My Teammates and the entire #BigBlue," he tweeted Monday.

"Your emotions just can get the best of you sometimes ... No Excuses just actions #ThankYall"

Toney will now face punishment from the league ... but it sounds like he will NOT be suspended for his actions.