Football

Football fans around the world were baffled when projected first-round pick Shedeur Sanders fell all the way to Day 3 in last weekend's NFL draft ... but former Browns great Eric Metcalf thinks it's a blessing in disguise -- telling TMZ Sports the QB can now play "carefree."

We caught up with the former Browns running back and wide receiver ... and he seems certain the former Colorado superstar's stock plummeted to No. 144 not because of his talent -- but his overwhelming confidence.

"All of the scouts, all of the teams said that he was accurate, he could throw the ball ... everything you wanted from a quarterback,” Metcalf said. "And for him to not get drafted in the first, second or third round is kinda a slap in his face and we all know what it was about."

Desmond Watson -- the 437-pound NFL rookie affectionately known as the "Tush Push Terminator" -- might have a bit less junk in his trunk when it comes time to stopping QB sneaks in 2025 ... as he tells TMZ Sports he's looking to shed a bunch of lbs before he takes the field for his first pro season.

The former Univ. of Florida defensive lineman, who was just picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after going undrafted last month, has found a whole lot of success while up over 400 pounds ... playing in 51 games with the Gators over the last four years.

But, he told us that while being big has its pros ... he believes slimming down could make him a whole lot quicker in the NFL.

John Elway was in good spirits hobnobbin' with other celebs and throwing back a beverage from a styrofoam cup just 2 hours before he was involved in the golf cart accident that killed his good friend, Jeff Sperbeck.

Take a look at these photos TMZ Sports obtained from a swanky day party last Saturday inside The Madison Club -- a golf community in La Quinta, CA -- Elway looked to be having a solid time.

Wearing a red and gray checkered shirt with a white ballcap, the NFL Hall of Famer was mingling with a small group around the bar.

MTV reality star Johnny Bananas was riding with John Elway and Jeff Sperbeck during the fatal golf cart accident, with sources telling TMZ Sports ... "The Challenge" competitor tried to keep the agent alive after he fell off the vehicle.

We spoke to someone familiar with the incident ... who tells us, Bananas -- real name Johnny Devenanzio -- and Sperbeck were standing on the back of the cart as Elway drove and his wife sat in the front seat.

We're told Sperbeck lost his balance and fell backward off the cart -- hitting his head on the asphalt around 7 PM.

Travis Kelce looked like he invaded Taylor Swift's closet for a photo shoot in NYC this week ... 'cause the Kansas City Chiefs superstar rocked an outfit that gave big "folklore" vibes.

The 35-year-old tight end was spotted posing for the camera for an apparent fashion collab ... and it's hard not to make comparisons to the cardigan his girlfriend famously sported (and sold) in support of her 2020 song.

While Kelce's white top didn't feature any buttons, the similarities are still there ... with dark-colored piping along the waist and neck. Good enough for us!!

Abdul Carter is trying to figure out what jersey number he'll rock for the NY Giants ... and while Lawrence Taylor told him to kick rocks after he inquired about number 56, another Big Blue legend is striking a different tone!

Phil Simms was asked if he'd hear out either Carter or Jaxson Dart if they were to ask the Super Bowl-winning QB if they could take his #11 jersey down from the proverbial rafters at MetLife Stadium. While LT, Simms' former teammate, had no interest ... the Giants signal-caller is open to passing down his legendary number.

"I let him have it in a second," he said. "I say can you help it a little, make it better? I think it would be a lot of fun, it wouldn't bother me."

Shedeur Sanders is already making a serious impact in Cleveland ... 'cause Guardians star Jose Ramirez broke out the Browns' new signal callers' signature celebration after a massive walk-off win on Thursday!

In case you missed it, Ramirez sealed the 4-3 win in the 10th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays after a stolen base put the perennial All-Star in scoring position. Then came the walk-off.

FYI, Ramirez became the first Cleveland baseball player to notch 250 steals and 250 homers.

Ex-NFL superstar Steve Smith allegedly ruined a marriage earlier this year ... and now, he's being sued over it.

Antonio Martinez claims in a lawsuit -- which he filed in North Carolina this week -- that Smith broke up his loving relationship with Nicole Martinez after he "willfully, maliciously and intentionally" seduced her during a September 2024 encounter in Baltimore.

Antonio alleges the former Ravens wideout met Nicole while he was in town to shoot an episode of "The NFL's Most Interesting Jobs with Steve Smith."

The fan who tragically fell from an outfield wall at PNC Park on Wednesday has been identified as Kavan Markwood -- a 20-year-old former college football player.

A spokesperson for the South Allegheny School District -- where Markwood played his high school football -- confirmed to TribLive on Thursday it's Markwood who's currently fighting for his life at a Pittsburgh-area hospital after he tumbled to the warning track during the Pirates vs. Cubs game.

"Everyone at South Allegheny would say he is a hard-working, highly resilient young man," the district rep, Laura Thomson, said. "He’s a fighter. He's going to need that resiliency now."

Jeff Sperbeck, John Elway's longtime agent and friend, has died at 62 years old, officials announced on Wednesday.

Sperbeck's time of death was listed as 1:10 AM.

As we previously reported, Jeff was on life support following Saturday's accident ... where he suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling off a golf cart that Elway was driving.

We're told Elway, Sperbeck, their wives, and John's son were on their way back from a post-Stagecoach party around 7 PM on April 26 ... when Jeff fell off the back of the cart, hitting his head on the ground, and suffering a traumatic brain injury.

Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson aren't gonna be able to sweep their dumpster fire interview under the rug ... 'cause the couple's CBS sit-down got the Hollywood treatment on John Mulaney's Netflix show.

The hilarious segment happened on Wednesday's "Everybody's Live" ... with Richard Kind taking on the role of the legendary coach -- and Fran Gillespie portraying his polarizing girlfriend.

The whole thing kicked off just over 10 minutes into the episode ... with Kind decked out in a cutoff, ragged crewneck and Gillespie in a grey sweatshirt.

Henry Ruggs isn't giving up on his NFL career as he serves his lengthy prison sentence -- so says his former teammate, Josh Jacobs, who claims the wide receiver is training his ass off behind bars.

Ruggs is currently serving three to 10 years for a high-speed crash on November 2, 2021, in which he slammed his Corvette into Tina Tintor's vehicle, killing her and her dog.

The 26-year-old will be eligible for parole in 2026 ... and if he does end up getting out, Jacobs said he will look to return to his day job.

1:41 PM PT -- CBS is calling B.S. on Bill Belichick's claims ... saying in a statement Wednesday, "there were no preconditions or limitations" on topics they could broach during the conversation.

"This was confirmed repeatedly with his publisher before the interview took place," a CBS News spokesperson said, "and after it was completed."

Bill Belichick is racing to Jordon Hudson's side ... defending his girlfriend's behavior during that awkward CBS interview -- while bashing the media company for the way it handled the now-infamous sit-down.

Ben Affleck has done a lot of cool things over his 52 years walking the planet ... but says the opportunity to run routes for Tom Brady was one of the greatest days of his life!!

The "Accountant 2" star chopped it up with Jason and Travis Kelce on the latest episode of "New Heights" ... and at one point in the convo, the brothers asked all about his one-on-one training sesh with the GOAT when they were vacationing at the same spot.

"To this day, aside from the birth of my children, that was the greatest day of my life," he said.

Cops have opened an investigation into the golf cart accident that's left John Elway's longtime friend, Jeff Sperbeck, fighting for his life, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Office tells us ... it's started to probe the matter -- which occurred on Saturday evening in La Quinta, Calif. -- but right now, everything is "purely informational."

We're told investigators are in the process of gathering info ... and conducting interviews with witnesses. Ultimately, cops say the goal is to determine if a criminal act occurred.

12:08 PM PT -- Jeff Ulbrich just addressed the matter during media availability on Wednesday ... publicly apologizing to Shedeur and the Sanders family -- as well as the entire Falcons organization -- for what transpired.

Ulbrich said his failure to protect confidential information was "inexcusable" ... and same goes for Jax's role in sharing it.

Ulbrich said the family will not appeal the fine ... and they promise to work hard and prove they're above this whole ordeal.

The NFL just punished the Atlanta Falcons and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich for their roles in the Shedeur Sanders draft day prank call ... stating the org. and coach messed up by allowing confidential info to get leaked.

The Falcons were fined $250k and Ulbrich an additional $100k for "failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL Draft."

Sanders was on the receiving end of a bogus phone call on Day 2 of the event ... with a male pretending to be New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis hitting the ex-Colorado quarterback's private line and telling him he'd have to wait a bit longer before getting picked.