Football

Willie Anderson is convinced there's a "bias" against right tackles going on at the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- but he tells TMZ Sports he's hopeful that all ends this season.

The former Bengals star made headlines earlier this summer when he said he believes "The Blind Side" movie has warped people's perceptions of offensive linemen ... and when we spoke with him on the matter this week, he said his stance hasn't really changed.

He told us the famous sports movie based on Michael Oher's life -- as well as the way the NFL game used to be played back in the day -- have pushed voters to favor left tackles instead of those who played the right when it comes time to dole out bronze busts in Canton.

Trojan fans might be irked with him, but defensive lineman Bear Alexander says he's got nothing but love for USC after electing to redshirt this season ... telling TMZ Sports he'll still be pulling for his teammates on gamedays.

After making headlines this week over his decision to sit out the remainder of the 2024 schedule to save a year of eligibility, we caught up with Alexander to ask him all about the move.

While the news comes after the Trojans' loss to the University of Michigan ... Alexander said it was the "overall picture" of how things played out in the first three games at Southern Cal.

David Tepper's using his sports teams to help people rebuild their lives ... committing $3 million alongside his wife Nicole, the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC to Hurricane Helene relief efforts.

The investment adviser and his better half made the donation through the David & Nicole Tepper Foundation ... saying they were partnering with the two fanchises to support relief efforts across the Carolinas.

The funds will go to both short-term and long-term goals, according to a press release ... essential since the region remains in a State of Emergency. Some of the money will go to food banks and pantries, local community foundations and other service providing agencies.

Even though Arch Manning's only thrown 52 passes in his collegiate career, Jamaal Charles has already seen enough -- telling TMZ Sports he knows for a fact the young signal-caller is "the future of the Texas Longhorns."

Peyton and Eli's nephew has been filling in for Quinn Ewers the last two weeks while the QB1 has been out with injury ... and it's safe to say he's impressed the hell out of Charles, who praised him during an interview with us this week.

The UT legend said the 19-year-old has flashed so much against UTSA and ULM this month -- he's already reminding him of his famous uncles.

A promotional flyer for the Colorado Buffaloes' matchup against the UCF Knights was met with a ton of backlash on Friday ... with football fans wondering why the social media post wasn't kept in drafts in light of Hurricane Helene -- as it featured a star player knee-deep in water.

The Deion Sanders-led program's official X account shared the imagery at 12:30 PM PT ... in an attempt to signify 24 hours 'til kickoff from FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando.

The flyer was intended to be a play on star defensive back Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig's "Shark" nickname ... but considering what surrounding Southeast regions experienced over the past day, many users felt the theming of the promo was insensitive.

Baker Mayfield's wife is providing an update after Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeast ... saying their family is safe and sound -- but her heart breaks for those less fortunate.

Emily Mayfield revealed their status in a social media post ...  saying it was terrifying to experience the unknowns leading up to the violent storm, and they ultimately decided to get the Buccaneers quarterback, their baby girl and their dog out of the Tampa area on Thursday.

"Our sweet, sweet community got pummeled, but even that doesn't compare to the people up North who took this storm head on," Emily said. "It's unfathomable."

Terrell Suggs is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025 ... and T-Sizzle wholeheartedly believes he's a first-ballot HOF'er!

Suggs, a 7x Pro Bowler, joined "The Pacman Jones Show," where he chopped it up with his fellow former NFL star on Adam's new BetOnline show ... and Pac didn't waste any time.

"Don't you think you deserve to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer?" Pacman asked Suggs.

NY Giants star rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is letting fans know he's okay after suffering a scary head injury in the fourth quarter of the team's Thursday night matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

The moment occurred with 3:30 remaining in the contest and Big Blue down by five. Facing a fourth down ... Giants QB Daniel Jones tried to hit Nabers on the sideline to keep the drive alive.

However ... Nabers couldn't hold onto the pass -- with his face smacking the turf and seemingly knocking the 21-year-old out cold.

The Cowboys won the fight on the field and one of the bigger ones off of it as well on Thursday night ... as a Dallas supporter absolutely pummeled a Giants fan in a tiff at MetLife Stadium during the big game in New Jersey.

The chaos erupted early in the evening ... when a man in a Troy Aikman jersey got so upset with a Lawrence Taylor supporter -- he began beating the hell out of the guy.

Check out footage filmed by a bystander ... the Cowboys fan pulled the dude's Giants jersey over his head, and then unleashed a flurry of right hands.

Ryan Clark no longer plays for Mike Tomlin, but if he did ... he's making it clear he'd tell the Steelers head coach he needs to officially name Justin Fields the starting quarterback ASAP.

The former Pittsburgh defensive back said in an interview with TMZ Sports this week he believes a formal announcement would help his ex-team immensely going forward.

Of course, Tomlin has yet to do it ... as he still appears to be debating on whether or not the team should stick with Fields, or flip to Russell Wilson whenever the former Super Bowl champion is 100 percent healthy.

Eagles superfan Dunphy just revealed he sustained some rough injuries during his chest bump encounter with Jason Kelce earlier this month ... but, thankfully, he says he will not require surgery.

The diehard Philadelphia supporter -- who's gained fame over the years for his incredible array of Philly-themed stomach tattoos -- told No Shorts Media on Wednesday that test results showed he banged up his leg badly after he celebrated with Kelce at a pre-"Monday Night Football" celebration on Sept. 16.

He stated he was diagnosed with a "severe bone contusion" as well as several sprained ligaments ... but in a subsequent post on his Instagram page, he said all that would be required to heal is simply rest.

Bryce Young might be out of the job, but he's still got love for the guy who replaced him ... sharing a special moment with Andy Dalton after the Carolina Panthers' first win of the season.

The NFL Films cameras captured the pair of quarterbacks embracing in the locker room after Dalton's stellar Week 3 performance ... despite things not going his way, Young's keeping positive through it all.

The two exchanged a few words ... although Young's message was drowned out by all their teammates celebrating the big victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Brett Favre is speaking out after his shocking announcement this week ... with the NFL legend saying he greatly appreciates the "unbelievable show of support."

The Green Bay Packers great posted video to his Instagram about 48 hours after testifying at a welfare reform hearing on Capitol Hill ... where he announced he has Parkinson's.

Wow, what an overwhelming amount of support from you all," Favre captioned the post, adding, "Thank you and this is just the beginning of another mountain to climb."

Bengals legend Willie Anderson is racing to Joe Burrow's defense ... telling TMZ Sports anyone who's blaming Cincinnati's early season woes on the quarterback is flat-out wrong.

The former offensive lineman snapped on the JB haters during an interview with us on Tuesday -- some 24 hours after the Bengals fell to 0-3 with a "Monday Night Football" loss to the Commanders.

"That's ridiculous, bro," Anderson told us of the Burrow criticism. "Like, they're in these games because of him. It's just totally ridiculous."

Brett Favre tells TMZ Sports he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in early January ... after he began experiencing trouble using his right arm and hand.

The Hall of Fame quarterback made the revelations to us in late August while discussing various football topics. At the time, he requested we don't report it, but, after he went public with his diagnosis during a hearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday -- he gave us permission to run it.

Favre explained he first had suspicions something was up when his dominant arm -- which he used to throw 508 touchdown passes in his 20-year NFL career -- would get "stuck."