Football

The best receiver in the NFL was just traded ... for a 28-year-old running back!?!?

Yup, that just happened ... DeAndre Hopkins was sent packing from the Texans to the Cardinals for David Johnson -- and it's got everybody wondering, WHAT THE HELL IS BILL O'BRIEN DOING?!

The stud receiver -- a 27-year-old, 3-time All-Pro who was on a VERY team-friendly deal -- was traded along with a 4th-round pick just minutes into the league's legal tampering window Monday.

And, in return, O'Brien's Texans reportedly received Johnson, a 2nd-rounder this year and a fourth-rounder next year ... and the move is being universally panned on social media.

As for why ... if you're unfamiliar, Johnson has just 1,308 rushing yards in the last 3 seasons combined -- and was benched last year in Arizona in favor of Kenyan Drake.

Hopkins, meanwhile, has recorded at least 96 catches and 1,165 receiving yards in each of the past 3 years.

Yeah, not a great look for the Texans!!

Also, you'll recall ... O'Brien was the architect behind the trades that cost the Texans two first-round picks (in the Laremy Tunsil swap), and JaDeveon Clowney this past season.

Tyrann Mathieu is going to bat for Derrick Henry ... roasting the Tennessee Titans for choosing to sign Ryan Tannehill to a longterm deal instead of paying the workhorse RB.

"Damn they paid the QB but the RB who made the QB job 75% lighter he don’t get no love," the Honey Badger said Monday. "Boy it’s cold."

The Titans inked Tannehill to a monster deal Sunday ... agreeing to terms on a 4-year, $118 MILLION extension -- but chose not to pay Henry with a big contract as well.

Instead, the team will reportedly place the franchise tag on Derrick ... guaranteeing him only roughly $12 million for 2020.

It ain't exactly pennies ... but for comparison, Ezekiel Elliott -- who Henry outrushed last season by nearly 200 yards -- will make $15 mil next season with plenty more guaranteed for the following years.

"Thank god that man come from a good family," Mathieu said of Henry.

Of course, Tennessee can still get a longterm deal done with Derrick eventually this offseason ... although it seems unlikely, considering how paying RBs have worked out for NFL teams the past few years (sorry, Rams, Falcons and Cardinals).

How'd Kyler Murray cap off an amazing first season in the NFL??

BY COPPING AN INSANE BRUCE LEE DIAMOND PENDANT, BABY!!!

TMZ Sports has learned the Arizona Cardinals star QB hit up ZoFrostAndCo shortly after winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, to have a sick chain made.

Murray -- who's posted inspirational quotes from Lee throughout his football and baseball career -- asked for a diamond piece of the famous mixed martial artist ... and ZoFrost sure delivered.

We're told the ice features 40 carats of diamonds with approximately 7,800 stones ... and, all told, the drip weighs in at a whopping 330 grams.

As for the price, we've learned it was $95,000 ... but, don't worry, Murray can afford it -- he's in the middle of a 4-year, $35 MIL contract as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Roddy White says Falcons fans asking the team to move on from Matt Ryan are a bunch of idiots ... telling TMZ Sports, "That's just crazy to me, man!"

"Move on for what?!" White told us out at LAX this week. "What you going to move on to?!"

The 34-year-old QB is still in the middle of a 5-year, $150 MILLION contract ... but there's been a growing rumble from some fans in Atlanta that say it's time to find his replacement.

When we asked White about that Tuesday, he told us he thinks that's crazy, saying, "He owns every [Falcons] record for a quarterback up to this point, which is ridiculous."

"Passing yards, completion percentage, all that stuff. So for people to say that, man, that's just crazy to me, man!"

Ryan had a solid season last year ... throwing for 4,466 yards, 26 TDs and just 14 picks -- but his team went 7-9 for the second straight season.

That's led a lot of people to wonder if Dan Quinn should draft a QB in the 1st round next month ... but White says no way.

"We don't have time for that, man," White says. "We're trying to win Super Bowls."

FYI ... Ryan's star teammate, Julio Jones, agreed with White when we asked him back in January about possibly drafting Tua Tagovailoa.

There's more ... Roddy also explained to us why he thinks the XFL has a real chance to succeed -- and he also clowned the hell out the Rams' rumored new logo.

More trouble for NFL player Austin Seferian-Jenkins -- the free agent tight end has been arrested for DUI again ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We're told ASJ was picked up by the Gig Harbor Police Dept. in Gig Harbor, Wash. (where he played high school football) and was booked in Kitsap County Jail on March 9.

A court official tells us, he was hit with three charges stemming from the arrest ... 1 count of DUI, 1 count of driving with a suspended license, and 1 count of operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device.

We're told Seferian-Jenkins was also hit with a civil infraction for speeding and improper lane change ... and was arraigned on the charges on March 11.

We've reached out to Seferian-Jenkins' camp for comment ... but so far, no word back yet.

Of course, this isn't the first time the tight end's been accused of drunk driving ... he's been arrested twice for the offense since 2013, with the most recent one coming in 2016.

In police video we obtained of that arrest ... you can see ASJ was clearly slurring his words during the stop -- and even told the officer he had to take a "huge s***."

Rob Gronkowski is "deep in talks" to sign a contract with WWE -- and reportedly could make his first official appearance with the company later this month.

The 30-year-old ex-New England Patriots star has been talking about a career with the WWE for years -- but now that he's seemingly closed the door on an NFL comeback, it's becoming real.

In fact, ProWrestlingSheet's Ryan Satin appeared on FS1's "WWE Backstage" and cited multiple sources who say Gronk's very close to finalizing his deal.

Satin says if things move according to plan, Gronk is expected to appear on "Friday Night Smackdown" in New Orleans on March 20.

Gronk LOVES pro wrestling -- and the McMahon family. Just last month, he was pictured with Triple H during Super Bowl weekend in Miami.

And, don't forget when he famously jumped in the ring to help out his pal, Mojo Rawley, at Wrestlemania 33 in 2017 -- and looked like a natural.

In fact, Gronk even told us a short time after that bout he wanted a WWE match of his own with Rawley!!

If Rob does ultimately get into the sport full-time ... he'll have no shortage of rivals -- everyone from Becky Lynch to Lio Rush and Bobby Lashley have talked smack about the 30-year-old.

As for Gronk's ability to wrestle full-time despite having no real background in the WWE world ... Rawley told us last year, "All I know is whatever he does next, or what he's doing currently, he's gonna be the best at."

Gronk famously retired from the New England Patriots back in 2019 ... finishing his career with 3 Super Bowl rings and 79 total receiving touchdowns.

Chris Johnson says he's PUMPED about the possibility of Tom Brady bolting from New England for Tennessee ... telling TMZ Sports he's down to recruit the QB himself!!

"I might have to call him," CJ2K says. "If he wanna come, I might have to call him and say, 'Aye, we need to make this move!'"

Rumors of Tom possibly leaving the Pats for the Titans have been swirling this off-season ... especially because Brady's pal and former teammate, Mike Vrabel, coaches the team.

In fact, Vrabel and Brady were spotted FaceTiming each other just a few days ago during a college basketball game!!!

So, when we asked Chris about the possibility of Tom under center for his ex-Titans squad... he was jacked up about it!!

"Everybody knows Tom is the GOAT," Chris says. "If we can get Tom over there and play a couple years before he retires, you know I definitely wouldn't be against that."

As for what his pitch to Brady would be? Chris says it's simple ...

"It's a loving city, man. It's a great place to be. Great fan base -- the fan base is incredible. Just to be able to bring a Super Bowl there to that city, it would mean a lot. It would be something great."

New York Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams was arrested at LaGuardia on Thursday ... cops tell TMZ Sports the former 1st-round pick brought a gun to the airport.

Law enforcement sources tell us Williams was going through a security checkpoint at around 9:15 PM ET when TSA agents scanned his luggage and found a Glock 19.

The way it was put to us ... Quinnen told officials he believed he could carry the gun into New York legally ... since the 22-year-old does have an Alabama permit for the firearm.

But, after authorities explained to the 6'3", 303-pound NFL player he had to have an NY permit to carry there ... they arrested him on a charge of criminal possession of a weapon.

We're told Williams was issued a summons ... and will be forced to appear in court later this month.

Quinnen was a MASSIVE star coming out of the Univ. of Alabama ... he was the No. 3 pick by the Jets in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Williams played in 13 games for NY this past season -- starting nine of them -- and he recorded 2.5 sacks with 28 combined tackles.

Dez Bryant says he's physically and mentally healthy to play in the NFL again -- insisting his time away from the game has helped ... but now he's ready to ball out again!

"I miss the game," Dez told BSO while sitting courtside at the Dallas Mavericks game Wednesday night ... "I did get injured but I'm not even worried about that."

"It was just more so up here [mentally] than anywhere and I got that in check and I'm just ready to put on a show."

31-year-old Dez hasn't played a snap in an NFL game since suiting up with the Dallas Cowboys in 2017. He later signed a deal with the New Orleans Saints but tore his Achilles during a workout before his first game.

Bryant has been training like a maniac ever since -- even working out with Super Bowl MVP  Patrick Mahomes, who sat near Bryant at Wednesday's game.

Dez says his comeback isn't really about proving the haters wrong -- but more about getting back to doing what he loves.

"I don't give up ... that's just who I am."

Jimmy Garoppolo's teammate is going to bat for the San Francisco QB ... saying the Niners should NOT trade him for Tom Brady -- EVER!!!

"It's ludicrous," SF running back Jeff Wilson told Sports Illustrated this week. "[Garoppolo] just took us all the way to the Super Bowl, great season, 14 wins."

There's been growing buzz around the NFL that a TB12-for-Jimmy G swap could, in fact, go down ... and it does make some sense for both sides.

Remember, the Pats LOVED Garoppolo when he was in New England ... and reluctantly traded him to SF back in 2017 when it was clear Brady still had gas left in the tank.

As for the Niners, they were only a few key QB plays away from winning the Super Bowl last month ... and some think Brady could have made those easily.

But, Wilson says SF needs to give Garoppolo another chance to prove himself ... saying, "He's a great quarterback, he's been that way ever since he's been to San Fran."

The move would take some finessing from both sides to happen ... Brady would have to agree to a sign-and-trade deal with NE first and foremost, and the Niners would have to do some dancing with the salary cap.

But, free agency is set to begin later this month ... and crazier things have happened in the league.

Bill O'Brien probably ain't gonna love this ...

Here's Houston Texans linebacker Barkevious Mingo firing a cannon in Hungary ... and it's terrifying and awesome all at the same time!!

The former No. 6 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft is overseas this month to help bring football to underprivileged communities ... and while he was in Hungary on Monday, he decided to take a crack at firing a massive weapon.

We're told the action all went down at Eger Castle in Eger ... and the video of Mingo and the heavy artillery is nuts.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound NFL player -- who's instructed by a man with a sword -- puts his face right up to the cannon ... and as it fires, it kicks back at him like a BEAST!!

You can see in the footage ... Mingo looks pretty surprised by the explosion -- but once he realizes he's fine, he seems to love it!!

FYI, we're all pretty glad Mingo survived the blast ... 'cause he's still in talks to re-sign with the Texans before free agency kicks off later this month!!!

By the way, the American Football Without Barriers program that Mingo is a part of is a really cool experience for NFLers ... and stars like Austin Hooper, Alex Mack and Todd Gurley are all over there with Barkevious for the trip.

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?!

NFL prospect Trey Adams says he wants a "bigger d**k!"

And, why do we know that?! Because the former Washington Huskies lineman said it ON CAMERA at the NFL Combine!!

The 6'8", 327-pound offensive tackle was doing the usual Q&A stuff with Combine staffers (not a specific team) when he got the layup question ... and thought he'd give a jokey answer.

Of course, these Q&A sessions are SUPPOSED to remain private, but someone leaked the footage ... and yeah, it's super-viral now!

Ya gotta wonder if Trey's stupid answer will affect his draft stock -- would you hire a guy who made a penis joke in his job interview?

Not everyone is laughing about the situation ... especially former NFL exec (and current NFL analyst) Gil Brandt who's pretty furious about the fact the footage was leaked in the first place.

"I hope the person who leaked the Trey Adams video is found out and punished to the fullest extent," Brandt said.

"These are supposed to be confidential meetings. Not fair to Adams or the process. Both players and teams rely on this confidentiality to have honest discussions.”

Diggs breaks up a pass intended for ... Diggs?!?!

That's a situation Trevon Diggs is hoping this happens A LOT in 2020 ... 'cause the 'Bama draft prospect tells TMZ Sports it's his goal to shut down his big bro Stefon Diggs in the NFL!!!

"We've always been competing like that since I was younger, like high school," Trevon says. "It's just a competition thing. We always compete."

A Diggs vs. Diggs matchup ain't exactly a farfetched dream for the DB ... Trevon is expected to be a 1st-round draft pick who could be a starter for a team right away next season.

And, with Stefon playing receiver for the Vikings ... the matchup definitely could go down at some point in 2020!!

As for how Trevon will handle it if it does happen ... he tells us he's got trash talk already prepared.

"I just have to be annoying," Trevon says. "I know how to get under his skin."

It's a good thing Joe Burrow's not boycotting the Bengals, 'cause Brett Favre says getting drafted by Cincinnati would be PERFECT!!

Remember, there were talks the Heisman winner would pull an Eli Manning and refuse to play for the Bengals if drafted ... but JB put an end to all that talk when asked about it at the draft, saying "I'm going to show up."

TMZ Sports spoke with Favre about the possibility ... and he says it couldn't be drawn up any better for the LSU Superstar.

"I think this is setting up perfect for him to go back home, assuming Cincinnati will take him," Favre tells us. "Hometown boy."

As for transitioning from whoopin' the entire NCAA to the NFL, the Hall of Famer ain't worried about the 23-year-old adjusting to the pros.

"I think if he plays the way he played this year, the transition will be easy."

Tony Romo's staying put at CBS ... and the network's rewarding him handsomely by making him the highest-paid NFL analyst in TV HISTORY!!!

The former Dallas Cowboys QB is reportedly set to earn a whopping $17 million per season. The two sides struck a deal Friday ... before ESPN got its chance to lure Romo, who is regarded as the NFL's best analyst, perhaps ever.

The New York Post was first to report the figure. The outlet's also reporting the deal's for "significantly more than five years," which could mean the entire deal may be worth more than $100 MILLION. The Sports Business Journal says CBS Sports confirmed locking Romo to a new deal but would not comment on terms.

Romo, who was in his final year of a 3-year deal, reportedly made $4 million last season. Over at FOX ... its lead NFL analyst, Troy Aikman, reportedly makes around $7.5 million per season. John Madden was previously the highest-paid analyst with a deal that paid him $8 million per year. And if you factor in an adjustment for inflation, that would still only put Madden's number at $14 million per year.

For a little more perspective ... Romo's highest single-season earnings in the NFL came in 2013 when he made $26.5 million, which included his signing bonus. He made over $127 million in 14 seasons with the Cowboys.

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy says he's not worried ONE BIT about reports Tom Brady is looking to bail on NE ... saying, "There's a ZERO percent chance he's leaving!"

Of course, El Pres is a DIEHARD Patriots fan -- everybody knows that -- but he also knows Tom and a bunch of other important people in the Patriots organization. Dude's plugged in.

So, when we saw Portnoy on the streets of NYC we had to ask if he had any inside info on the Brady drama.

"Listen! Tom Brady is not going anywhere," Portnoy says ... "Anybody who says he's going anywhere is an idiot!!"

He added, "The Patriots offer [Brady] the best chance to win the Super Bowl. They're offering him the most money or close to it. He just wants to feel wanted which I don't blame him!"

"Mark my words, there's a ZERO-POINT-ZERO-POINT-ZERO percent chance he's leaving New England. Zero! it may be less than zero!"