Football

Remember when a random liquor store worker beat out every national reporter in breaking the insane Patrick Mahomes deal??

The Kansas City Chiefs decided to team up with the infamous tweeter for another go-round on Thursday ... to officially announce a new contract with star defensive tackle Chris Jones!!

WELL, before any major outlet had a scoop on the Mahomes news, Katie Camlin of Plaza Liquor in KC sent out the following -- "A front office employee for the Chiefs came in and bought 6 bottles of Dom Perignon."

"Said there's a big signing today. He said it's not Chris Jones, so my guess is a Mahomes deal."

We all know by now that Katie was absolutely right in her prediction ... with Mahomes inking a record-breaking, 10-year deal worth up to $503 MILLION.

As a way to pay homage to the epic moment, the Chiefs worked with Camlin for a re-enactment for the Jones deal -- a 4-year, $85 million extension.

"OMG. Chiefs came in again. Six more bottles. My guess is CHRIS JONES!!" Camlin tweeted in the vid.

Of course, ESPN's Adam Schefter ended up breaking the news on Tuesday ... which Camlin joked was out of generosity.

"I let @AdamSchefter have that one."

Myles Garrett says he won't let his helmet-swinging attack on Mason Rudolph define his career ... and he's ready to put the "small bump in the road" behind him for good.

The Cleveland Browns superstar was suspended a total of 6 games in 2019 after he hit the Steelers QB during a game against Pittsburgh on November 15.

The 24-year-old -- who just inked a massive 5-year, $125 MILLION extension to stay in CLE -- spoke with local media for the first time since the incident on Thursday ... and said he's ready to prove it was a one-time thing.

"My life is much bigger than one moment," Garrett said. "Me, the Browns, and my teammates are going to look past that."

"That will be just a small bump in the road."

Garrett says he's not concerned about being labeled a "dirty player" ... and he won't be "walking on eggshells" on the field to make sure he isn't viewed that way.

"That's just life," Garrett added. "You have one mistake and people are going to come after you."

"Me, I'm just going to keep on playing my game, not worrying about what people say. It's just a bump in the road. I know my teammates will have my back to de-escalate and keep it to football."

Remember, Garrett previously told TMZ Sports he saw his suspension as a "blessing in disguise" ... and has used his time away from the game to stay in insane shape.

Garrett -- who accused Rudolph of using the n-word during the incident -- added he hasn't spoken to anyone with the Steelers organization in the months following ... but welcomes the opportunity to hash things over with the QB and coach Mike Tomlin.

"Women lie. Men lie. The stats don’t. Go do your homework."

Ezekiel Elliott has clearly hit a breaking point with critics of his game ... the Dallas Cowboys star just went OFF on an epic rant -- clapping back at haters who say he's lost a step.

"Check the stats," Zeke said. "Since I entered this league I have dominated year in, year out. Put some RESPECT on my name."

The 24-year-old has come under fire on multiple occasions in the last few days ... one anonymous coach last week ranked him as the 11th-best RB in the NFL.

Just days later, meanwhile, his Madden rating came out ... and he was only a 92 overall -- making him just the 4th best back in the game.

Zeke decided to lash out against the criticism Thursday ... insisting he's still the same dude that busted into the league in 2016 and destroyed everybody.

"Almost 1800 scrimmage yards and 14 TD’s with no training camp [last season] and now im not the same back," Elliott said.

"I do appreciate the standard you guys hold me to though lol. But I promise you no one holds me to a higher standard than myself."

NFL star Tyrann Mathieu has paid for the funeral costs of a 9-year-old boy who was killed in a horrific shooting in New Orleans, TMZ Sports has learned.

Devante Bryant was shot in the head on July 13th in a mysterious attack on a bunch of kids. Two other teenagers -- 13 and 16 -- were also shot, but they survived.

Cops are investigating but so far, they don't seem to have any idea about why someone would commit this horrible act.

When Tyrann -- who's from Louisiana -- found out about the killing, he wanted to help the family and felt paying for the funeral costs would allow them to focus on grieving for their son.

"Young black children should not be dying from gun violence," the Kansas City Chiefs superstar tells TMZ Sports.

"Devante didn’t even have a chance to live his life before it was tragically taken away from him."

"My goal is to help stop the violence and help my community to show and empower children from my community that there is another way, one child at a time."

"I wanted to help the Bryant family because I am from the 7th Ward and I felt that pain. I have a 7-year-old son that lives in New Orleans and I couldn’t imagine something happening to him at that age. He is only 2 years younger than Devante."

"My heart goes out to the Bryant and Howard Family."

If you have any information about the shooting -- please reach out to the New Orleans PD.

Bad news, Cowboys fans ... Dak Prescott did NOT reach a long-term deal with Dallas at the deadline Wednesday -- reportedly turning down over $100 MILLION guaranteed.

The superstar QB had been in contract talks with Cowboys brass all offseason about getting an extension done ... but the two sides just couldn't meet in the middle.

26-year-old Dak will now play on the franchise tag in 2020 -- which locks him in as Dallas' QB for only this season at $31.4 million.

Dallas' final offer to Dak was set to pay the 2-time Pro Bowler between $33 and $35 million every year, with over $100 million guaranteed ... NFL Network's Jane Slater reported Tuesday.

But, Prescott reportedly wanted fewer years on the deal ... and the Cowboys wouldn't budge -- so now it'll be back to the negotiating table next offseason.

It ain't all horrible news for either side ... Dak's still getting paid BIG money this season, and Dallas will have another year to decide if it wants to pony up Patrick Mahomes-type money for the quarterback.

And, if things are still undecided by this time in 2021 ... the Cowboys have the option of franchise tagging Prescott again for roughly $37 million.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- one of the most diehard Washington NFL fans on Earth -- says he's STOKED the team is changing its name ... calling the old moniker "a dark cloud" over the franchise.

"For me, personally, I’m ready for a new chapter," the NASCAR legend said on his Dale Jr. Download podcast this week.

"I'm ready for this conversation to no longer be part of my experience as a fan of the team, and the debate over this and the frustration over it and how it affects the franchise."

Dale's been ride-or-die with Washington for decades ... he's got all sorts of memorabilia and often publicly comments about the team after wins and losses.

So, when team owner Dan Snyder pulled the plug on the "Redskins" name ... everyone was wondering if Dale approved -- and the 45-year-old said wholeheartedly yes.

"It's a dark cloud over it all the time and it’s not going away," Earnhardt Jr. said of the name. "And, it’s hard to continue to support the franchise when this is part of the conversation."

"So, I'm great to break completely clean and start an entirely new identity and future. I think it will be great for the organization, the people that work in that company, the players that play for that team and anybody that plays for that team in the future. So, I'm good with it."

Dale didn't give any suggestions for a new name ... although he did seem to like the rumored "Red Wolves" option -- saying the fanbase could have fun with that one.

This is NOT good ...

Hundreds of people ignored social distancing guidelines and partied their asses off at Devin White's "Trail Ride" charity event over the weekend ... and video of the scene is alarming.

The Tampa Bay Bucs linebacker -- despite surging COVID-19 cases in Louisiana -- decided to press forward with his 2nd annual "Trail Ride" event in Cotton Valley on Saturday.

The problem? Hundreds -- if not thousands -- of people attended ... and even though White said he'd urge hand-washing, mask-wearing and social distancing, it's clear those precautions weren't followed seriously throughout the evening.

Check out footage from the event ... partygoers can be seen mask-less, dancing amid a sea of people. At one point, you can even see 22-year-old White partying without a mask.

We reached out to Louisiana State Police, as well as the Webster Parish Sheriff's Office, for comment on the event ... but so far no word back yet.

But, reps for both departments had told us last week officers would be at or near the scene of the party to assist in traffic control ... although neither said definitively if they'd help enforce social distancing guidelines.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Cotton Valley, C.C. Cox, told TMZ Sports he was allowing the party to happen because, "That's what he wants to do, he can do it, you know?"

"We need to play. This state needs it. This country needs it."

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron is making it crystal clear he wants the football season to happen despite the global pandemic ... telling Vice President Mike Pence he's ready to kick things off in the fall.

Coach O spoke out on his stance in a round table conversation with the VP at Tiger Stadium on Tuesday ... saying he believes they can "handle" the coronavirus while going through with the season.

"I don't think we can take this away from our players, take this away from our state and our country," Coach O added.

"We need football. Football is the lifeblood of our country."

Of course, the 2020 season is up in the air due to the pandemic ... and SEC commish Greg Sankey has expressed concern with the status of the season.

While a decision won't be made until later this month ... O made it clear ... his Tigers will be prepared to defend the title.

Houston Texans star Kenny Stills was one of nearly 100 people arrested during a protest in Louisville on Tuesday ... and the WR took his mug shot in a Breonna Taylor shirt.

The 28-year-old NFL player joined 86 others in a massive protest outside the home of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to seek justice for Taylor.

As part of the demonstration, the group of people -- which included "Real Housewives Of Atlanta" star Porsha Williams -- sat on Cameron's lawn and chanted ... urging him to levy charges against the cops involved in Taylor's tragic death.

A Lousiville Metro Police Dept. spokesperson says officers eventually told the group to leave ... but when they refused, all 87 were put in cuffs and hauled off to jail.

We're told Stills and the others were booked on 3 charges, including felony "intimidating a participant in a legal process."

As you can see in his mug shot, Stills was clearly NOT happy to be at the station ... and his shirt read, "Breonna Taylors Killers Are Still Police."

The LMPD spokesperson added of the incident, "The protestors chose to occupy the front yard of a home owned by the Kentucky Attorney General and continuously chant towards he and his neighbors."

"At his request, they were trespassed from the property. All were given the opportunity to leave, were told that remaining on the property would be unlawful, and chose not to leave."

Stills has consistently been one of the most vocal NFL players over the years when it comes to the search for social justice ... he's taken knees during the national anthem and has even tatted "Black Lives Matter" on his leg.

According to jail records, Stills was still in custody as of Wednesday morning.

HOW COOL IS THIS?!?!

Tyreek Hill says he ain't embarrassed one bit about being put on a poster by a 15-year-old at his camp last weekend ... in fact, he's praising the kid -- and telling TMZ Sports he's hoping for a rematch one day in the NFL!!!

"Shouts out to that kid, man," the Chiefs superstar says. "Keep that same energy. I'm proud of him."

If you missed it ... rising H.S. sophomore Tyreeq-Styles Obichere made the catch of a lifetime against Hill during a rep at the NFL receiver's youth camp in Texas last Saturday.

The play was INSANE ... Tyreeq jumped OVER Tyreek and hauled in the pass with ONE HAND!!!

Hill tells us he was shocked by the rep ... and called it, "Odell Beckham 2.0. It was great."

And, when we told the NFL All-Pro that Obichere is gunning to do it again against him in the NFL in about a decade ... Hill was all for it!!!

"Hopefully I'll still be playing," Hill said, before firing off a warning ... "And if I do, if I do, and if I am still playing, I'll still be the fastest."

Hill says his advice for Obichere going forward is simple, "Don't let one moment define you."

By the way, if you think Tyreek's conifdence is shaken by the play ... it's DEFINITELY not -- he told us, "Look, guess what, on Sunday night, on Sundays and Mondays and Thursdays, I know what I do!"

Washington legend Darrell Green tells TMZ Sports ... there should be only one route Dan Snyder takes when it comes to renaming his NFL franchise -- and that's to go with the "Red Tails" moniker.

"I would say that would be my first and only choice right now," the Hall of Fame cornerback says.

Of course, the Red Tails was the nickname given to the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II with planes that had red paint on the tails.

Green says it would be an amazing move on Snyder's part to call his team that ... this after decades of holding onto the controversial and downright racist "Redskins" nickname.

"The Red Tails are some of the greatest heroes of any color in our country," Green says, "and particularly against the extraordinary horrors that the Tuskegee Airmen were up against."

Green's backing of the name comes just days after Washington's franchise QB, Dwayne Haskins, also threw his support behind the potential new mascot.

Green tells us he hasn't yet been asked by Snyder or anyone in Washington's organization for input ... but he's hopeful they'll reach out to him soon.

"I'd love to be part of discussions moving forward," Green says.

In the meantime, Darrell is working on a really cool project with other NFL players ... helping raise awareness and money for minorities who have been impacted during the coronavirus pandemic.

Why does Post Malone have tattoos of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce on his body?!

Because the NFL stars kicked his ass in an epic backstage beer pong match -- and the loser had to get tats!!

It all went down after the Chiefs beat the Niners in the Super Bowl -- Mahomes and teammate Kelce were able to score some VIP tickets to Post's February concert in Kansas City.

But, Mahomes told GQ before the show went on ... he and Kelce were invited backstage for a little beer pong action with Post.

What happened next is pretty legendary ... Mahomes said he and Kelce WENT OFF -- and Post Malone was PISSED!!!

Mahomes said after about 14 or 15 straight victories ... Post decided to up the ante on the games -- and brought out a piece of paper for Mahomes and Kelce to sign.

The deal? If Post couldn't win, he'd get the Chiefs stars' autographs inked on his body.

Of course, Kelce and Mahomes didn't lose -- with Mahomes saying his tight end was "unconscious" good on the table! So, when Post got the "L," he agreed to get the ink done after the show!!

Mahomes says he tried to talk Post out of the tats ... saying, "Dude, you do not actually have to get a tattoo of our autographs."

Didn't work.

And, if you're wondering ... no, Post hasn't revealed WHERE the new tats went on his body.

Patrick Mahomes ain't the only dude gettin' paid this off-season -- Myles Garrett is wrapping up a contract negotiation that will pay him $125 MIL over 5 years!

The Cleveland Browns are in the "final stages" of negotiations with Garrett, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport ... but it's basically a lock at this point.

Rap says Garrett's deal is structured to pay $25 mil in new money per year.

"Still a few small hurdles. But it is expected to happen, as Cleveland is set to lock up a key piece," Rapoport adds.

24-year-old Garrett has been a monster in the league ever since the Browns selected him with the #1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

His career hasn't been without controversy -- there was that infamous helmet swing directed at Pittsburgh Steelers QB Mason Rudolph during the 2019 season. Garrett was suspended for the rest of the season (6 games) and fined $45k.

Garrett expressed remorse about the incident and later told TMZ Sports he viewed the whole thing as a "blessing in disguise" because he learned a lesson from it.

Ex-NFL superstar Chad Ochocinco says the doesn't give a DAMN if he ever gets into the Hall of Fame ... but he clearly thinks he should.

"My numbers and [Michael Irvin's] numbers are exactly the same," Chad told the "I Am Athlete" podcast.

Irvin was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007 -- after posing 750 catches, 11,904 receiving yards and 65 TDs in 12 seasons.

OchoCinco -- who only played 11 seasons -- posted 766 catches, 11,059 yards and 67 TDs.

But, Michael Irvin has 3 Super Bowl rings -- a fact that was brought up to Chad during the podcast.

"Oh, so we letting people in the Hall of Fame for rings? The goal post moves depending on who the individual is," Chad says.

"The goal post moves on what the accolades and what it means to get in there. Ain't got time to play that game, man."

Chad says he's perfectly fine if he never makes it to Canton -- because "I made my own jacket. I made my own bust."

We knew about the jacket -- he famously wore it on the sidelines during his playing days. The bust sounds new!

"I got a bust when you walk into my place, it's a bust right there when you walk in. Face, boom! 14 karat gold! I don't even like bronze."

Chad says he won't beg anyone to get into the HOF -- saying, "I don't care nothing about that."

Put this down as the first loss of the season for Florida State ...

Deion Sanders' top QB recruit son, Shedeur Sanders, announced Monday he's committing to play football at FAU in 2021 ... spurning his dad's Seminoles in the process.

It's pretty big news ... Shedeur is considered one of the best high school QB prospects in the nation -- and most had him pinned to follow in his dad's footsteps in Tallahassee.

But, the 6'1", 198-pound rising senior told ESPN this week he wanted to blaze his own trail in Florida ... opting to play for Willie Taggart and the Owls instead.

"I wanted to write my own legacy, FAU gave me a opportunity to do that!" Shedeur said. "I trust the staff ... Willie Taggart was the first coach to offer me a opportunity to play at the next level."

Shedeur is a monster on the football field ... in his junior season last year at Trinity Christian School in Texas, he threw for 3,477 yards and 47 TDs to just 4 INTs. He also rushed for 225 yards.

Of course, Shedeur has also gotten some tips from the greatest quarterback of all-time ... he famously worked out with Tom Brady last month and said he "soaked" in all the GOAT knowledge.