Football

Tennis star Naomi Osaka -- the highest-paid female athlete this past year -- is blasting the NFL ... taking aim at Roger Goodell and demanding Colin Kaepernick get his job back.

The 22-year-old broke it all down in an email to Reuters this week ... saying how she couldn't believe it took THIS much for The Shield to finally admit it bungled its handling of kneeling protests.

"Colin has been putting this message out since 2016," Osaka said. "It took a pandemic, an economic crisis and a torturous murder on camera, all at the same time, for people to really hear him."

"It shouldn't have been that way. If the NFL wants to show that they really care the first thing they should do is take a knee together and give Colin his job back."

As we previously reported ... Al Sharpton relayed a similar message at George Floyd's funeral earlier this week, saying if the NFL truly is sorry, it needs to give Colin his job back ASAP.

"We don’t want an apology," Sharpton said. "We want him repaired!"

As for Osaka, she's held no punches when it comes to her outspoken role in the fight for social justice ... and even in the face of hundreds of trolls online, Osaka says she ain't stoppin' anytime soon.

"I'm vocal because I believe in the movement and want to try to use my platform to facilitate change," Osaka said.

Patrick Mahomes says he knows Drew Brees ain't a racist ... telling reporters Wednesday the Saints QB will show the world he's truly "a good person" in the wake of backlash over his anti-kneeling comments.

"Obviously, his statement missed the point and missed what was going on in the world today," Mahomes said, "and took away attention from the movement that was going on and the peaceful protesting that was going on."

"But I think you see with his actions afterward, and I believe with his actions moving forward, you will see the true person that he is."

The Chiefs superstar says he's had a longstanding relationship with Drew, given their Texas roots ... and Mahomes claims he's never had a bad experience with the future Hall of Famer.

In fact, Pat even said, "he’s always showed me the utmost respect."

So, after Drew apologized for his insensitive national anthem comments last week ... Pat says it wasn't hard to forgive the guy.

"I've known Drew for a pretty long time just being from Texas," Mahomes said, "and I know that he’s a good person and he has a good heart."

Brees has issued three separate statements since he was publicly grilled for his comments ... vowing to help in the fight for racial justice in America.

Drew's wife also issued a statement of her own, saying, "To all of our friends and anyone we hurt we will do better ... We are sorry."

By the way, Mahomes also spoke about his role in that powerful video with other NFL stars that ultimately led to Roger Goodell's famous statement ... saying he felt it was his duty to participate in the clip.

"I’m blessed to have this platform, why not use it?" Mahomes said.

The statue of Jerry Richardson -- ex-NFL owner and alleged workplace scumbag -- at Bank of America Stadium is officially coming down ... and reports say it might be forever.

The 13-foot sculpture -- which was gifted to 83-year-old Richardson back in 2016 -- is feared to be a target for vandals in wake of national protests ... so the Carolina Panthers are having it removed.

While excavation is expected to be described as temporary by the team ... reports say it could be permanent, given the past allegations of sexual harassment and racist language against Richardson.

As we previously reported, the former Panthers honcho was fined $2.75 MILLION after NFL investigators claimed he was, indeed, a terrible person at work.

In the NFL probe, officials say they found evidence to support Richardson did, in fact, sexually harass female staffers and use the n-word while running the team.

The investigation was ultimately a big part of why Richardson is no longer an NFL owner ... as he gave up the Panthers in a sale to David Tepper back in 2018.

As for why the statue hasn't been removed since ... Tepper claimed in a press conference after buying the team he was "contractually obligated" to keep the piece up.

We've reached out to the Panthers for comment ... but so far, no word back yet.

DeAndre Hopkins says Dabo Swinney is NOT the problem at Clemson -- claiming the head football coach is no racist, period.

Swinney has been under fire over a 2017 incident involving Clemson asst. coach Danny Pearman -- who admits he used the N-word during a conversation with tight end D.J. Greenlee during a practice.

Both Pearman and Swinney acknowledged it was wrong for the coach to use that language -- but insist the word was not used as a slur directed at the player.

Swinney says he addressed the incident with Pearman at the time -- but did not fire or suspend the coach. Pearman is still a member of the Clemson football coaching staff.

There is outrage at Swinney for not taking stronger action.

Also, Swinney is catching heat for a shirt he wore recently which said, "Football Matters" ... which some have declared insensitive in the wake of the recent Black Lives Matter protests surrounding the killing of George Floyd.

But, Hopkins (one of the best players to ever come out of Clemson) is sticking up for his old coach.

"One thing I do know Coach Swinney has never been a racist or had any ill will towards any player," Hopkins says.

"Best coach I’ve ever been around from a football perspective and personal perspective. He helped me become a man and grow from being a kid from Central South Carolina."

Hopkins IS taking issue with other problems at Clemson -- including the fact the Honors College is named after John C. Calhoun, a staunch pro-slavery racist.

Washington Redskins head coach Ron Rivera says he will support his players kneeling during the national anthem this season ... this, after star running back Adrian Peterson announced his plan to protest.

"It's their choice, it's their decision and I support it because its in our constitution and that's what our military personnel fought for. For our rights," Rivera told the media on Wednesday.

Coach adds he educated himself on the issue prior to signing Eric Reid (who knelt with Colin Kaepernick while on the 49ers) to the Carolina Panthers in 2018 ... saying he even read the Constitution, Bill of Rights, the Amendments, and the oath of office to get a better understanding.

Rivera says he had an eye-opening conversation with Reid that explained what the protest stood for ... and now he's totally cool with the movement.

It's an important stance -- just last week, Peterson said he's "without a doubt" going to kneel this upcoming season after the death of George Floyd.

Reggie Bush's dissociation with USC is dissolving ... the school is expected to formally end his ban from the program this month after 10 YEARS of exile.

Bush was famously banished from having an affiliation with his alma mater way back in 2010 ... after an NCAA investigation determined the former RB received improper benefits during his time at the school.

As we previously reported, there was a major NCAA rule change recently which basically reduced any major disassociation to a 10-year disassociation.

USC interim athletic director Dave Roberts pointed out that June 2020 would mark the 10-year mark ... and hinted the school would like to bring Bush back.

And now, according to ESPN, that's exactly what's happening -- with the two sides "in the process of finalizing an agreement that would allow [Bush] to be reinstated."

As we previously reported ... after Bush was busted, USC was hit with mega sanctions, including the loss of scholarships and being stripped of its 2004 national championship.

Reggie was also ordered to give back his 2005 Heisman Trophy.

Bush has been very vocal about the ban over the years, lamenting that USC had to pay so harshly for it all.

"It was a horrible feeling, one of the worst feelings in the world," Bush just told The Athletic last month. "It felt like I died when I had to hear that there weren’t gonna be scholarships for kids because of me or because of something connected to me."

"I'm still not over that. It’s just something you learn to live with."

It's unclear how and exactly when SC will re-welcome back Bush ... but former Trojans like LenDale White -- who's been campaigning to get Reggie back for YEARS -- will no doubt be thrilled nonetheless.

NFL superstar Richard Sherman is taking aim at Jerry Jones for his lack of a public statement amid the Black Lives Matter movement ... saying straight-up the Cowboys owner's "silence speaks volumes."

Sherm told the San Francisco Chronicle this week a message from the most powerful owner in the NFL could do wonders for the fight for social justice ... and he's definitely noticed how the 77-year-old has sat out of the game so far.

"It’s not pulling [NFL owners] like it is the rest of the country,” the 49ers cornerback said. “Because if it was, then they’d speak."

"Jerry Jones, especially, has no problem speaking up any other time about anything else. But when it’s such a serious issue, and he could really make a huge impact on it with a few words, his silence speaks volumes."

Of course, Jerry's team has been very vocal in the wake of national protests following George Floyd's death ... Dallas' social media account released a video last week condemning racism.

Several players -- including star QB Dak Prescott -- have also released statements on the matter and pledged to donate serious cash to the cause.

But, Jones did NOT appear in the team's vid ... and has yet to have a public statement attributed to him -- and the NFL world has definitely noticed.

In fact, former Cowboys star Dez Bryant even tweeted over the weekend he wished somebody had taken Jones -- and his son, Stephen, plus Jason Witten -- to the public protests in Dallas.

Al Sharpton just unleashed the Holy Spirit on Roger Goodell at George Floyd's funeral in Houston -- blasting the NFL commish for his "empty apology" and demanding the league to get his job back!

A charged-up Sharpton said it's "nice" seeing how people have rallied around and encouraged protests against police brutality and racial injustice ... but he's not impressed with the video Goodell posted on Friday admitting the league bungled the way it handled peaceful protesters like Kap.

"The head of the NFL said, 'Yeah, maybe we were wrong. Football players -- maybe they did have the right to peacefully protest.'"

"Well, don’t apologize -- give Colin Kaepernick his job back!"

Sharpton continued, "Don’t come with some empty apology. Take a man’s livelihood?! Strip a man down of his talents?! Then four years later when the whole world is marching, all of a sudden you go and do a FaceTime talking about you sorry?!"

The Rev. said if Goodell is REALLY sorry, he should "repay the damage you did to the career you stood down ... because when Colin took a knee, he took it for the families in this building."

NFL superstar Von Miller is ready for the league to take the next step in its pledge to support social justice ... urging owners to make a peaceful protest policy and "walk the walk."

Miller made the statement in a powerful and emotional letter for TIME.com on Tuesday ... saying while he appreciated Roger Goodell's video last week, he said there's still more work to be done for the league.

Specifically ... seems Miller wants every NFL player to have the right to kneel during national anthems without the fear of backlash or future blackballing from league ownership.

"While it’s great that the NFL made an official statement in support of Black Lives Matter and the right to peaceful protest," Miller said, "it will ultimately be up to the team owners to put league policy into action and walk the walk."

Von never mentions Colin Kaepernick by name, but it's obvious he's referencing the QB and other players like Antonio Cromartie, who believe teams conspired to blackball them for taking a knee during the national anthem.

Miller seemed hopeful the NFL and the nation as a whole will continue to make the right steps toward social equality ... writing, "This time may be different. I pray that it is different."

"This time, many of the protesters are not black," Miller said. "This time, the entire country is engaged. This time, the entire world has taken notice. We have really begun to talk with each other, not just “at” each other."

NFL superstar J.J. Watt and Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien are among those mourning George Floyd's death on Tuesday ... with several members of the team attending the funeral service in Houston.

The Texans coach spoke at length last week about his frustrations over Floyd's death ... and vowed not to hold any off-season activities so players could attend the service.

Watt -- alongside former teammate D.J. Reader -- paid their respects to Floyd at the Fountain of Praise Church ... as well as Texans chairman Cal McNair and other staffers.

Watt recently spoke out following Floyd's death ... saying, "I've seen the video and I think it's disgusting. I don't understand how that situation can't be remedied in a way that doesn't end in his death."

Rob Gronkowski and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are stepping up BIG for a local high school's football program ... joining forces to replace the team's equipment and storage shed after a tragic fire.

A blaze broke out on Blake High School's campus in Tampa last month ... with an estimated $15k-worth of supplies destroyed, according to tampabay.com.

The team said it would be nearly impossible to replace all the equipment in time to prepare for the 2020 season ... saying it simply isn't in the school's budget.

But, there's GREAT news for the Yellow Jackets -- the 31-year-old tight end and the Bucs are teaming up to get the program back on its feet ... with Gronk announcing their decision to help out in a WWE promo-style video on Instagram.

"Hey everyone, last week we heard about an unfortunate incident in Tampa where a fire burned down a high school storage shed full of their team's football equipment," Gronk says in the vid. "Sadly, they lost it all."

"Well, the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation and my new team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are all about helping youth reach their full potential."

"So, we're gonna do just that. To the Blake High School Yellow Jackets, you're getting a brand new storage unit and new football equipment to replace everything that was lost."

Gronk gives the team a bit of encouragement ... and even hints he may hit up a practice with his Bucs teammates.

A bunch of Tigers will be flooding the booths in Baton Rouge this November ... 'cause LSU head coach Ed Orgeron says ALL of his players decided to team up and register to vote.

The leader of the reigning national champs revealed the team's decision on the "Off The Bench" show on ESPN Radio Tuesday morning ... saying he's working alongside his players to come up with ways to fight the issues they face every day.

"We had a great team meeting with our football team and I talked to them about specific stuff that was going on in the world today," Coach O said.

Orgeron added the team's leadership committee -- consisting of 12 players and several coaches -- came up with the idea to make their voices heard by hitting the voting booths.

"One of the solutions that they came up with as a group and to represent the team, that we're gonna register to vote. The guys wanted to take action."

Orgeron spoke out after the killing of George Floyd in an interview with Sports Illustrated last week ... saying, "My players and former players are hurting, and they let me know they’re hurting."

Roger Goodell has been a key figure behind the scenes in helping NFL players in their fight for social justice ... so says former NFL star Anquan Boldin, who's now praising the commish for his efforts.

The ex-Arizona Cardinals receiver broke it all down on 'The Daily Show' with Trevor Noah this week ... explaining Goodell has had his and others' backs when it comes to lobbying for equal rights.

Boldin says Goodell has taken trips with the NFL Players Coalition -- a group established by the league to help address social issues -- to key meetings over the years, and Boldin says he's grateful for it.

"When we're asking for support of the NFL, it's not just monetary," Boldin says. "It's coming to us when we have these meetings with congressmen and senators and those that are in positions of power because then those conversations change because there are a lot of owners in the NFL that can guarantee that some of those people are in the seats that they're in because of their support."

"When we ask the NFL to lend us your platform, it's coming to these meetings with us. It's understanding what exactly it is that we're fighting against."

Boldin added, "I can tip my hat to Roger because he's come along on several of those occasions. He's come along with us when we've spoken to people in position of power. He's come and tried to see, while we were doing court hearings, like what's the process."

Anquan says that's huge ... because having a guy who wields as much power as Goodell in their corner changes perceptions.

"I can give him kudos for trying to understand what exactly it is that we're talking about, trying to step outside of his self and put his self in our shoes and understand the issues that we're screaming about."

As we previously reported ... Goodell said last Friday he'll do even more for NFL players -- admitting to bungling the kneeling protests and vowing to do better going forward.

Reche Caldwell will be laid to rest on June 20 in Tampa, Florida ... the ex-NFL wide receiver's mother tells TMZ Sports.

The service will take place at First Baptist Church of West Tampa -- with the viewing taking place the day before.

We spoke with Deborah Caldwell who tells us the family has been flooded with calls from family and friends offering love and support in the wake of Reche's death.

They're also well aware -- and very appreciative -- of the notes on social media from Reche's ex-teammates like Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Bill Belichick and others.

When asked what fans could do to help out ... Deborah told us Reche has a 13-year-old son who plans to go to college one day. She's hoping to set up a college fund so people can donate if they wish. We'll update this post once that has been done.

As we previously reported, Reche -- a 2nd-round pick in the 2002 NFL Draft -- was shot and killed outside of his home in Tampa on Saturday night.

Cops are investigating -- and have said the shooting does not appear to be a random act of violence.

The Cook is leaving the building in Minnesota ...

Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook has officially begun his contract holdout with the Vikings ... and, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, he ain't stopping it until he gets a new, "reasonable" deal.

Cook played out the first 3 seasons of his rookie contract in Minnesota with huge success ... piling up more than 2,000 rushing yards despite injuries limiting him to just 29 games.

But, he clearly isn't willing to go back out for Minnesota for the final year of his rookie deal ... with Schefter reporting the RB is now done with all team workouts until he puts pen to new paper.

The move is pretty surprising ... remember, TMZ Sports just spoke with Dalvin in March out in NYC, and he sure didn't seem like a guy gearing up for a nasty contract negotiation.

Then again, the 24-year-old IS severely underpaid ...

Cook is set to make just $2 million this season ... whereas other top RBs like Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott and Le'Veon Bell are slated to make over $13 mil.

Unclear what numbers Dalvin is looking for in the new contract ... but it's safe to say $13 million is probably the STARTING point.

If the Vikings ain't able to meet those demands ... is it officially Alexander Mattison season in Minny?

Philadelphia Eagles stud Malik Jackson is callin' BS on Drew Brees' apology ... saying the QB only reneged on his comments because of the backlash he received.

... and now, the defensive lineman says he's gunnin' for the Saints star when they play in 2020.

Jackson spoke with 6abc's Jeff Skversky over the weekend ... and he said point-blank he doesn't think Drew is actually sorry for his stance on kneeling during national anthems.

"I think he's only apologizing because people came for him and people are disagreeing with him," Jackson said, "and he understands that his base in Louisiana, there’s a lot of black people."

Jackson has been highly critical of Brees since the day the 41-year-old made his controversial comments ... blasting him nearly every chance he's gotten.

In fact, Malik said he has the Dec. 13 Saints-Eagles game circled on his calendar ... because he says he can't wait to get back at Brees then.

"I'm going to have a lot to say," Jackson said. "Hopefully, I don’t get too wild with it, but I don’t understand how you could say that when you have people blocking for you who are black, catching balls from you who are black and people that are running the ball for you who are black."

Brees has issued THREE separate statements expressing remorse for his comments ... and even his wife wrote one as well.