NFL

NY Jets fans rejoice ... Mark Sanchez looks ready to toss TD passes again -- as long as the receiver is 6 feet away from him on a NYC street corner ... without any defenders chasing him.

Just 2 days before Jets training camp starts, we spotted Sanchise cruising down a midtown sidewalk, pigskin in hand -- and then it happened.

Mark quickly spotted his open man (the driver of his limo), and hit him ... right in the hands! It's the kind of thing we did NOT see last season when Sanchez put up his 2nd worst career numbers for completing passes.

Now, if Sanchez can just repeat this with real NFL players ... he might be able to avoid a huge QB controversy.

The Jets drafted Geno Smith -- a college superstar -- who's expected to challenge Sanchez for the starting job.

Aaron Rodgers -- NFL star and habitual bet weaseler-outer -- has LOST another major wager after famously betting his salary that Ryan Braun was PED-free ... but he probably won't pay up, 'cause that would be wayyyyyy out of character.

You may remember back in February, the Green Bay QB went to Twitter to defend his friend Braun against widespread allegations the Milwaukee Brewers outfielder was juicing.

One fan challenged Rodgers, saying, “you really believe he (Braun) didn’t you (sic) PED’s???”
And Rodgers responded: “ya, I’d put my salary next year on it.”

Well, now that Braun's basically copped to doping ... Rodgers is officially a LOSER ... and should have to pay the guy his 2013 salary -- $4.5 MILLION.

But as we all know, Rodgers has a history of not paying off his bets -- starting with the wager he made with Boyz II Men back in 2012 ... that the Pack would beat the 9ers in the season opener.

The Pack lost that game ... and Rodgers was supposed to wear a 49ers jersey. But he chickened out ... cause he's a great big, feathery CHICKEN.

Former NFL running back Larry Johnson has struck a plea deal in his domestic violence case -- and won't spend a single day behind bars for allegedly choking out his ex-GF during an argument in a Vegas hotel.

TMZ broke the story ... Johnson's GF claimed the ex-KC Chiefs player grabbed her by the neck and strangled her so hard during a 2012 spat at the Bellagio hotel, she lost consciousness.

When hotel security responded to the scene, Johnson was still fuming and told the guard, "I'll rip your f**king vocal cords out," ... so said the police report obtained by TMZ.

But today, Johnson struck a deal with Vegas prosecutors ... in which he agreed to plead no contest to misdemeanor domestic battery and assault ... and in exchange, NO JAIL.

Instead, Johnson got 1 year probation, 48 hours of community service, six months of counseling classes and must pay a $345 fine.

Jeremy Shockey's ex-wife is feeling the cold, hard sting of DEFEAT ... after her attempt to destroy the couple's prenup has officially been quashed by a judge.

TMZ broke the story ... Shockey and Daniela Cortazar have been battling each other in court over their divorce. Daniela wanted to get a piece of the ex-NFL star's multi-million-dollar fortune, but he said HELL NO -- claiming to have an iron clad prenup.

After months of back and forth ... a judge ruled in Jeremy's favor, ordering the prenup to be fair and reasonable. All Jeremy had to do was cough up $21,000 for Daniela's moving expenses and let Daniela keep the $19,000 he wired her during the divorce ... calling it temporary support.

As for assets ... Daniela gets to keep the primo swag she collected during their 8 months of wedded bliss ... but she's gotta fork over half the value to Jeremy in cash.

Specifically, she's keeping a $7,000 Rolex, $1,200 Bulgari ring, $800 Cartier bracelet and $800 purse. Leaving her with a bill of $4,900 to pay her ex.

Michael Vick tells TMZ ... his involvement with a children's charity is not a publicity stunt to fix his image -- claiming he truly is a changed man ... thanks to his 2-year prison stint.

The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback just called in to "TMZ Live" to talk about his involvement with the Team Freedom Outreach -- a charity that recruits volunteers to play sports with children who are incarcerated.

During the conversation, Vick told us he's truly passionate about the cause -- and claims it's all because of an epiphany he had during his time in prison for running an illegal dog fighting ring.

"Sometimes it takes this ... for a person to go through certain hardships ... to realize what their purpose really is," Vick said.

"I think God placed it on my heart when I was incarcerated to come out and be the best person I can be and to help as many people as I can help."

Michael Vick is currently in Washington D.C. -- meeting with a powerful congressman in an effort to help incarcerated children get their lives on track ... TMZ has learned.

The Philadelphia Eagles QB got together with Rep. John Lewis from Georgia to push Team Freedom Outreach -- a charity that recruits volunteers to play sports with children who are incarcerated.

Vick says he's passionate about TFO because, "Many of these children who are incarcerated receive no visitors."

He adds, "Team Freedom Outreach gives them positive mentorship. It shows these kids that somebody cares. It helps them make a plan."

Second chances -- something Vick knows all about.

Peyton Manning is OFF-LIMITS in practice ... and any defensive teammate who even thinks about SNEEZING too hard around PM could wind up on a missing persons list ... this according to Von Miller.

The Denver Broncos superstar linebacker -- who signed a $21 million contract in 2011 -- was at the Playboy mansion this week ... when he spelled it out for us -- NO ONE TOUCHES MANNING.

"I have never even touched ... even got CLOSE to Peyton Manning," Miller said ... "We know how important he is to our team. We don't get close to him."

Of course, Manning's not just valuable -- he's fragile -- with serious neck issues.

NFL star Brandon Marshall is about to blow your mind -- 'cause it's not every day you meet a wine, yoga and Pilates lovin' football star!

We caught up with the Chicago Bears' wide receiver at the Playboy Mansion -- probably not the best time to remind him training camp starts in 9 days, but we did ... and his response was awesomely honest.

"It sucks. Right now ... you got stuff like Espys and Playboy parties. Now you gotta go to camp, you gotta go to a dormitory for a month?"

Brandon also revealed he and Jennifer Aniston have more in common than we would have ever thought -- you gotta see him light up talking about his love of Pilates, yoga ... and fine wine.

The Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones is a superstar wide receiver, which basically means no matter how many TDs he scores -- some freakin' quarterback will steal the spotlight!

Y'know, 'cause they're all selected for their looks ... is what someone wants you to believe.

Aaron Hernandez will NOT be moved out of solitary confinement at the Bristol County Jail ... after officials decided it would be in his "best interest" to remain isolated from the general population, TMZ has learned.

As we previously reported, the alleged murderer was placed in solitary right after he was booked -- fearing violent inmates might view the former NFL star as a "prize." But officials vowed to review Aaron's situation and would consider moving him if they felt it was safe.

But officials met yesterday and a rep for the jail tells TMZ ... after serious discussion, they decided NOT to move Hernandez, believing it would be in his "best interest" to stay. The insinuation -- he's still in danger.

The jail rep says the ex-NFL star is "doing well" behind bars ... and hasn't had any problems so far.

7/12 -- Ok, look ... we're having a pretty intense convo in the newsroom. We can't really tell our Mannings apart.

Some people think Peyton's the one in the red shirt ... honestly, we can't really tell.

If only they were wearing their Super Bowl rings.

He's already got 2 ringz ... but this week, Eli Manning threw on 2 Chainz ... and gangster'd himself out (along with his brother Peyton) ... for another DirecTV commercial shoot in New Orleans, and TMZ has the pic.

With Eli sporting a red Kanye-inspired jacket and a quasi-mullet ... and Peyton sporting a Jew-fro and Birdman shades ... we're guessing the NFL superstars were doing another one of those goofy spots for Sunday Ticket.

Back in 2011, the two dressed up like cops ... it was hilarious.

More importantly ... you know what this means?? FOOTBALL SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!!!

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit up the Hollywood club scene last night ... rollin' into Bootsy Bellows on the Sunset Strip ... but it's clear, he's still bitter over the infamous 2012 jersey bet.

Let us refresh your memory -- right at the beginning of the '12 season, Rodgers made a friendly wager with one of the guys from Boyz II Men ... that if the Packers lost to the 49ers, he'd have to wear a SF jersey.

The Pack lost -- and Rodgers TOTALLY WEASELED OUT OF THE BET LIKE A CHUMP!!!!

Anyway, we called him out on the b*tch move for months ... and when we ran into him in L.A. last night, it was clear ... dude still holds a grudge.

Ex-New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez CONFESSED that he fired the shots that killed Odin Lloyd ... this according to a police document that cites a witness ... who cites another witness.

OK, so it's a confession that's 3 degrees removed from Aaron Hernandez ... but cops in Miramar, Florida believed the tip was good enough to bring to a judge in an effort to get a search warrant connected with the investigation.

First, some background -- prosecutors in the murder case believe Carlos Ortiz and Ernest Wallace were with Hernandez when Lloyd was murdered. Both Ortiz and Wallace are currently in custody.

Now, according to documents filed by the Miramar Police Dept., Ortiz told investigators ... that Wallace, told him ... that Hernandez told him that he shot Lloyd.

You follow that?

It's double hearsay, to say the least ... but with life sentences on the line, it might not be the last time these guys (allegedly) point the finger at each other.

For his part, Hernandez insists he's not guilty.

NFL Legend Lawrence Taylor is very "concerned" for his son in the wake of Lawrence Taylor Jr.s' statutory rape and sodomy arrest ... sources close to LT tell TMZ.

We're told ... LT is on a mission to gather facts before coming to any conclusions about what may or may not have gone down in Georgia this weekend ... when 31-year-old LTJ was arrested for statutory rape, child molestation and sodomy.

We broke the story ... LTJ is accused of forcing oral sex on a girl under the age of 16-years-old ... and having sex with another girl, who is also under 16.

So far, LT has not released an official statement on the situation -- and we're told he plans to hold off until his team gathers more information about the situation.

The New England Patriots swapped out more than 2,500 Aaron Hernandez jerseys for free in Foxboro this weekend ... but TMZ has learned Tom Brady was NOT the most requested replacement. In fact, you'll never guess who was #1.

A rep for the Pats tells us ... the team happily shelled out roughly $250,000 to make sure any fan who had a Hernandez jersey could get a free replacement featuring a Pats player who's not currently facing murder charges.

We're told ... of the 2,500ish people who showed up to the stadium for the swap event, 30% of the fans were kids requesting new youth jerseys.

So, who was the most requested?? The honor goes to 5-time Pro Bowler VINCE WILFORK -- a 325-pound BEAST of a defensive tackle!!

Don't worry, Brady came in 2nd ... and we have a theory as to why -- everyone in Boston already has a Brady jersey.

9:45 AM PT -- According to the Cobb County District Attorney's Office, Lawrence Taylor Jr. could face 25 YEARS TO LIFE in prison if convicted on either the sodomy charge or the child molestation charge.

The statutory rape charge carries a sentence of 1 to 20 years behind bars.

We're told LTJ is still in custody ... and has already appeared in front of the judge.

8:05 AM PT -- According to the warrant, obtained by TMZ, the accuser is a female under the age of 16.

Also, according to the doc, the charge of "sodomy" does not entail anal sex -- in the legal sense, the term "sodomy" can refer to oral sex ... as it does in this instance.

According to the warrant, cops responded to a home in Powder Springs, GA around 5pm on July 6 ... and the accuser claimed Lawrence Taylor Jr. forcibly performed oral sex on her.

The accuser told cops LTJ "first asked her if he could eat her out repeatedly in which she stated no."

The accuser says LTJ then "with force spread her legs then pulled her bathing suit to the side and gave her oral sex."

According to the warrant, there was ANOTHER underage girl at the scene ... who told cops she had sex with LTJ back in February 2012 approximately 5 or 6 times.

LTJ was hit with the aggravated sodomy charge and the child molestation charge for the alleged forced oral sex on the first accuser.

He was arrested for statutory rape for the alleged sex with the second accuser.

The son of NFL legend Lawrence Taylor has been arrested for rape in Georgia ... TMZ has learned.

According to the Cobb County Sheriff's Office ... Lawrence Taylor Jr. was arrested on July 7 on 3 counts -- statutory rape (felony), aggravated child molestation (felony), and statutory aggravated sodomy (felony). The details surrounding the arrest are unclear.

According to LTJ's booking sheet -- the NFL legend's son was born in 1981 and is listed at 6'1" and 230 lbs. He also has a Japanese symbol tattoo on his back. He also has tattoos on his shoulders.

Junior was the "presenter" when his father was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio back in 1999.

LTJ's father was infamously arrested for rape back in 2010 after having sex with an underage prostitute. LT eventually pled guilty to one count of patronizing a prostitute and one count of sexual misconduct. He was sentenced to 6 years probation with no jail time -- and was ordered to register as a sex offender.