NFL

Before 49ers safety Donte Whitner can officially sport a "Hitner" jersey on the field, he's REQUIRED to get Nike's blessing ... and it could cost the player a ton of money.

By now you know, Whitner's vowed to legally change his name to Hitner after the NFL fined him $21k for an illegal hit on a St. Louis Rams player earlier this season.

But it's not gonna happen for AT LEAST another month, because the NFL requires players to legally change their name before they can change their jersey. And in Donte's home state of Ohio ... an applicant has to publish a notice of the name change in a widely circulated publication at least 30 days before a judge will even consider signing off on the move.

Court officials in Ohio tell us the process usually takes AT LEAST six weeks from start to finish.

Then, there's the Nike factor -- an NFL rep tells TMZ before the league will allow a player to change the name on his jersey, he has to purchase any remaining Nike inventory featuring his old name.

But whatever the cost, Donte can probably afford it -- he's reportedly raking in $3.8 million this season.

So, if all goes according to plan, you could see a Hitner jersey on Nov. 17 ... when the 49ers play the Saints.

Baltimore Ravens badass Terrell Suggs ripped Tom Brady apart ... trashing the QB for his smug attitude, his god-like status … and worst of all, HIS HAIR!!!

Suggs spit the venom during an interview with ESPN's "E:60" when Lisa Salters asked T-Sizzle how he truly felt about the Pats superstar. T's response:

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for camera. I don’t like him. He don’t like me. I don’t like his hair.”

Suggs will have a chance to tell Brady how he feels about him in person on Dec. 22 – when the Ravens take on the Pats.

Still, we gotta ask …

Ex-NFL running back Ricky Watters -- a 5-time Pro Bowler -- has resigned from his job as a high school football coach in Orlando, FL in the wake of a school investigation into the former Super Bowl champ.

Watters had been on paid leave at Oak Ridge High School since September 20 ... when the Orange County Public School district launched a private investigation -- the details of which have not been released by the district.

But today, Watters announced his resignation from the job -- telling WESH he was getting sick of the drama.

"There was a complaint that I used profanity on the sidelines,” Watters said ... adding, "[the investigation] was just going on and on. I think it’s just best we clear it."

Calls to school officials have not been returned.

He might have a Heisman Trophy on his mantle, but Johnny Manziel is going to make a TERRIBLE pro quarterback ... a la Tim Tebow ... so says ex-NFL stud Jamal Lewis.

Lewis is in a position to judge, he was a beast during his NFL career -- helping the Baltimore Ravens win the Super Bowl his rookie year, rushing for 2,066 yards in 2003 (3rd-most of all-time), and breaking the single game rushing record that season with 295 yards.

J.L. couldn't have been more clear -- Manziel will be a disaster in the pros.

The Houston Texans are taking steps to stop more fans from lighting their Matt Schaub jerseys on fire outside of their stadium -- but it ain't to protect the QB's feelings.

TMZ spoke with a member of the Texans organization who tells us ... the team decided it needed to take action after watching a viral YouTube video which featured a bunch of fans flaming up a #8 jersey in the stadium parking lot after the team lost to the Seahawks last weekend.

We're told the team is making a concerted effort to "do a better job monitoring the people who tailgate" because jersey fires are a direct violation of the stadium's open flame policy.

Detroit Lions star Nate Burleson tells TMZ ... the 911 caller was mistaken -- he wasn't woozy, or off-balanced or DRUNK in the moments following his car crash last week ... but he did fumble his pizza.

Nate says he was in shock in the moments following the wreck, in which he suffered a broken arm and cuts on his face after a night at Happy's Pizza and Pub in Detroit -- but the 32-year-old explains, "I was completely coherent. I was trying to grasp what was going on at the moment."

As we previously reported, one of the people who called 911 following the crash last Monday night told the operator Nate "was losing his balance" and "appeared to be intoxicated."

But Nate tells TMZ, "My arm was broken so that may cause you to stumble, but it was not alcohol-related at all."

In fact, Nate says the cops complimented him on how composed he was following the crash -- considering his injuries.

As for the pizza, Nate admits he tried to save the pie as it slid around on the front seat of his GMC Yukon ... but the food slipped through his fingers ... and that's when he lost control of the ride and crashed.

We obtained photos of the pizza carnage following the wreck ... showing the deep dish pepperoni (with mushrooms) all over Nate's whip.

"I get the jokes, 'cause reaching for a pizza isn't the way you wanna crash your car," Nate says ... "But I'm lucky to have walked away."

Moments after Nate Burleson smashed his SUV into a median -- a witness called 911 and said, "He was losing his balance" ... and that he believed the Detroit Lions star appeared to be intoxicated.

Burleson wrecked last Monday night, and police have said they do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor -- but on this 911 tape you clearly hear the caller say, "He looks a little messed up. He's walking around, but if I had my guess I'd say he's drunk."

Nate told police he lost control while reaching for a pizza box that was falling off his front seat.

TMZ spoke to a witness at the pub and pizza spot where Burleson had been hanging out that night who told us he had a couple of beers.

Good News -- Adam "Pacman" Jones dished out a bunch of $100 bills to homeless people yesterday.

Bad News -- He still owes more than $11 million to the victims of a 2007 strip club shooting that left 2 men wounded, 1 of whom was paralyzed from the waist down.

The Cincinnati Bengals defensive back tweeted about his good deeds ... writing, "I just give 15 homeless people a 100 next I'm pay for 15 mothers bills that's in need."

He added, "That's what I'm doing for birthday. CauseI'mblessed."

It's a great gesture ... we support helping the homeless ... but there's a reason the Nevada court ordered Jones to fork over millions to the shooting victims -- they need $$$ too.

In fact, just last year, a lawyer for one of the victims told a media outlet he was happy about the ruling because the victim could use the money to buy better medical equipment.

Of course, the strip club incident is infamous -- a scuffle broke out after Pacman "made it rain" and someone in his entourage fired gunshots that struck two bouncers.

Former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar is fighting his drunk driving arrest -- pleading not guilty to DUI after he was popped in Ohio Sunday morning.

As we previously reported, the ex-Cleveland Browns QB was initially pulled over at 2:52 AM for speeding ... but cops say they detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from his car.

Kosar's attorney entered the not guilty plea on Bernie's behalf during the hearing in Bedford Municipal Court on Monday. He's due back in court on Dec. 9.

We've reached out to Bernie for comment -- so far, no word back.

Former Cleveland Browns QB Bernie Kosar was arrested for drunk driving in Ohio this morning, and his mug shot reveals ... a lot of scalp.

A rep for the Solon PD says ... officers pulled Bernie over at 2:52 this morning and detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from his car when they approached it.

After a series of field sobriety tests -- police hauled Kosar off to a nearby station for operating a vehicle impaired ... where he was booked and released on a $500 bond.

Burned by "The Drive" again ... allegedly.

Tom Brady's gonna have to earn his millions in week 4 of NFL action as the New England Patriots face a tough road opponent in the Atlanta Falcons.

The Pats won 2 games by the skin of their teeth this season. Harv can relate ... he's 2-1. So, let's find out who our pigskin soothsayer is riding this week ...

Charles: New England at Atlanta, who ya got?
Harvey: I'm going with New England ... because the one thing Tom Brady, and especially Gisele, don't like is ugly. And Brady has had ugly wins pretty much all season.

Charles: Except for that Bucs game, but that's the Bucs. Why not pick Atlanta at home?
Harvey: I like the Falcons good enough. In fact, one of their star players used to live with this news chick I know in L.A. -- but it just comes back to Brady being a winner.

Charles: I hate to say it, but Tom Brady is getting kinda old, and Matt Ryan's the young gun.
Harvey: In a weird way, Brady has to be especially charged because Ryan is gunning to be the next Tom -- maybe a little too much.

Charles: You keep saying you think Brady's got retirement on his mind, but --
Harvey: Look, everybody thinks I'm crazy to say it, but if you saw Brady's house in L.A. ... let's just say it beats a brownstone. So, I think he wants to go out with a bang, and we're not just talking Gisele.

The fiancee of ex New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez ... along with Hernandez's cousin ... were indicted today .. in connection with the Odin Lloyd murder case.

According to the Bristol County, MA D.A.'s Office Shayanna Jenkins -- Aaron's fiancee and baby mama -- was hit with a single count of perjury. No further detail has been provided on her charge.

Tanya Singleton -- Aaron's cousin -- was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Accessory After the Fact. Translation: authorities believe she helped one of Aaron's alleged accomplices get outta dodge ... by buying him a bus ticket to Florida.

That guy, Ernest Wallace, was eventually arrested in FL, and charged with being an accessory to Lloyd's murder.

Singleton has already pled not guilty to a criminal contempt charge -- authorities say she refused to testify before the Grand Jury in the murder case.

Jenkins and Singleton were not arrested ... and they don't have a court date scheduled yet.

Jenkins faces up to 2-and-a-half years in a county jail if convicted on the perjury charge ... but sources close to the situation tell us she would likely only get six months to a year. She could also be hit with a $1,000 fine.

Sometimes it doesn't pay to party ... 6 youngins were arrested Thursday for causing 10s of thousands of dollars in damage after breaking into the house of former New England Patriots' star Brian Holloway ... and now TMZ has learned more than 200 others could be arrested as well.

As we previously reported ... Holloway claims hundreds of teens broke into his house near Albany and trashed it over Labor Day weekend.

The 6 kids -- ranging in age from 17 - 20 -- were taken into custody and arraigned on various charges, including criminal trespass. The 19-year-old was charged with felony burglary and felony criminal mischief. And 3 of the adult kids were charged with endangering the welfare of a child. The 17-year-old was charged with felony grand larceny.

Only a handful of parents even bothered to call Holloway after the incident to apologize or offer help in repairing the damage.

Holloway posted hundreds of names of the partygoers on his website. Now the cops are telling TMZ, "We currently have over 200 names ... Once we've established proof of their presence at the party, they will be asked to turn themselves in."

And here's how crazy that could be ... the courts can't handle that kind of volume, so cops say they will be arraigned in groups of 10 to 12.

Detroit Lions' wide receiver Nate Burleson didn't just break his arm when he crashed -- while reaching for a pizza box -- based on this pic TMZ obtained ... his sweet SUV is dunzo.

Burleson's 2009 GMC Yukon -- or what's left of it -- was hauled by flatbed to a GMC dealership Wednesday in suburban Detroit.

As we told you ... Burleson told police he swerved into a median when he tried to save a pizza from sliding off the front seat.

The SUV is clearly out for the season, but the good news for Detroit is ... its owner is expected to be back on the field before the end of the season.

Next time? Delivery, Nate ... delivery.

Former NFL star and ESPN analyst Hugh Douglas was arrested for the assault of a woman in Connecticut, and TMZ has the mug shot.

The alleged incident went down in a Marriott hotel in Hartford ... and the woman involved claims the former all-pro defensive end "grabbed her by the neck" and slammed her into the walls of the room several times.

Douglas - who played for the Eagles, Jets, and Jaguars during his NFL career -- was arrested on Tuesday and booked for third degree assault and second degree strangulation. He told police the alleged violence was just rough sex.

Badass NFL safety and hair god Troy Polamalu will NOT go full Samson for an upcoming charity event, and his biggest sponsor couldn't be happier ... TMZ has learned.

Stories have been circulating the Pittsburgh Steelers star had agreed to cut his legendary locks for something called the "Veterans of Foreign Wars Mane Event" on Veterans Day.

The reports were misleading (perhaps intentionally) ... giving people the impression Troy was cutting ALL of his hair, but that's not true.

A rep for Head & Shoulders -- which has a long-term endorsement deal with Polamalu, and even insured his mane for $1 million -- tells us the haircut will be more ceremonial than anything.

We're told Troy will only chop a few locks as a symbol of support for veterans, and H&S fully backs him taking a little off the top ... metaphorically.

Makes sense ... Troy's hair is not only a money maker, it's his trademark. Cutting it off would be like Carrot Top going blonde, or Jonah Hill losing weight.