NFL

A witness who was at the Seahawks facility during Tuesday's crash says Fred Jackson was revving his engine at another driver before both cars rocketed down a 1 mile stretch ... leaving no doubt they were drag racing.

We spoke with Jason Hellervik -- an autograph seeker who was waiting for players at the facility when he saw Fred's black Corvette pull up to a stop sign next to a red Dodge Charger.

"They were both stopped at the same time, they both revved their engines and they both left without stopping," says Jason, who was with his buddies at the time ... "We were like what are these idiots doing?"

Hellervik says he was with 6 other guys at the time of the crash -- who all witnessed the apparent drag racing scene -- and none of them have been contacted by police. He says if contacted, he would definitely cooperate with investigators.

Here's Eagles superfan Bradley Cooper ... sitting with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie ... singing the Eagles fight song ... as the Eagles crushed the Giants Monday night.

Pretty cool shot ... unless you're a Giants fan.

Mike Ditka might wanna check for holes in his undies this morning ... 'cause it sounded like he RIPPED A GALE FORCE STINKER right on Cris Carter last night.

The two were doing their thing on ESPN's "Monday Night Countdown" when Da Coach pulled the 'ol fart lean move -- and you can hear what sounds like Ditka just letting one rip.

Carter starts to crack up ... the whole thing is pretty funny.

Don't worry Mike -- you're not the only legend who's been caught farting on live TV ... right Whoopi?

Ex-Cleveland Browns star Eric Metcalf says ENOUGH IS ENOUGH when it comes to Johnny Manziel -- and the team should finally drop the QB because he's a magnet for bad publicity.

Metcalf -- who was a stud for the Browns back in the '90s -- says the latest example is Manziel's brush with police last week ... in which his GF claimed the QB hit her a couple of times during a domestic dispute, though Johnny was ultimately NOT arrested.

"I don't think he should be with the Browns, just because of all the things he's gotten into. It's all bad publicity," Metcalf says.

"He's not really helping the football team right now and every time you hear his name it's negative. At this point they should move on. It's tough to say about a player, but at this point, they should move on."

Katherine Webb is pissed off that several of her husband's Cincinnati Bengals teammates had their junk exposed during a post-game live shot from the locker room ... saying their genitals simply are NOT for public consumption.

The clip has been all over the web this morning -- an NFL Network reporter was interviewing Pacman Jones ... while several Bengals players were changing in the background.

The shot clearly rubbed Webb the wrong way -- since she's married to Bengals backup quarterback A.J. McCarron -- and she went off on the whole locker room interview policy on Twitter:

"I would rather my husbands ass/penis not be all over TV," Katherine said ... "Would you like to be filmed while naked?"

"Players should have their privacy."

Bengals lineman Andrew Whitworth was also furious about the situation -- saying, "Why do I have to explain to my kids why their dad is naked on tv? Time for a media policy change."

Johnny Manziel's girlfriend told police the NFL star shoved her head into a window during a domestic dispute in their car on Monday ... and said both had been drinking ... this according to the police report.

You can't turn the Steelers logo into a bunch of marijuana leaves ... or else you'll face the wrath of the NFL ... so says a pot group in Pittsburgh that just got lit up with a nasty legal threat.

The bud beef is all over the logo for the Pittsburgh chapter of NORML -- a massive nonprofit group dedicated to legalizing weed.

They've been using a logo similar to the famous Steelers design for years -- with the asteroids swapped out with red, yellow and blue ganja leaves.

Problem is ... some square at the NFL caught wind of the logo and fired off a cease and desist -- warning the group to 86 the design .. or else! (Guess that paranoia was justified this time).

Turns out ... the people at NORML are more smokers than fighters and told us they're backing down and plan to change the logo ASAP because they don't want a war with the NFL.

Two NORML honchos, Patrick Nightingale and Jason Cole, tell TMZ Sports they're already coming up with a Pittsburgh-themed replacement logo -- "Maybe Andrew Carnegie holding some weed."

Adrian Peterson's back on his feet when it comes to endorsements -- claiming he's got a brand new deal with Adidas ... after Nike kicked him to the curb last year.

The Swoosh terminated it's contract with the NFL star when he struck a plea deal in his child abuse case back in November ... one of several sponsors that didn't want anything to do with Peterson at the time.

But now that Peterson is dominating again, the sponsors are coming back -- with Peterson saying he's officially in a deal with Adidas ... and says there are more opportunities on the table with other companies as well.

Matt Stafford's wife opened fire on the NFL -- blasting the league for its "incompetent refs" ... hours after they blew a huge call that cost her husband's team a victory.

By now you know the refs screwed up that "batted ball" call at the end of the Lions vs. Seahawks game on Monday night. Even the league admitted they screwed it up.

Enter Kelly Stafford ... who decided to take her shot at the refs on Instagram -- posting a screenshot of a text message exchange with Matt, in which the Lions QB says the league may fine him over his cleats.

Kelly's response -- "Tell the league that they can fine u for your cleats if we can fine them for their incompetent refs."

BOOM!!!

School's out for UCLA superstar linebacker Myles Jack -- because the college football star just announced he's dropping out of college and will enter the NFL draft.

It's interesting timing for Jack -- who just suffered a season-ending knee injury last month -- since college football season is still underway.

20-year-old Jack -- a junior who was one of the most highly touted players in the country before the season began -- suffered a torn meniscus during practice on September 23.

Jack doesn't seem to be getting support from his head coach Jim Mora ... who told the media, "I think it's very risky to do this. There's a lot of speculation to ... where he fits."

The Boss is pleased ... with Rick Ross telling TMZ Sports he's THRILLED the Miami Dolphins axed head coach Joe Philbin -- because now things are finally looking up for his favorite NFL team.

Ross isn't just a HUUUUGE Dolphins fan -- he also says he's still VERY interested in buying 5% of the team ... something he's been trying to do for the past year.

So, when we saw him out in NYC Tuesday, we had to ask about the change of the guard this week -- and Ross made it clear, he doesn't think it can get any worse!

Big night for Michael Vick ... starting his first game as the Steelers QB ... and he's so pumped, Mike's flying his family to Pittsburgh so they can be there to support him.

A rep for Vick tells TMZ Sports ... he's putting his immediate family on a plane and flying them to Pittsburgh so they can watch #2 and the Steelers take on the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field tonight.

3:23 PM PT -- Bryant's rep tells us ... Dez was notified about the lien in June 2015 and cut a check to the IRS on July 1, 2015 to clear it up.

Bryant's rep insists the lRS released the lien on September 16th, meaning Bryant is now officially off the hook.

9:56 AM PT -- Bryant's rep, Ron Berkowitz, tells TMZ Sports the Cowboys receiver has handled the situation ... saying, "Clearly, this was an oversight. Once it was brought to Dez's attention, he paid it in full."

Seems Dez Bryant threw up the X to Uncle Sam back in 2013 ... failing to pay roughly $80,000 in federal income taxes ... this according to official records obtained by TMZ Sports.

Here's NFL legend Joe Montana leaving LAX Wednesday in a taxi (not a chauffeur-driven black car) ... which is fine ... but it reminds us how LITTLE he got paid compared to the guys who came after him.

We pulled some numbers ... back in 1990, Montana signed a contract that made him the highest paid player in the NFL -- a 4-year deal worth $13 million ... that's $3.25 mil per year.

It's peanuts compared to today's top QBs -- with Aaron Rodgers inking a 5-year deal worth $110 mil, Russell Wilson has a 4-year $87 million contract ... even Eli Manning's making $84 mil over 4 years.

Even with inflation, Montana's annual $3.25 mil salary from his '90 deal only amounts to about $6 mil per season today.

Terrell Owens' triumphant return to Dallas is still on hold ... with the WR telling us there hasn't been any movement since he reached out to the Cowboys earlier this season -- but he isn't giving up hope.

Owens was hangin' out on the Sunset Strip Wednesday when the 41-year-old told us he's still keeping himself in NFL-condition -- "Staying ready, so I don't have to get ready."

Just a few weeks ago, Owens told Rich Eisen he had his agent reach out to the Cowboys to see if they had any interest after losing Dez Bryant to an injury. So we asked him about it.

"I haven't heard anything as of yet ... but that's not to say that anything can't happen."

Owens says he'd consider playing for other NFL teams -- but insists it would need to be the "right situation."

NY Giants co-owner Steve Tisch says he's still cool with Will Smith -- and is actually rooting for his new movie "Concussion" to do well ... despite the fact it's about a doctor who takes on the NFL.

The movie has been getting a TON of buzz -- with the trailer suggesting the NFL hatched a diabolical plot to intimidate a doctor into hiding evidence about the real dangers of football related brain trauma.

Tisch says he hasn't seen the movie yet, but says he's not even mad about it at all -- "I hope the movie not only entertains, but educates and empowers."

Tisch also says the NFL isn't trying to hide anything -- in fact, he's adamant the league is very proactive when it comes to head injuries.

"There's a very high level of consciousness about concussions in the NFL," says Tisch ... who claims the league is doing everything in its power to educate the players.