NFL

With NFL running backs going down like dominoes, Ray Rice is still training hard -- "staying ready" -- hoping that he'll get the call to come back to the league ... sources close to the RB tell TMZ Sports.

Rice hasn't played a single down since the 2013 season ... right before he was suspended and then cut from the Baltimore Ravens over the infamous domestic violence incident in February '14.

Now, with so many teams desperate to jump-start their running games due to injuries and lack of productivity -- sources close to Rice tell us he's preparing for a comeback.

"He still keeps in shape and is working out every day ... staying ready," one source close to Rice tells us ... while reminding us Rice is only 28 years old.

Rice has not only stayed out of trouble since the incident -- but has been on a goodwill blitzkrieg ever since ... most recently donating uniforms to a Baltimore rec center in an effort to revitalize a park.

You gotta love the honesty from Eric Dickerson ... who says if he was a young, star athlete today -- there's no way he'd date just one woman ... he'd try to sample ALL of the Kardashians!!!

This clip is awesome ... the NFL Hall of Famer tells TMZ Sports, athletes should go out and have a good time and enjoy ALL of the perks of being a celebrity ... as long as they do their job.

But when we specifically asked about Kim, Khloe, Kendall and the rest of the K-squad, Dickerson's answer was the best.

"Let me put it to you like this here ... if I was in my 20's, I'd be dating them all."

NY Giants owner Steve Tisch says he wants Jason Pierre-Paul back in uniform THIS WEEKEND -- telling TMZ Sports he expects him to make an immediate impact on the field.

You gotta watch the video -- Tisch says he's incredibly proud of JPP for the way he's battled back after blowing up parts of his hand in a July 4th fireworks accident.

"This kid is working so hard to get himself ready to have an impact on the NY Giants defense," Tisch says ... "and we need him. We do need him."

"I hope he plays in the game Sunday versus Tampa Bay."

Tisch says he's convinced JPP has truly turned the page since suffering the injury -- and says his teammates are definitely in his corner.

FYI -- Tisch gives us a little insight on how he shakes hands with JPP now ... any guesses?

Russell Wilson continues to prove he's the greatest guy in the world ... auctioning off his game worn cleats from the Seahawks' victory over the 49ers last month to aid in the fight against children's cancer.

Wilson announced the donation on Twitter moments ago ... with a message that read, "Had a tough time letting go of these...auctioning my game worn cleats from our win over SF to fight childhood cancer."

The Seahawks beat the 49ers 20-3 on October 22nd ... Russell made sure to scribble in the date and score on the shoes.

The cleats are already ON FIRE on eBay ... fetching a price of nearly $900 with seven days of bidding still left to go, which tells you they're going to net a big sum when all is said and done.

The legend of Vince Young is alive and well in Texas ... 'cause the Austin steakhouse that has his name is THRIVING ... and the owners say number 10 is a BIG reason why.

We spoke with Phillip Brown ... executive chef and co-owner of "Vince Young Steakhouse" in Austin ... and he tells us that business is booming at the joint and Vince's presence has a lot to do with it.

"He will greet the guests, shake their hands and take pictures. He's more charismatic and smooth and works the room better than any politician I've ever seen. The people just love him."

It's been a rough couple years for VY ... the former pro-bowler filed for bankruptcy in early 2014 and, following an unsuccessful stint in Cleveland, hasn't been able to get back into the NFL.

He's still a GOD in Austin though ... and Phillip says it's that, and his input on the day-to-day operations that have made the place a success.

Former Chicago Bears star Jeremiah Ratliff says he has NO MEMORY of wishing death on the children of Bears staffers ... but he's not exactly denying it either.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Bears security called police on October 21st to report that the star defensive lineman went berserk after being cut -- saying, "I am the devil" and wishing staffers' children would die.

But Ratliff's agent has now issued a statement saying, "Jeremiah has no recollection or memory of saying anything that has been reported in the police report."

Not exactly a denial.

Here it is ... the most clear up-close shot of the hand Jason Pierre-Paul blew up in a fireworks accident on July 4 -- and it's a miracle he even got back on the field.

The New York Giants defensive end gave the media a good look during a locker room interview with reporters in which he said, "I'm still Jason Pierre-Paul. I'm ready to play football."

JPP says he's still not 100% ready to go ... but expects to be playing within the next couple of weeks.

Chicago Bears lineman Jeremiah Ratliff went berserk the day before he was cut from the team -- saying, "I am the devil" and telling staffers he wanted their kids to die ... this according to the police report.

According to the report, obtained by TMZ Sports, Ratliff walked into the Bears facility on October 21st claiming he needed to get his stuff and told someone, "He felt like killing everybody in the building."

Cops say he gathered his belongings and left the property without further incident ... only to return later that day.

According to the report, Ratliff told someone, "I am the devil" and "he wished staff member's children would die."

One Bears official told police they had concern for the safety of Bears staffers -- and warned cops they believed Ratliff owns multiple firearms.

Bears officials told cops that Ratliff was not allowed back on the property and asked for a police presence until the staff left.

TMZ Sports spoke with Karl Walldorf, Deputy Chief of the Lake Forest PD, who tells us, "Since the day of the call, he has not been back to the facility and they have had no further problems."

Jerry Rice has a solution for the 49ers' woes this season ... BENCHING COLIN KAEPERNICK ... saying giving the QB some temporary pine time might be just the wake up call he needs.

Look, it's no secret Kaep isn't playing his best ball -- and with the 49ers nursing a 2-5 record, something needs to be done to get the team back on track.

Jerry made it crystal clear he SUPPORTS Colin and still thinks he's incredibly talented -- but says something drastic needs to happen if there's any hope of saving the season.

"I am a true Kaepernick fan. 100%. I'm not saying bench him for the season, but sometimes you gotta shake things up. It could energize the team, and provide Colin the spark he needs."

Rice says he knows from experience that Kaep needs support from the vets to break out of his funk.

"Look, when I came in, I struggled. I dropped balls. And I wasn't used to that. But I had great people around me, and I got through it."

Overall, Rice says ... you can't just point the finger at #7, everyone needs to step up their game.

"The 9'ers aren't a cohesive group right now. They're making way too many mistakes. It's not only Kaepernick, there's plenty of blame to go around."

NFL great Peter Boulware says he can help ease tensions at a South Carolina high school where a cop is under fire for his treatment of an unarmed black student ... because he went there.

A 15 second clip of sheriff's deputy Ben Fields getting physical with a black female student at Spring Valley High School in SC went viral Monday ... sparking outrage from some who call it police brutality.

Boulware -- a Columbia native -- was a star at SVHS back in the '90s ... and says he's willing to bring all the parties together to discuss the issue ... so that Twitter tensions don't turn into civil unrest.

"I'd like to reach out to both parties, the cop and the girl to figure out why it happened. Once we get an understanding of it we can solve issues like it. We just have to be patient."

Peter adds that while he completely supports law enforcement and the tough job cops have to do every day, it's hard not to watch the video and NOT think that the officer went too far.

"Just from what I see on the video ... with the amount of information I have, there could've been a better way where less force was used."

Peter adds, "With the young lady sitting at her desk like that, I just think it could have been done in a better way then kinda throwing her across the room."

Kirk Cousins is turning his biggest NFL moment into a profitable moment ... selling, "You Like That?!" shirts ... but it's all for a good cause.

After the pumped up Washington Redskins QB shouted those 3 words at the media following his comeback victory over the Bucs this weekend, the video went crazy viral.

Now, as our friends at BSO pointed out ... Cousins is getting in on the action -- with $23 shirts to memorialize the moment.

Cousins says proceeds will benefit the International Justice Mission to support ending violence and oppression of the poor worldwide.

The NFL has contacted the Avon Police Department as part of its investigation into the Johnny Manziel domestic violence investigation ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We spoke with Chief Bosley of the Avon Police Department who tells us ... "We have been in contact with the NFL." Bosley says the NFL initiated the contact.

As for what investigators asked for ... Bosley says, "I wouldn't want to give details about the communication because although it is not a criminal investigation, I wouldn't want to compromise what they are doing."

As we previously reported, Manziel's girlfriend Colleen Crowley told cops Johnny hit her a "couple times" during an October 12th incident near Cleveland.

Despite an injury to her arm, cops did not arrest Manziel claiming there was "not enough to pursue prosecution."

Super Bowl champion Ed McCaffrey says his Heisman hopeful son Christian has everything it takes ... to be better than dear old dad on the football field.

Christian is absolutely EVISCERATING the college football world this season ... making highlight reel plays on a weekly basis that have a lot of people talking Heisman.

Dad was no slouch himself, winning 3 Super Bowls and making an All-Pro team during his NFL career with the Giants, 49ers, and of course, the Broncos.

Question is ... with all this talk of the younger McCaffrey taking over, does Christian have what it takes to steal the family name from his old man?

We spoke to Ed and he says ... ABSOLUTELY.

"He can be better than me. I sort of just let football play out for me and everything happened to work out, but Christian has goals. He has what it takes to better than I was."

Big Ed adds that he can't make all the games 'cause he has four sons currently playing (good genes), but that it's not just Christian's dream to win the Heisman ... it's his as well.

Not everyone caught the cutsies when Dez Bryant posted a pic of his supposed new pet monkey -- several animal organizations are FURIOUS ... claiming the move is downright "irresponsible."

The monkey in the middle is "Dallas Bryant" -- who Dez snuggled up with earlier this week and called, "My new best friend." Several reports say he "adopted" the animal.

But it's a HUUUUGE mistake according to multiple animal groups ... groups begging the NFL star to give the monkey to an animal sanctuary as soon as possible.

One of the critics is April Truitt -- co-founder of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance -- who tells us, "A baby capuchin monkey is completely irresponsible to have."

"This animal can easily live 30 to 40 years of its life. I guarantee you it won’t be in his possession that long. Instead he will begging someone like me to take this animal off his hands. It’s inevitable."

"I guarantee you this was an expensive purchase and he will live to regret it I guarantee you."

We also spoke with Dr. Ian Robinson -- V.P. of the International Fund for Animal Welfare -- who says, "Having a monkey as a pet is a huge commitment. Appealing cuddly babies turn into troublesome 'teenagers’ and aggressive adults."

As for Bryant -- he has NOT clarified if he plans to keep the animal as a pet ... but we're told NAPSA plans to reach out to him to try and talk him out of it.

WWE legend Booker T isn't dropping elbows anymore ... but he's got a brand new challenge ... creating the next pro wrestling superstar out of one of Tom Brady's ex-teammates.

TMZ Sports spoke with Brennan Williams ... who's decided to call it quits on a 3 year NFL career as a lineman for the Texans, Jaguars, and Patriots so he can take a shot at pro wrestling.

Brennan tells us that he won't be stepping into the ring blind 'cause he's gonna have Booker T -- a WWE hall of famer -- showing him the ropes (and turnbuckles) of the grappling game.

"He’s got a school in Houston called WXF that I’m joining (along with) his promo company."

Williams says he and Booker T have a vision ... one that involves him locking arms with the big boys very soon.

"I’m looking to get my feet wet while training with Booker and shooting for a contract with the WWE in January. That’s my plan."

We also spoke with Booker T himself who says Williams has all the tools to do what The Rock, Goldberg and Ahmed Johnson did ... that is go from big time football to the WWE.

"Brennan definitely fits the profile and athletic protocol of a WWE Wrestler. He fits the build perfectly."

He goes on to say Brennan might have an advantage over those guys ... cause he actually has a deep love and understanding of the sport.

"Most of the time with NFL players, wrestling is a sort of last resort but Brennan was actually a fan before anything. I’m more than glad to help him out."

NFL players have turned to elevation training masks to make sure their performance is tip top while playing sky high.

The training masks -- which gives you the benefits of high altitude training while remaining sea level -- are popping up all over social media and are def giving pros an edge on the competition.