NFL

RGIII isn't winning any football games for the Washington Redskins anymore ... but at least he's still winning in life.

The former starting QB wished everyone a merry Christmas with his wife, Rebecca, and daughter, Reese.

They'll be no dabbing at this year's Super Bowl ... at least not by Cam Newton ... that's according to legendary handicapper Brandon Lang ... who says the Arizona Cardinals will win it all in Norcal.

Lang is a god in the gambling world ... so much so that he inspired the 2005 movie, "Two for the Money" starring Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey.

So when we got him out at Mastro's Steakhouse in Bev Hills, what did we ask him? What the hell do you think? WE ASKED FOR A SUPER BOWL PICK!!!

Odell Beckham Jr. says he's sorry for repeatedly cheap shotting Josh Norman during the Giants vs. Panthers game this weekend ... admitting his behavior was "embarrassing."

Beckham Jr. just issued a statement saying, "I wasn’t raised to act like I did the other day."

"I want to apologize to Giants fans. What happened the other day was embarrassing to them and embarrassing to me."

He continued, "A lot of kids look up to me as a role model. That is a responsibility I accept and take seriously."

"Many of the parents of those kids have asked since Sunday what they should say to their children about my conduct. I don’t have the perfect answer, but I think one thing they can say is how I handled myself the other day is an example of how not to conduct yourself."

"I displayed poor sportsmanship."

"I hope to be an example of somebody who did something wrong and learned from it."

It's a good thing LaDainian Tomlinson signed a $6 MILLION signing bonus in 2001 ... 'cause the guy got stuck with a $32,000 rookie dinner tab that season ... so says one of his former teammates.

We spoke with Marcellus Wiley -- who was on the Chargers when LT was taken as the #5 overall pick in 2001 -- and he tells us he remembers the actual rookie dinner bill ... right down to the penny.

Rookie dinner hazing is back in the news again after Ravens rookie Carl Davis reportedly got stuck with an $11k bill earlier this week.

It's definitely not the worst NFL rookie tab ... that title reportedly goes to Dez Bryant who got stuck with a $55k bill during his rookie season.

Ex-NFL star Maurice Jones-Drew doesn't wanna see Odell Beckham Jr. on the sidelines this weekend -- telling TMZ Sports the WR should NOT be suspended because, "football, it's a contact sport."

OBJ got a 1 game suspension for going after Josh Norman multiple times during the Giants vs. Panthers game this weekend ... though he's appealing the punishment.

Pittsburgh Steelers superstar Antonio Brown had an early Xmas gift for a local high school football team -- taking the entire squad to a screening of "Concussion" ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Brown hooked up the kids at Clairton High School in Pennsylvania -- a team he's essentially adopted since joining the Steelers.

Clairton head coach Wayne Wade tells us ... Brown organized a bus to take the players to a nearby theater and treated the kids to a night at the movies.

Wayne says Brown is always doing cool stuff for the high school -- "A couple years ago he paid for the whole team to go to Dave N Busters after the season."

So, why Clairton??

"He loves the whole small town, small team, small program thing. We are the winningest program in Pennsylvania, piled up 66 wins in a row (Pennsylvania record), won state championships."

Plus, Wayne played Arena League football with Antonio's dad.

So, what did we learn today ... people actually ARE going to see movies other than 'Star Wars.'

Retired NFL lineman Luke Petitgout was just sentenced to 30 days in jail after a judge convicted him of harassing his estranged wife and a man she was dating.

The charges stem from an incident in June 2014 when Petitgout found out his wife had met up with a guy at a Midtown NYC bar. The ex-NY Giant showed up and freaked out -- yelling profanities and allegedly punched both of them.

After a five day trial, Petitgout was found guilty on two counts of 2nd degree harassment. One piece of good news -- he was found not guilty on the assault charges. He and his wife are now estranged.

Ray Rice says he's still determined to get back in the NFL -- even though he hasn't had any real offers -- and says, "I'm not ready to give up."

Rice appeared on "The Dan Patrick Show" Thursday -- and was asked if he's had any real interest from teams ... especially with several teams getting VERY thin at the running back position.

The ex-Ravens star says there's been chatter -- but nobody's pulled the trigger.

Rice says he was hopeful someone would have given him a shot earlier in the year.

"I would have loved to be in a training camp, learn an offense and things like that.”

Just last month, TMZ Sports spoke with Rice at a training facility in New Jersey -- and Rice says he's still working out HARD in case his phone rings.

"I do want to play football again ... I'm not ready to give up."

Don't worry about Ickey Woods this flu season ... 'cause he's running about 98 Degrees!

Check out this footage of the Bengals legend hanging out with Nick Lachey at LAX ... bro-ing out over Cincinnati's impressive 10-3 record this season.

Both guys are stoked about Cinci's chances at a Super Bowl run -- even with an injured Andy Dalton -- with Woods saying the red head has a real shot to be one of the NFL's all time greats!

BTW, Nick grew up in Cinci and happens to be a hardcore Bengals fan -- so we had to ask Ickey where Lachey ranked on the all time Bengals celebrity fan power list.

His competition -- George Clooney, Woody Harrelson, Carmen Electra ... and (wait for it) Barney Stinson.

NY Jets stud defensive end Sheldon Richardson says he's not the same guy who was arrested earlier this season ... claiming he's seen the error in his ways and is now dedicated to helping others.

The former Pro Bowler took the mic at "Kevin Powell's 15th Annual Holiday Party And Clothing Drive" Tuesday night -- an event he put on with the former congressional candidate -- and opened up about his tumultuous summer.

"I was negative in the community ... I'm gonna change."

If you remember ... Richardson was arrested back in July for allegedly driving 143 mph in his Bentley and was also suspended for the first 4 games of this season for weed in a separate incident.

Check out the clip ... Sheldon says he's dedicated to putting all that behind him now ... and even pledged $5,000 to help homeless people in NYC.

NY Jets player Sheldon Richardson is trying to make everyone forget his TERRIBLE summer ... by putting on a clothing drive in NYC with a former Congressional candidate.

Richardson is hooking up with Kevin Powell for his 15th Annual Holiday Party and Clothing Drive Tuesday night.

Sheldon needs some positive vibes -- this summer he was hammered with a 4 game suspension from the NFL for doping, then arrested for driving 143 MPH with a 12-year-old kid in the car ... and a gun.

Admission to the party is free as long as you donate a piece of clothing to the homeless. Good stuff.

St. Louis Rams WR Stedman Bailey is making tremendous progress after being shot twice in the head last month -- walking and talking again and "getting back to himself" ... his agent tells TMZ Sports.

We spoke with Tony Fleming ... who tells us Bailey is out of the ICU -- but is still hospitalized ... recovering in a special physical therapy facility in Florida.

"He is getting his strength back and just taking it one day at a time. He is scheduled to be released out of the hospital on the 23rd."

Fleming tells us the 25-year-old has been extremely grateful for the support of his team ever since the Nov. 25th shooting.

"The Rams are great. They have been talking to the doctors like once every few days staying on top of it."

Fleming also says several team officials have come to visit.

Cam Newton is honoring someone he considers VERY SPECIAL on his next pair of cleats -- himself ... TMZ Sports has learned.

After the Carolina Panthers QB rocked his custom "dabbing" cleats last month, Under Armour reached back out to Dez Customs and Kreative Customs for a special new pair.

The result -- a tribute to his insane 2010 college season -- the year he won the Heisman Trophy (and basically every other award you can get).

With the Heisman ceremony going down this weekend, the cleats will serve as a 5 year anniversary tribute ... to himself.

We're told Cam will only sport the cleats during WARM UPS -- since they're not Panthers colors -- and will swap into an NFL approved pair come game time.

TMZ Sports Xmas information time ... Did you know that NFL players have a Secret Santa program in the locker room?

Neither did we ... NY Giants RB -- and "Dancing with the Stars" hopeful Rashad Jennings revealed this fact to us when we got him outside NYC store Eredi Pisano recently.

You know what else he told us about the Secret Santa program?

NOT A DAMN THING ... he was iron clad, rock solid, 'Mission Impossible' Ethan Hunt level secretive when we tried to dig anymore info out of him.

NFL legend John Madden is recovering after undergoing open heart surgery -- and is "expected to fully recover" ... so says NFL commish Roger Goodell.

NY Giants RB Rashad Jennings might be trading his cleats for dancing shoes ... saying his dream of cuttin' a rug on "Dancing With The Stars" is nearly a reality .... 'cause he's talking to producers!!!

The last time we talked with Rashad we asked if he'd ever be down to get down on 'DWTS' after his playing days were over ... not only did he say yes, but said it's something he's always wanted to do.

So when we got him out at Gotham Comedy club in the Big Apple we had to know ... has he heard anything?

Check out the clip -- Rashad says he's been in contact with the honchos over at 'DWTS' and is confident he'll be the next big NFL star to jitterbug, waltz, and samba on TV.

See ... dreams do come true.