NFL

Spike Lee says Hollywood needs to take its cue from the NFL -- forcing studios to institute a "Rooney Rule" ... requiring studios to greenlight a certain number of movies featuring minorities.

Lee was on 'GMA' Wednesday morning when he said the problem with the Oscars is deeper than who gets nominated -- it's the fact black movies and black actors aren't getting the opportunities in the Hollywood boardrooms.

That's why Lee wants a "Rooney Rule" -- an NFL policy that requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching and minority jobs.

Lee feels that someone needs to force Hollywood to hit a mandatory quota when it comes to making minority films.

Watch the clip ... seems Michael Strahan is down to play the role of enforcer.

GRONK JOKE!!!

With the AFC Championship just days away, Rob Gronkowski threw some Twitter shade at the Denver Broncos ... with a BJ joke.

Gronk gonna Gronk.

Manti Te'o has officially rebounded from Lennay Kekua (R.I.P.) ... and his new girlfriend is a smokin' hot model.

Ray Rice says he's still training his ass off in the hopes of signing with a team before the 2016 season -- and sources tell us the guy is getting interest from multiple organizations.

The adorable father, son dabbing shirt Cam Newton wore before Sunday's playoff game is NOT FOR SALE ... with Under Armour telling TMZ Sports it was a custom 1-of-1 design.

Cam rocked the shirt as a tribute to his new baby boy Chosen -- who was born just before Christmas ... but the Internet blew up with people infatuated with the fashion.

But we spoke to a rep for Under Armour who tells us fans of the shirt are S.O.L. ... 'cause it was specially made for the Panthers QB.

"The shirt was custom for Cam and is not available at retail."

The adorable little girl who got a TD ball from Carolina Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart Sunday drove 100 miles with her family to attend the game ... and says she'll NEVER sell it, EVER!!

The lucky fan is 8-year-old Isabella -- who was at the game with her mom, dad and brother who are all Panthers super fans ... and usually sit in the nosebleed section when they attend games.

But Isabella's father, Kelly, tells TMZ Sports he splurged for the playoff game -- dropping more than $2,500 for the killer end zone seats because he felt something special was going to happen.

He was right.

Isabella became an instant Internet sensation due to her priceless reaction when Stewart singled her out and handed her the ball after scoring the 1st TD of the game.

"She let us all hold the ball, she was super excited!"

Kelly says he ordered a case for the ball the second he got home -- and it's currently on display in their living room.

"We're holding on to it forever," Kelly says ... "Never to be sold. We're too big of fans."

Tebowmania may be dead and gone -- but Blake Shelton is still PISSED about it ... claiming Tim Tebow BELONGS in the NFL 'cause he's better than a bunch of the crappy QBs that are playing right now.

By the way, Blake is dead serious about it ... and explained in a series of pro-Tebow tweets:

"Just saw the 2011 playoff game with Steelers vs Broncos.. Can someone please give me a good reason Tim Tebo isn't playing in the NFL?!"

"I mean are you telling me that there's NOT a team that needs him out there? Look at the problems so many teams have at quarter back!!"

"My god he's won a playoff game!!!!!!!!! How many QBs in this league can even say that?!!"

When fans starting firing back with the old "he sucks" argument -- Blake defended his boy:

"But he's so much better than a lot of starters!!! You can't argue that!!!! Come on!!!"

For the record, Tebow hasn't officially retired from the sport -- but it was clear he wasn't confident about a comeback after being cut from the Eagles earlier this year.

Maybe Shelton helps ignite another comeback????

Stay tuned ...

Chip Kelly's unemployment didn't last long ... the ex-Eagles coach just got hired by the San Francisco 49ers!

Kelly got the ax from Philly in week 16 ... after missing the playoffs and jettisoning several marquee players including LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson.

But now, the 49ers have officially announced Chip is coming to San Fran ... with CEO Jed York tweeting, "After a thorough search, Trent & I are thrilled to announce Chip Kelly as the new #HeadCoach of the @49ers."

Think Ice Cube is gonna trade his silver and black for blue and gold just because the Rams are moving to L.A.??

HELL NO!!!

Lawrence Phillips' biological mother -- and the people closest to him -- do not believe the ex-NFL star committed suicide in his prison cell ... with his next of kin telling TMZ Sports, "I know for a fact he wouldn't do that."

We spoke with Tonissa Murdock -- who was listed as Phillips' next of kin with Kern Valley State Prison due to their close relationship for more than 20 years.

It's a homecoming for the St. Louis Rams -- NFL owners just approved the franchise returning to Los Angeles, and the vote wasn't even close.

The owners met in Houston on Tuesday to decided which teams if any would be moving. The Rams, Raiders, and Chargers all applied to make the jump to L.A.

The vote was 30-2 in favor of the Rams getting the nod. The Chargers were a sort of runner-up ... they got first option to go to L.A. later, and would share the stadium the Rams are building in Inglewood ... next to the Fabulous Forum where the Lakers used to play.

Good news for the man they call Clipboard Jesus ... NFL quarterback Charlie Whitehurst just scored himself a HUGE celebrity girlfriend ... JEWEL.

The Indianapolis Colts QB -- and former Clemson star -- hit up the national championship game Monday night with the singer by his side ... and according to her good friend Nancy O'Dell, they're officially coupled up.

"Love running in to my pal @jewel on the field. Loved her from 1st time I met her & now she's dating a Clemson fella, Charlie Whitehurst = awesome!"

Jewel has a thing for jocks -- she used to be married to pro rodeo cowboy Ty Murray ... but they split in 2014.

Now, she's hooked up with Whitehurst -- who's considered a Top 5 QB in the NFL ... in hotness.

Congrats!

Pacman Jones is confused.

The Cincinnati Bengals star went on "The Dan Patrick Show" Monday morning to call B.S. on Steelers WR Antonio Brown ... claiming the guy was FAKING IT when Vontaze Burfict hit him in the head.

In fact, Pacman says Brown's injury was nothing more than an ACTING job -- and he was so good at faking hurt, dude deserves a Grammy.

#Oops #MilliVanilli?

Tennessee Titans star Kendall Wright has serious off-season headaches ... his baby mama is taking him to court for child support, and thinks he's getting revenge by repossessing her car.

In court docs obtained by TMZ Sports, Kortney Michelle Owens-Rader says she has a 5-month-old baby boy with Wright named Kendall Jr. -- and the Titans leading receiver agreed in December to pay her $2,100/month in child support, starting in 2016.

The docs make it seem like everything's cool between Kortney and Kendall, but sources close to her say that's not the case. We're told Wright had been "taking care" of Kortney -- a singer signed to Floyd Mayweather's record label -- but nothing was on paper.

Cut to last week when, according to our sources, Kortney's 2014 Cadillac XTS -- a gift from Wright in happier times -- was repossessed. We're told Kortney thinks Wright stopped making payments because he was pissed she took him to court.

This probably won't get better ... they're due back in court in a couple of months. We've reached out to Wright's reps, but nothing back yet.

Deion Sanders is putting his face front and center in the fashion game ... and it's generating big bucks for his son's clothing line.

Deion Sanders Jr. is the creative force behind Well Off, a streetwear clothing brand ... and its bestseller is a t-shirt with Dad's iconic Jheri curled image from the 1989 NFL draft.

Deion Jr. -- who's currently playing football at SMU -- tells TMZ Sports, he chose the image because it represents his brand to a tee ... "Well Off is about being that way mentally, emotionally, and spiritually and financially. That picture just showed [dad's] hard work had paid off."

Sanders Jr. says Deion and his mother, Carolyn, chipped in to help him get started. So, it couldn't hurt to put the main investor on some gear. By the way, since Jr. is an NCAA athlete ... his sister handles the money for Well Off.

Michael Keaton should've been celebrating after his Pittsburgh Steelers yanked the Bengals' beating hearts out of their chests -- but, NO ... instead he was pissed about Antonio Brown's concussion.