NFL

Cris Carter says Odell Beckham Jr. admitted he was upset about homophobic slurs that were hurled at him before the infamous Giants vs. Panthers game in 2015 ... and insinuated the slurs came from Josh Norman.

Carter appeared on "Undisputed" on FS1 and talked about the conversation he had with Odell on Thursday during a workout at an L.A. gym.

Carter says they spoke about OBJ's rivalry with Josh Norman -- and Cris said it was very clear "homophobic" slurs (along with other disrespectful comments) set him off that day.

Nick Wright -- who's co-hosting 'First Things First' with Carter -- also spoke with Beckham and said Odell mocked the media for constantly speculating about his sexuality.

Cris Carter had a private 1-on-1 training session with Odell Beckham Jr. -- and told the NY Giants superstar the 5-fingered secret to dominating in the NFL.

The two WRs hooked up at Brick gym in L.A. -- where Carter dished out a few route-running tips before focusing on OBJ's mitts.

It's hard to make out exactly what Cris said but the message seemed pretty clear -- work on stretching out the wingspan on your hands!!

At one point, Carter tells Odell that he should hire someone to work on his hands the way they work on his body -- "These are your moneymakers right here!"

Beckham has been MIA from Giants' OTAs all week -- but we're guessing the team will be happy to see he's still working out ... right?

Money, fame and girls will come ... but Odell Beckham Jr. has to make football and his teammates the top priority in his life ... Michael Irvin tells TMZ Sports.

We talked to Irvin -- who back in the day was one of the league's best young players -- about the embattled N.Y. Giants star.

We broke the story ... Beckham Jr. missed Giants' OTA (a voluntary practice) on Monday 'cause he was in L.A. ... running drills with Johnny Manziel. He also skipped Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday's practice.

It didn't stop there ... Odell bowled with Iggy Azalea (and a group of friends) Monday night in L.A. ... igniting a firestorm of speculation about a possible relationship.

Azalea, and sources close to Beckham both told us they are NOT dating ... but still, Irvin's been there, and his advice to OBJ makes a lot of sense.

Colin Kaepernick's most passionate supporters gathered at the NFL Headquarters in NYC Wednesday ... expressing their solidarity with the free agent QB.

Kevin Livingston of "100 Suits For 100 Men" -- the group Kaep donated 50 custom suits to earlier this month -- organized the event featuring speakers expressing their support for Kaepernick and desire for equal treatment towards minorities.

Former NBA player Etan Thomas, Emerald Snipes (daughter of Eric Garner), William Bell (father of Sean Bell) and NY state senator James Sanders Jr. each shared powerful messages during the hour-long meet.

"We are going to continue to keep pressure to make sure Colin Kaepernick's not only finished getting blackballed, but he's signed to an NFL team," Livingston told a crowd of over 70 people.

Kaep worked out for the Seattle Seahawks Wednesday.

Odell Beckham Jr. ain't dating Iggy Azalea, despite reports the 2 had a romantic date night this week ... sources close to Odell tell TMZ Sports.

Multiple outlets reported the stars hit up Bowlero bowling alley in Woodland Hills, CA on Monday night ... and were "cozying up" with each other, "being romantic."

But we talked to sources close to Odell who vehemently denied they were in a relationship ... or dating at all ... saying "people will create anything."

As for Odell, he did make 1 hookup when he was out in L.A. ... running routes and catching passes with Johnny Manziel.

Turns out Peyton Manning's voice is good for more than just yelling "Omaha," and we have video proof ... with the future Hall of Famer hitting the stage and going country with Chris Stapleton.

This all went down at the Red Rocks Amphitheater just outside Denver, where Manning got up onstage during Chris' show and joined him for Stapleton's song, "Tennessee Whiskey," and we gotta say, Manning wasn't half bad.

Peyton's showed off his pipes before, he duetted with Lee Brice last year for a rendition of "Rocky Top," but let's face it, that song is kinda like a lay up for Manning.

Ezekiel Elliott was in a car accident early Monday morning ... and sustained a minor head injury after the vehicle he was riding in was rear-ended in the Dallas area ... TMZ Sports has learned.

After hitting up a charity event thrown by Tony Romo and Clutch bar Sunday night, sources tell us Zeke was the passenger in a car that was rear-ended by another vehicle ... 'causing the Cowboys star to hit his head.

We're told the car was "rear-ended pretty bad."

The Cowboys confirmed the accident ... and said Elliott -- who missed OTAs all week -- was being held from practice strictly as a precaution.

Johnny Manziel recruited one of the best receivers in the league this week to help with his NFL comeback -- Odell Beckham!!

We're told Manziel and OBJ hit the gridiron for some passing drills while hanging with Odell's custom cleat artist, Kickasso ... and we're told the ex-Browns QB was firing the ball around -- lookin' like Johnny Football again.

Odell -- and few other receivers -- ran routes while Manziel threw them passes. Word is his arm looked strong, and his feet looked fast.

Cortez Kennedy took a young Shaun Alexander under his wing ... schooling him on life skills that he used during his All-Pro career ... the star running back tells TMZ Sports.

We talked to Alexander about the passing of his former teammate and friend ... a guy Alexander says was instrumental in his career.

Shaun reminisces about a day back in 1990 when Kennedy and Ricky Watters invited S.A. to chill and watch the Miami vs. Notre Dame football game.

There were nachos ... and a lot of life advice ... from how to spend money, to getting married.

Dennis Erickson -- who coached Tez at the U and in the pros at Seattle -- echoed Shaun's praise of the HOF'er ... saying Kennedy was just as great off the field as on it.

Cortez Kennedy was unconscious and "cold" when EMTs responded to his house Tuesday morning.

In the emergency dispatch audio, obtained by TMZ Sports, you hear the dispatcher say they were responding to an "unconscious patient" with "no vitals." They said the patient was a 49-year-old male, although Kennedy was 48.

Cops say the call came in around 10:20 AM to his house in Orlando. It's unclear who called 911.

NFL Hall of Famer Cortez Kennedy is dead at the age of 48 ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Kennedy played 11 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks ... and was an 8x Pro Bowler. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

We spoke to Orlando PD who confirmed Kennedy's passing ... but they added "there is nothing suspicious" about his death.

We've spoken to family members who say they're currently traveling to Orlando.

Cause of death is still unclear.

Pro Football Hall of Fame President David Baker said, "The entire Hall of Fame family is stunned and deeply saddened to learn the news of Cortez Kennedey's passing."

"Cortez will be remembered not only for all his great achievements on the football field but how he handled himself off the field. He epitomized the many great values this game teaches which serves as inspiration to millions of fans."

Story developing ...

Manchester born and raised Denver Broncos tackle Menelik Watson says the scumbag terrorists who attacked his home city are only gonna make Manchester stronger.

Watson -- who was drafted in the 2nd round of the '13 draft, and plays tackle for the Broncos -- was visibly shaken when we spoke to him ... saying "this one hurts a lot."

Despite the pain Watson and others from the city are feeling, he says Manchester is a tough place that won't be broken ... and will instead "band together."

"Scumbags want to impose their will on people through terror, and it doesn't work. It never works. The city of Manchester will only get stronger from this."

NFL free agent Matt Elam was arrested again Monday morning in Florida after allegedly fighting his girlfriend over a cell phone.

According to a police report, obtained by TMZ Sports, police were called to his girlfriend's Delray Beach home around 4 AM.

Cops say they spoke with his girlfriend and her mom, who told them Elam -- who last played for the Baltimore Ravens -- had just came by their house to pick up his car.

According to the report, his girlfriend told police Elam tried to grab her cell phone out of her hand because he had paid for it. She told cops they fell onto the ground while fighting over the phone.

Cops say he got ahold of the phone and took off on foot. They said his girlfriend had small cuts on her finger and left foot from the fight.

Police say they found Elam a couple hours later at a house in the area. He told cops he asked his girlfriend for money and when she refused, he took her phone. He said she took his phone in return.

Elam -- who was arrested on drug charges back in February -- was booked for domestic battery and grand theft. He's currently being held on $4,500 bond.

Here's pictures of Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce's GF to once again prove that being good looking, athletic and rich is the way to true American happiness.

TMZ Sports has learned Kelce's been dating model/TV personality Kayla Nicole for the last six months ... and guess what? She's amazingly beautiful.

Travis previously chronicled his quest for love on a reality show called "Catching Kelce," and even though he fumbled there, he clearly made up for it in the non-reality-show-actual-life way.

Peep this, not only is Kayla smokin' she's also a Pepperdine grad ... meaning the woman's got brains as well as ...

Yeah, just check out the gallery.

NFL superstar Darrelle Revis WILL NOT be punished by the NFL for his February arrest -- a case that was later dropped -- a league spokesman told TMZ Sports.

The Pro Bowl corner was arrested following a street brawl that left 2 men unconscious outside a bar. Revis was charged with aggravated assault and robbery ... before his childhood friend copped to the fight and all charges against Darrelle were dropped.

Even though Revis was cleared legally ... until today, it was unclear if Revis would be punished by the NFL for any role he might've had in the incident.

Kansas City Chiefs star Jeremy Maclin got hitched over the weekend ... and the new couple celebrated by jammin' out to some classic Ja Rule!!

Maclin and his longtime girlfriend, Adia Kuzma, tied the knot on Saturday ... and NFL stars like LeSean McCoy, Alex Smith and Ty Hill were there to help celebrate the marriage.

No word on whether Chiefs coach Andy Reid danced his face off ... but Maclin and his new bride stole the show with Rule's 2000 hit, "Put It On Me."

"Where would I be without youuu?"