NFL

The Dallas Cowboys finally played like champs last night -- not on a football field, but on the Sunset Strip ... where Jerry Jones' son parked a giant team bus outside a nightclub and proceeded to pull a bunch of hot chicks.

New York Giants running back David Wilson became a hero in the avian community yesterday -- when he saved a helpless baby bird from being trampled on the team's practice field.

Witnesses at the field say Wilson scooped up the little guy and released him back into a safer area -- don't worry, we're told the bird was jumping around and moving (signs it could take care of itself).

As for Wilson -- he's currently nursing a neck injury and there are reports he may never play football again.

Vernon Davis ain't the only NFL star trying to make the jump to the big screen -- former NY Giants running back Brandon Jacobs just shot his 1st movie ... complete with a real FIGHT SCENE!!

The project is called "The Grievance Group" -- in which Jacobs plays the leader of a militant army trying to protect his community.

He's pretty bad ass ... he yells at a bunch of people, fights a guy in army fatigues and (pretends) to fire a heavy duty machine gun.

We spoke with the film's director Rob Hawk who tells us they started shooting the flick about 7 months ago in New Jersey -- and he's almost finished with production.

Hawk says the movie will open in 20 theaters on the East Coast in September and hopes it expands from there.

As for Brandon, we're told he's got a real interest in acting -- and hopes this role can springboard his acting career.

Ray Rice says the incident inside of that casino elevator in New Jersey in February was "the biggest mistake of my life" ... and says he takes "full responsibility" for his actions.

The Baltimore Ravens running back addressed the media to discuss the 2 game suspension handed out by the NFL as a result of the arrest -- and while he never specifically said he KO'd his wife that night, he acknowledges that he did do SOMETHING wrong.

"I don't condone any of my behavior. I take full responsibility for my actions. My wife can do no wrong."

Ray said what happened that night was "a huge mistake on my behalf."

"I know that a lot of people out there have lost respect ... maybe not like me anymore. That's my fault. I have to own that."

Rice also says never planned on appealing any punishment the NFL decided to give -- no matter how harsh. He also says the incident in Atlantic City was a "one-time incident."

"I've never had a problem with domestic abuse."

Seems Chad Johnson fully understands the consequences of his actions -- saying his 2012 domestic violence arrest didn't just ruin his NFL career ... it also destroyed his legacy.

The former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver went to Twitter this morning and in an obvious reference to the incident with then-wife Evelyn Lozada wrote, "3 seconds of anger cost me a lifetimes worth of work."

He continued, "I LOVE everything in sight for a reason, those few seconds I stopped doing so."

After Johnson's arrest, he was immediately cut from the Miami Dolphins and was essentially blacklisted from the NFL.

Johnson is now playing ball in Canada ... but it's clear he believes his arrest overshadows his achievements on the gridiron.

ESPN is yanking Stephen A. Smith off the air -- suspending him for the inflammatory comments he made about women and domestic violence last week.

The network says Smith will not appear on his show "First Take" or on ESPN Radio until next Wednesday. During a discussion about Ray Rice's suspension, Stephen A. said he would tell women to make sure they're not doing anything "to provoke wrong actions" ... in addition to telling men what NOT to do.

This morning on "First Take" Smith apologized -- and ESPN released a statement, saying ... “We will continue to have constructive dialogue on this important topic. Stephen’s comments last Friday do not reflect our company’s point of view."

The network continued ... "As his apology demonstrates, he recognizes his mistakes and has a deeper appreciation of our company values.”

Smith's comments also infuriated fellow ESPN anchor Michelle Beadle. She's yet to react to his suspension.

ESPN has a civil (and gender) war on its hands ... as "SportsNation" host Michelle Beadle has lashed out on Twitter at "First Take" host Stephen A. Smith for his comments about domestic abuse.

It began Friday morning when Smith, in the context of the NFL's suspension of Ray Rice, brought up the idea that there are things women can do to prevent themselves from becoming domestic violence victims.

Beadle, who revealed she was once in an abusive relationship, said she "would never feel clean again" after taking in Smith's comments. She wrote, "I'm thinking about wearing a miniskirt this weekend...I'd hate to think what I'd be asking for by doing so @stephenasmith. #dontprovoke"

She added, "Violence isn't the victim's issue. It's the abuser's. To insinuate otherwise is irresponsible and disgusting. Walk. Away."

For his part, Smith did apologize to Beadle and said he "could've been more articulate on the matter."

But he seemed to make the situation worse when he went on to say, "... What about addressing women on how they can help prevent the obvious wrong being done upon them? ... I was simply saying that preventive measures always need to be addressed because there's only but so much that can be done after the fact....once the damage is already done."

Oh, the damage is done alright.

The NFL has suspended Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for TWO GAMES stemming from his arrest at a NJ casino ... where he allegedly KO'd his then-fiancee Janay Palmer.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Ray was seen dragging Palmer's unconscious body out of an elevator in the Revel Casino in Atlantic City back in February. Both Rice and Palmer were arrested for assault.

Eventually, Rice struck a deal with prosecutors in which he will avoid jail ... if he completes a domestic violence program. So far, things seem to be going smoothly.

But the NFL has decided to take action of it's own -- concluding that Rice violated the league's personal conduct policy. He'll miss two games -- and two game checks -- totaling $470,588. Plus, the league fined Rice $58k.

Reggie Bush is learning the hard way -- even for rich people, WEDDINGS ARE EXPENSIVE AS HELL!!!!

Bush and his GF Lilit Avagyan were leaving Fishing with Dynamite restaurant in Manhattan Beach ... when we asked about their big wedding at the Grand Del Mar in San Diego this weekend.

Tim Tebow refuses to let his NFL dream die -- telling TMZ Sports he's back in L.A. to continue his training ... whether he's on a team or not.

The 26-year-old hasn't played a single down since 2012 ... during a failed experiment with the New York Jets. He later signed a contract with the Patriots but they cut him before the 2013 season.

Tebow then made this pledge -- "I will remain in relentless pursuit of continuing my lifelong dream of being an NFL quarterback."

Over the past year, we've seen him working out all over Los Angeles ... mostly focusing on his throwing motion.

When Aaron Hernandez said goodbye to Bristol County Jail ... it wasn't forever ... because he'll locked up there again soon ... so says Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson.

As we previously reported, Hernandez was transferred from BCJ to Suffolk County Jail this week -- claiming he felt he became a target in Bristol after he was accused of threatening to kill a guard.

He also claimed the move to Suffolk wuold be easier on his Boston-based lawyers.

TMZ Sports spoke with Sheriff Hodgson who tells us he has "no hard feelings" toward Hernandez -- and even said goodbye before he left -- but says he'll be back in his jail soon enough.

Hodgson says he expects AH to be transferred BACK to Bristol County Jail once the Odin Lloyd murder trial begins -- because that's where the court typically houses incarcerated defendants.

As for Aaaron, he's currently in gen pop at Suffolk County Jail -- while officials at his new home evaluate the safety situation to decide if he should be placed in an isolated part of the jail.

Reggie Bush is finally going to tie the knot ... THIS WEEKEND ... and the NFL star is getting married at the same place where LeBron James swapped "I dos" ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Colin Kaepernick's giant new tattoo took 27 long painful hours to complete -- over 3 days -- with one of the top celebrity tattoo artists in L.A. wielding the needle ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, Colin recently had biblical imagery symbolizing "money is the root of all evil" tatted on his left torso. Now, we've learned the guy who applied the tat is Carlos Torres of Timeline Gallery tattoo shop in L.A. ... an artist who's worked on huge stars like 50 Cent and Nas.

Torres tells TMZ Sports ... Colin initially reached out on Instagram to inquire about a session, after being referred through a friend.

"He sent me a drawing of his idea ... There was a lot going on so I simplified it. Not every piece of art makes a great tattoo, so I refined it so it'd be a great tattoo. But Colin came up with the concept."

Torres explains ... "We did three sittings. They were each eight, nine hours long. The side of the ribs are a painful area, but Colin laid there like a rock."

Torres wouldn't tell us how much Colin paid for the art work, but says he usually runs around $250 per hour ... and he still has a few hours of work left before Colin's tat is complete. So, figure CK's total bill will run upwards of $7,500.

SF 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick -- who just signed a $126 MILLION contract -- just got a brand new tattoo that symbolizes how EVIL money can be.

You don't wanna screw with Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis at the bottom of a pile ... 'cause dude's training to SNAP ARMS ... and he's getting pretty good at it.

The 6'6", 272-pound giant has been spending his off-season working on his MMA skills -- and training with NFL insider/MMA junkie Jay Glazer out in L.A.

Well, it looks like the training's been paying off ... 'cause Lewis hit the mat for an arm-bar training session recently ... and was pretty impressive ... even forcing his partner to tap out.

More problems for unemployed NFL star Bryant McKinnie -- TMZ Sports has learned the former lineman's fancy car has been REPO'D ... after he stiffed his lawyers on a HUGE bill.

Here's the deal ... according to legal docs, Bryant never paid his Florida lawyers more than $20k in bills, fees and penalties stemming from work they did several years ago.

The lawyers sued and got a judgement for $21,354.69 ... but McKinnie never paid -- so the court sent a repo man to collect Bryant's 2012 Infiniti QX56 ... so they could auction it off to pay back the attorneys.

Well, what the repo man wants ... the repo man gets -- and now the car is all set for the auction block ... where Bryant will have a chance to buy it back ... if he really loves the car.

It's just the latest problem for McKinnie -- who reportedly settled a lawsuit with a strip club owner who claimed the NFL player stiffed his establishment on a $375k bill.