NFL

Several NFL stars have received letters from Nike -- warning the players to stop customizing their cleats ... or else Nike will KILL their endorsement deals ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Cleat customization is all the rage in the NFL right now -- with big stars like Marshawn Lynch, DeSean Jackson, Terrell Suggs, Reggie Bush and more taking their shoes to famous artists to swag out before games.

But after Nike got word of the customizing fad, they sent out letters to players reminding them that the point of the deal is make sure the Nike Swoosh is visible on TV during games ... and customization could get in the way.

The letter reads, "Your Nike Football Contract requires that you wear 'Nike' products that have been designated by Nike Sports Marketing for such use."

"Nike views third-party customization (or post-embellishment) of Nike footwear to be a violation of the contract, triggering Nike's right to immediately terminate the contract."

The company continues ... "Nike Football values its endorsement relationship with you and presumes you were unfamiliar with these previsions in your Nike Football Contract."

"However, please know that Nike expects that you will observe the requirements of our contracts."

Ray Rice's wife Janay is ready for her close-up ... meeting up with beauty specialists before her big "Today" show interview with Matt Lauer.

With cameras setup in her Maryland home, Janay Palmer -- the woman Ray KO'd in the elevator back in February -- invited over a local company that specializes in photo shoots to gussy her up.

The company is called Franchon Parlour -- and it does everything from wardrobe selection to hair extensions.

It's clear that Janay and Ray want it to look like the interview is all about Janay -- but our NBC sources tell us Ray is the main reason they want this interview. And, our sources say Ray WILL be participating in some way even though his people say he is not yet committed.

Matt Lauer had every opportunity to say he does not have an interview lined up with disgraced NFL star Ray Rice, but he didn't.

As TMZ Sports first reported ... NBC sources told us Lauer snagged an interview with Rice and wife Janay. Our Rice sources say nothing is set in stone for him ... that "Today" is more interested in Janay, but our NBC sources say that's not true -- Rice is the prize.

So when our photog spotted Lauer in NYC Wednesday morning and mentioned the Ray interview, Lauer said repeatedly no "announcement" had been made. Interesting.

BTW ... how cool is Matt?

Ricky Williams says he doesn't believe Adrian Peterson did ANYTHING wrong when he beat his 3-year-old son with a switch ... saying it's just the way black people raise their kids.

The former NFL star appeared on "Jim Rome on Showtime" and explained why he thinks there's no way in hell a jury comprised entirely of black people would ever find Peterson guilty of a crime.

Check out the clip ... Ricky insists corporal punishment is the status quo in the African-American community ... and Rome pushes back pretty hard.

It's Veteran's Day ... and NFL star Pierre Garcon is giving back in a pretty awesome way -- WITH FREE PIZZA!!!

The Washington Redskins wide receiver is offering free slices to military vets at the SpinFire Pizza restaurant he owns in Ashburn, Virginia.

We're told several of Pierre's teammates are at the restaurant RIGHT NOW taking pics with fans and hanging with military vets ... including Robert Griffin III.

Pretty cool, right?

Matt Lauer has won the war for Ray Rice -- booking the disgraced NFL star to appear on the "Today" show for an exclusive sit-down interview during sweeps ... TMZ Sports has learned.

It's unclear if Ray's wife Janay Rice will participate in the interview.

We're told the interview is expected to air sometime between now and Nov. 26th.

It's a huge score for NBC ... especially since Rice and Janay have been radio silent with the media ever since we published the elevator footage showing Ray KOing Janay in an Atlantic City casino.

A source connected with Rice just contacted us and said Rice has made no commitment to sit-down with "Today" and will not do anything until after the arbitration decision on his suspension is made. The source says "Today" was really only interested in Janay, not Ray. Our NBC sources dispute that and say Rice is the prize. The Rice source says they will consider the interview but only after arbitration.

Ray Rice wasn't the only athlete in Eminem's cross-hairs -- the rapper also dropped a few lines about Adrian Peterson's child abuse case on his new album.

Em takes aim in a new song called, "Detroit Vs. Everybody" on his new compilation album "Shady XV" -- in which he spits the following lyrics:

"What's makin' you think I need a switch? I'm Adrian Peterson ...
When he's raging and heated and on the way to go beat his kid ...
On the track I spank like he just did."

So far, no response from AP.

He lost 7 games in a row. He lost the starting job. And now Geno Smith has lost the support of a HUGE NY Jets fans ... "Game of Thrones" creator George R.R. Martin.

Martin is such a big Jets fan, he writes a blog about the team -- and in his most recent post, George took some shots at the sophomore QB ... basically saying he sucks and it's time to move on.

George was waxing poetic about the Jets' victory over the Steelers ... writing, "For the moment, I will enjoy the win and wonder what might have happened if Rex [Ryan] had only benched Geno Smith earlier. (I was distressed to see Geno back as second string and Matt Simms inactive. Simms showed more in his brief appearance last week than Geno has all season)."

He continued ... "Gang Green DOES have some good players, if only they could get a quarterback."

Martin also muses about the downside to winning games so late in the season.

"It is certainly more fun to watch the Jets win than to watch them lose, but if they start racking up victories now, all it will do is ruin their chances of getting a real franchise QB in the draft."

The NY Jets felt SOOO GOOD after beating up on the Steelers on Sunday ... the team hit the catwalk 24 hours later, busting out their best Zoolander impersonations for a NY fashion show.

Mike Vick -- along with guys like Nick Mangold, Eric Decker, Calvin Pace, Quinton Coples and more -- strutted his stuff Monday night at the Taste of the Jets charity event at the World Trade Center.

The event raised money for Food Bank for New York City to fight hunger -- and the guys took their modeling jobs pretty seriously ... at least judging by the way they dominated the runway.

#Work

Did you know ... Dean Cain is super good friends with Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett?

Like total BFFs

So, when Dean told us he's picking the 'Boys to win the Super Bowl -- is he using his head ... or his heart???

Former New England Patriot Mike Vrabel could be one step closer to recovering his stolen Super Bowl rings ... because cops finally have a couple suspects.

Vrabel -- who is currently a linebackers coach with the Houston Texans -- tweeted over the weekend that someone broke in his backdoor and stole the rings.

Police in Bellaire, Texas believe the break-in is part of a string of recent break-ins in Vrabel's 'hood. The cops believe the crimes were committed by a black male and black female.

According to police ... they believe the woman waits in a newer model Chrysler 300 down the block while the guy rings the doorbell of the targeted home. If nobody answers ... they go around back and break into the home.

Local pawn shops have been put on alert to keep an eye out for the rings.

Investigators say the video below shows the alleged suspects leaving a ransacked house (not Vrabel's) last week.

NFL legend Terry Bradshaw tells TMZ Sports he doesn't believe Justin Bieber jinxed the Pittsburgh Steelers ... but he does have an issue with JB at the team prayer service the night before the game.

As you know ... the Steelers lost to the lowly NY Jets this weekend -- and a lot of people are blaming the "Justin Bieber Curse" since he joined the team for a pregame prayer ceremony Saturday night.

"It's automatically assumed he's a jinx," Bradshaw says. "That's ridiculous."

But it's what Bradshaw said next that was interesting ... "Would Bieber be a disruption? Well, I wouldn't have had him there."

"The only time I recall the Steelers teams I played on letting outsiders worship with us was at the Super Bowl ... and it was with our families because they traveled with us."

Bradshaw says he takes his bible study very seriously -- and believes the purpose of a private prayer ceremony for NFL teams is to keep the focus on god.

So, when a huge megastar like Bieber walks in the room ... "Your focus isn't where it should be."

A former NFL star -- and Super Bowl champ -- has been FIRED from his job as a college football coach after BODY SLAMMING another man in the gym at Bowie State University ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story ... BSU officials were investigating an October 30th incident involving former New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant ... who was a volunteer linebackers coach at the school. Grant, 6'3" and 285 lbs, won a Super Bowl with the Saints in 2009.

Sources tell us the victim is a student-athlete at the University -- though officials will not confirm his identity.

We also know the incident is now a police matter -- with Bowie State University police conducting an investigation.

We spoke to a rep for the PD who tells us, "We've talked to the victim. We've interviewed witnesses. We have had several conversations with Mr. Grant over the phone, but nothing formal."

So far, no criminal charges have been filed against Grant.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald will not be charged with a crime for allegedly beating up his pregnant fiancee ... after cops say the victim refused to cooperate.

McDonald was originally arrested on August 31st on suspicion of felony domestic abuse after an incident at the NFL star's San Jose home.

According to the police report, the victim had "visible injuries" ... and an unidentified person who called 911 told authorities McDonald was "hitting her" and "trying to pull her out of the house."

But apparently, the Santa Clara District Attorney felt there was not enough evidence to convict McDonald -- and today announced no charges will be filed against the 30-year-old.

"Conflicting versions of the event, a lack of verifiable eyewitnesses and a significant lack of cooperation from Jane Doe, we cannot prove a crime occurred," a spokesperson for the Santa Clara D.A.'s office said.

"In this particular case, there were particular pieces of information missing ... We really don't know what happened between the two parties."

Former Minnesota Vikings star Orlando Thomas -- one of the best defensive backs in the league back in the '90s -- has died after battling ALS.

The 42-year-old -- who led the NFL in interceptions in 1995 -- revealed he was battling the disease in 2007 ... 3 years after he first began exhibiting symptoms.

Thomas was a stud in the NFL -- he was a 2nd round pick in the '95 Draft and was a key player on the 1998 Vikings team that went 15-1 and went all the way to the NFC championship. He retired in 2001.

Orlando's agent Mark Bartelstein issued a statement saying ... "Nobody's ever fought a battle like Orlando fought, with so much dignity -- I never saw anything like it. It's just incredible."

Adrian Peterson wants everyone to know he's a super dad ... so he dropped a picture of himself online Saturday that can be summed up with one word -- REALLY?!

Peterson tweeted a pic behind a cardboard cutout of "Super Dad" ... with his head in the empty hole -- alongside his young daughter.

The caption read, "My beautiful daughter A'deja. Dad's & Donuts Day. #LOVE "

Now we know it's a nice gesture ... but with his history of child abuse -- see here and here -- is it really a wise decision to tout yourself as "Super Dad" online?!