NFL

Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, which his doctors have described as "very treatable and potentially curable" through chemotherapy.

Dr. Christopher Flowers, a lymphoma specialist at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, said in a statement, "The goal of Mr. Berry's treatment is to cure his lymphoma and we are beginning that treatment now."

Berry said through a statement, "My family and I are very grateful for the amount of support we have received over the last couple of weeks. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate all the words of encouragement, the blessings and well wishes."

They're still in the playoff race (technically), so Cleveland Browns fans need to QUIT THEIR BITCHIN' about the QB situation ... so says Billy Bob Thornton.

Billy Bob -- a huge Colts fan -- was leaving LAX yesterday after Indianapolis beat up on the Brownies ... when we asked if it was time to swap out Hoyer for Johnny Manziel.

Thornton essentially told us to RELAX when it comes to Johnny Football -- "He'll get in there one of these days."

But the best part ... "If I was a Browns fan and I had the record they have right now, I'd just be happy. you know? They're doing OK."

Just because you can play in the NFL doesn't mean you're tough enough to WRESTLE -- so says Hulk Hogan who tells us all sorts of NFL tough guys have tried to cross over to the ring ... and FAILED.

And not just no-name scrubs ... we're talking some pretty famous NFLers who couldn't quite hack it with Vince McMahon's organization ... guys like Oakland Raiders legend Lyle Alzado.

Unclear why Alzado -- a maniac on the field -- didn't get a contract with the WWE (then WWF) ... but Hulk says he wasn't the only NFL star who didn't make the cut.

Hogan names names ... Bill Fralic (4-time Pro Bowler), John Matuszak (2-time Super Bowl champ) ... and explains that it takes a special sort of toughness to fake fight in the squared circle.

"You gotta be able to work hurt," Hogan says ... "You can't be taking a day off from wrestling because you twisted your pinkie if you're wrestling the main event at Madison Square Garden."

So, does Hogan think Sam has a shot?? Check out the clip ...

Robert Griffin III is a spoiled diva who cares more about branding himself than winning ... so says a Washington Redskins player who tells us he's not the only one in the locker room who feels this way.

The player -- who spoke with us on the condition of anonymity -- says playing with RG3 has been a nightmare this season ... and the locker room has lost faith in the QB.

"No one is happy ... no one gets the hype around him anymore."

As bad as Griffin's play on the field has been this year, our guy tells us it's actually RG3's off-the-field demeanor that ticks off his fellow players the most.

"He's secluded and it affects us in the game. We don't have that real rapport. He's lost confidence and is complacent now."

There's more ... Griffin's mediocre season has made some of his teammates skeptical of not just his future with the Redskins ... but in the league period.

Adrian Peterson finally has a celebrity ally ... rap superstar Lil Boosie ... who hooked up with the embattled running back for a photo in Texas.

We're told the two ran into each other in Dallas earlier this week ... after Peterson returned from NY where he was attending appeal hearings in his effort to get back in the NFL.

Boosie -- who's a huge sports junkie -- is still a fan of the embattled running back ... and wants everyone to know he still sees "greatness" in Peterson.

Victor Cruz won't let a busted right knee keep him from hitting the party scene ... 'cause the NY Giants star hit up a huge party in Miami Thursday night -- with his knee brace -- and we've got the pics.

Cruz -- sporting a medical brace under his sweatpants -- hit up a Crooks & Castles party presented by Hennessy V.S for Art Basel Thursday night.

Despite the fact he's recovering from a season-ending torn patellar tendon in his right knee that he suffered during a game back in October, Victor was seen laughing and having a great time at the party.

Meanwhile, back in NY ... Cruz's teammates -- who have lost 7 straight games -- are preparing to take on the Titans this weekend.

Cruz seems to be making good progress on the knee -- he looked pretty spry while walking through a NY mall a few weeks ago ... and told us he expects to be busting out his salsa again very soon.

Ricky Williams says white people can't understand the pain African-Americans feel over the issues in Ferguson or NYC ... because they have no clue what it's like to deal with police brutality.

TMZ Sports spoke with Ricky about the critical remarks his old New Orleans Saints coach Mike Ditka made about the Rams players who gave the "Hands Up" gesture before a recent game. The remarks caused a stir on social media, with some going so far as to call Ditka a racist.

Williams says he KNOWS Ditka's not a racist ... but says he doesn't think Ditka can fully understand the issue because of his skin color.

"He's a white guy. White people don't relate to police brutality."

The former Heisman Trophy winner says he's experienced racial profiling first hand ... even on his own college campus.

"I was arrested for failing to provide identification when I was at Texas, I told them my name was 'Ricky' when my lD said 'Errick.' This when I was the best player in college football."

Ricky also says that most white people -- almost inherently -- use racially insensitive language on a routine basis.

Michael Sam's former college teammate -- who's played with NFL stars like Aldon Smith and Sheldon Richardson -- says Sam is RIGHT ... his sexual orientation is the reason he's not in the league.

We spoke with Marvin Foster -- who played alongside Sam at Missouri -- and says Sam is one of the best players he's ever stepped on the field with.

"There's no way the Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC should be a free agent," Foster said.

TMZ Sports posted footage Wednesday showing Sam very strongly suggesting that he has the talent to play in the NFL -- but isn't on a roster because he's openly gay.

"The kid can play and I think he showed he can play," Foster added ... "He had three sacks in the pre-season. I don't know why they cut him."

But not everyone shares Foster's opinion -- we spoke with an active NFL lineman who tells us, "If Sam was killing he would be on a roster."

Several Cleveland Browns superstars rallied around their teammate Joe Haden to help him open his new sneaker shop -- from Josh Gordon to Johnny Manziel ... and TMZ Sports has the pics.

As we previously reported, Haden opened "The Restock" in Cleveland last weekend ... a store that specializes in rare sneakers.

A bunch of the Browns showed up when Joe opened the doors ... including Josh Gordon, Donte Whitner and Andrew Hawkins. Cleveland Cavs star Tristan Thompson was also on hand.

And we're told the guys weren't just there to browse -- Josh picked up 3 pairs of Jordans ... so did Tristan Thompson. Hawkins ponied up for a pair of Balenciagas ... which ain't cheap.

Other Browns teammates donated signed jerseys to help decorate the store -- including Johnny Manziel, Brian Hoyer, Phil Taylor and more.

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf was released from a Montana prison Wednesday ... more than two years after beginning his 5-year sentence for breaking into a home to steal Rx pills.

But Leaf isn't in the clear yet ... the #2 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft may still have to serve time in Texas stemming from ANOTHER prescription drug arrest.

Leaf has reportedly met with a parole officer in Montana while waiting for Texas to decide what to do with him.

Leaf has been arrested several times after his brief stint in the NFL -- and had worked as a QB coach at West Texas A&M until he was accused of burglarizing a player's home in 2008.

Remember when NY Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said the coolest moment in his life was when his hero LeBron James tweeted about his legendary 1-handed catch???

Well, last night ... OBJ got a new "coolest moment" in life -- when he met LeBron in person and they took a picture together!

As we previously reported, Beckham Jr. had called James his "favorite athlete" and talked about how much it meant when LeBron gave him props for that sick grab against the Cowboys.

The two finally met in person at dinner Wednesday night -- and you can by the look on Odell's face ... dude was stoked!!

In fact, James even posted about it ... writing, "Giving the game to my young king @iam_objxiii tonight at dinner! Keep going homie and #StriveForGreatness #RWTW."

Pretty cool, right?

Michael Sam believes he's not on a NFL roster because of the fact he's openly gay -- telling TMZ Sports he strongly believes he's got the talent to play in the league.

Sam was at LAX this morning when he was asked if he thinks NFL teams are shying away from him because of his sexual orientation ... or if it has to do with the level of talent he faced after college.

"I think I was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year last year ... so I don't think it had to do with talent."

Translation -- he believes he's on the outs because he's out.

Sam says he's still focused on getting back into the league ... and told us the chances of Oprah ever reviving the reality show that was in the works before the draft are slim to none.

Apparently, LeBron and Drake didn't campaign hard enough ... because Johnny Manziel will NOT start for the Cleveland Browns this weekend ... so says Jay Glazer.

The "NFL on Fox" star says, "The Manziel Era is NOT beginning in Cleveland yet as Brian Hoyer has been informed he will start this weekend vs Indy."

LeBron had told the media his friend Manziel was "ready" to take over if called upon. And after his eyebrow-raising performance last week, it seemed Johnny time was gonna get the nod -- including Drake who flashed the money sign to support his BFF.

Guess he'll just have to wait.

Glazer adds, "Hoyer had widespread support inside the locker room. No brainer according to players in there."

Dr. Drew says he's very concerned about Ray and Janay Rice -- telling TMZ Sports it's "good" they're staying together ... but says they're in major denial about the magnitude of what happened.

Drew says the way Ray and Janay are chalking up the elevator attack to "one bad night" is bizarre -- and it "minimizes a very serious situation."

"For them to stay together is a good thing. But for them to sort of minimize it and be in such denial about the magnitude of what happened? I mean this is a violent attack. "

He's essentially being called a liar by Adrian Peterson, but NFL exec Troy Vincent says he's gonna keep praying for the NFL star ... during their heated legal war over AP's suspension.

Long story short ... Peterson says he has an audio recording of a phone call in which Vincent (acting on behalf of the NFL) promised that the league would only discipline AP based on the old, weak pre-Ray Rice player conduct policy.

Instead, Peterson says he got much harsher discipline -- he was suspended without pay by the NFL until at least April 2015. Peterson's team says the ban is completely unfair and conflicts with what he was told by Vincent.

Peterson is appealing the ban -- and the proceedings began yesterday ... but Vincent was in Washington D.C. at a hearing on domestic violence in pro sports.

On his way out, TMZ Sports asked Vincent about the AP situation -- and he told us, "I just pray for Adrian. I'm just gonna keep praying for him."

Troy has been ordered to testify at the Peterson hearing tomorrow.

St. Louis Rams safety Rodney McLeod tell TMZ Sports the majority of the Rams had no idea 5 players were planning on doing the "Hands Up" tribute before Sunday's game ... but says he respects 'em for doing it.

"Nobody knew about it," McLeod says ... noting that it seemed like something the wide receivers worked out the plan amongst themselves in the moments before they ran out of the tunnel.

"It speaks to the character of those guys to stand up and do that in front of the country."

So how did the tribute go over in the locker room? "No tension at all," McLeod says ... "[the other players on the team] realized [the wide receivers] didn't mean any harm."

McLeod says the team has remained tight in the days following the incident -- "It's one of the strongest locker rooms I have ever been in. Our whole team is tight. Our locker room is even tighter."