NFL

Sorry ladies, Tampa Bay Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans is officially off the market ... 'cause he just got engaged -- and proposed with a pretty solid diamond ring!

Evans -- who just finished up one helluva rookie season -- popped the question to Ashli Dotson in late December ... right around Xmas and Ashli's 21st birthday.

The two met back in 2013 while Mike was playing ball at Texas A&M ... and things got serious between the two in February 2014 ... when she announced the relationship on social media.

No word on when the two plan on tying the knot.

FYI -- We did some digging ... looks like the ring came in a blue box.

Ex-NFL coach Jim Fassel wasn't talkin' crazy when he said Andrew Luck could be the best QB to ever play the game ... so says Billy Bob Thornton who tells us #12 has insane potential.

Billy Bob was out in Nashville when he told us Peyton Manning is still his favorite quarterback of all time -- but explains that when it comes to the future, he's a big believer in Luck.

Sure, he was a headache in college ... but the NFL could actually help Jameis Winston get his act together off the field ... so says Jacksonville Jaguars star Marcedes Lewis.

Lewis -- who's been in the league for 9 seasons -- was out in L.A. Wednesday and told us he believes in the various programs the NFL has in place to help provide "guidance" to young players.

"He's young. You expect him to make mistakes," Lewis said ... "The NFL, they have certain programs to help guide him through, so he'll be fine."

Of course, Winston decided to forego his junior season at FSU and declare for the upcoming draft because he's expected to be a first round pick.

The Chicago Bears player who was arrested for DUI Wednesday told police he was going nearly 100 mph on the Interstate because he was late for a parent/teacher conference ... this according to the police report obtained by TMZ Sports.

According to the report, Tim Jennings was arrested around noon in Gwinnett County, GA ... when an officer saw the 31-year-old hauling ass in a white Mercedes.

During the stop, the cop says he could smell booze on Tim's breath ... and wanted to perform field sobriety tests.

But according to the report, Jennings was ADAMANT he wasn't drunk -- telling the cop he had stopped drinking about 10 hours before the stop (2AM).

The cop asked Jennings if he had brushed his teeth or used mouthwash to cover up the scent -- and Jennings replied, "What kind of question is that?"

The officer shot back, "Sir, you can brush your teeth and still have the smell of alcohol on your breath, you know that."

The cop says Tim admitted to speeding and said he was running late for a parent/teacher conference for his 2-year-old child.

Jennings refused to take a breathalyzer but bombed several other field sobriety tests and was eventually arrested for DUI, speeding and reckless driving.

Good news for Draya Michele ... sounds like she's gonna get her engagement ring!!!

Bad news for Draya Michele ... sounds like she's gonna have to be patient!

Draya's BF, Dallas Cowboys star Orlando Scandrick appeared on "Fox Sports Live Countdown" On FS1 (airing tonight at 9 PM PT, 12 ET) and was asked if he'll be hitting the diamond store anytime soon.

He blushed. He raved about Draya ... but he also bobbed and weaved like a champ.

Bottom line -- Scandrick says it'll all work itself out "in due time."

So ... congrats???

GLAAD is probably gonna have a thing or two to say about this one ...

Because a big country music star just took a cheap shot at Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Gov. Chris Christie live on ESPN ... and let's put it this way, he suggested there were shenanigans in the owner's box.

Kinky Friedman -- a country singer/wannabe politician/author/avid cigar smoker -- just appeared on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" to talk to Bob Ley about the famous hug during last weekend's playoff game.

His response ... well, you just have to watch the clip. Unreal.

Daddy needs a new pair of shoes ... especially since daddy lost his shoe deal!

Adrian Peterson was spotted at a craps table at the El San Juan Casino in Puerto Rico last week ... gamblin' alongside his wife Ashley Brown.

Of course, it's not like AP had practice or anything ... since he's still suspended from the NFL and the Vikings didn't make the playoffs.

According to people at the casino, AP was friendly with fans ... and even shook a few hands when he wasn't bellied up to the table.

No word on how much $$$ Peterson won or lost ... but it's not like he doesn't have the cash -- he still made nearly $12 million this season despite the suspension.

"Basketball Wives" star Draya Michele has been called many things ... but subtle isn't one of 'em ... and last night she told her BF Orlando Scandrick it's time to pony up for a RING!!!

Draya was leaving Boa Steakhouse on Sunset when we asked if her Dallas Cowboys superstar BF has thought about how he's going to spend his playoff bonus money.

That's when Draya dropped the not-so-subtle hint to TMZ Sports ... saying, "I don't plan for other people's money ... but I hope that he has a nice investment that he's going to buy that has to do with rings and things and sparkly stuff."

She playfully added, "I like diamonds!"

No pressure, Scandrick.

Big recovery for USC ... cops have found the school's duplicate copy of O.J. Simpson's Heisman Trophy after it had been stolen from campus more than 20 YEARS ago!

We broke the story ... cops had recently got a warrant to search phone records of a man they believe swiped the statue from Heritage Hall back in 1994 ... and clearly, they were on to something.

The bad news -- the LAPD has not announced that a suspect is in custody ... and they're still on the hunt for a game worn O.J. Simpson jersey that was also taken in the heist.

Ben Affleck says the Baltimore Ravens are the absolute WORST matchup for his beloved Patriots ... telling TMZ Sports he's got a healthy fear of Joe Flacco.

A pumped up Affleck (seriously, this dude is SWOLL) was leaving Tavern in Brentwood when he told us he wishes Brady and company were facing a weaker opponent this weekend (a shot at the Steelers perhaps?).

Check out the clip ... Affleck breaks down the NFL playoffs and even tells us the teams he fears the most.

But when push comes to shove, Ben says he believes in his boys ... though he wouldn't go as far as his BFF Matt Damon -- who predicted a Super Bowl victory earlier this week.

Stay tuned ...

Jerry Jones says Gov. Chris Christie is no bandwagon Cowboys fan -- he's been a supporter for 50 years and has become "part of [the team's] mojo."

Of course, Christie has been taking some serious heat ever since he was seen bear hugging the NFL owner in the owner's box at Cowboys Stadium this past weekend ... as the team defeated the Lions.

"Listen, he's a Cowboy through-and-through ... he's part of our mojo," Jones said during an interview on 105.3 THE FAN Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Jerry says if Christie's "mojo" can help the team go all the way to the Super Bowl ... "he outta be looked at as the President of the United States."

Jones takes it a step further ... and says Christie might be the most "deep-seated" Cowboys fan he's ever had in the owner's box -- and says he hopes CC joins the team in Green Bay this weekend.

Rex Ryan to the Bears???

There's one huge Chicago guy who likes the idea -- Common -- who tells TMZ Sports it would be "dope" if the former NY Jets coach blew into the Windy City.

Sure, he was ran outta NY, but Common says Rex could be a perfect fit in Chicago ... where Bears chairman George McCaskey just ousted the previous head coach Marc Trestman.

The police department that was skewered by OJ Simpson's defense team during his murder trial has gone to court to solve another crime involving the famous convict ... but this one involves his 1968 Heisman Trophy.

TMZ has learned the LAPD has obtained a search warrant, allowing detectives to secure phone records of a man they believe stole the statue from Heritage Hall at USC back in 1994.

The trophy and OJ's famous #32 jersey went missing after someone dismantled the display case and made off with the goods.

The cold case became hot in November when a man called USC, saying he had purchased the trophy from a friend years ago and wanted to authenticate it. The USC folks determined the guy did indeed have the Heisman, but cops didn't believe his story ... they think he's the crook.

So LAPD detectives went to court last month and got a warrant to track the guy down and nab the items.

He can't be prosecuted ... the statute of limitations has long since run.

As for OJ ... he also had a Heisman -- they come in pairs ... one for the player and one for the school. OJ's was sold for $255,500 to partially satisfy the $33 million judgment for killing Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

Johnny Manziel was attacked with drinks at a Houston nightclub this weekend ... after the Cleveland Browns QB got into it with a group of hecklers ... TMZ Sports has learned.

It all went down at Dekan nightclub in Houston late Sunday night -- Manziel arrived with some friends looking to have a good time when things got chippy.

We spoke with J.R. from Sticky Promotions -- who was with Johnny that night -- and he tells us people were shouting at Manziel and aggressively trying to take pics.

At one point, a frustrated Manziel flipped off one of the hecklers -- and that's when J.R. says the drinks started to fly.

"I ducked and I looked at Johnny and we grabbed security and they ran us out of there," J.R. says.

We're told Johnny and some members of his crew were splashed with drinks -- so they went back to their hotel room to change.

J.R. says he spoke with club security -- who told him the drink-throwers were booted from the joint -- so Johnny and his posse decided to return to the club.

Once they got back inside -- with Manziel wearing a new shirt -- we're told Johnny partied without incident for the rest of the night and had a great time.

We spoke to Houston PD -- and we're told cops were never contacted about the incident.

The Mayor of Bergenfield, New Jersey is calling out Chris Christie -- telling TMZ Sports the Governor is "wrong" for jumping on the Dallas Cowboys bandwagon.

Of course, Christie has been under fire from all sorts of Jerseyans for bear-hugging Jerry Jones in the owner's box at Cowboys Stadium yesterday when when Dallas solidified their lead over the Detroit Lions.

Mayor Norman Schmelz says he loves Christie and thinks he's a great governor ... "but when it comes to football, he's wrong."

We also spoke with ex-NFL star Jon Runyan -- a former U.S. Congressman from NJ -- who says Christie's allegiance to Dallas is "unfortunate" ... especially with so many people from Jersey being fans of the Eagles, Giants and Jets.

"Truly, I get why people are upset. But I love his passion for the game. It's unfortunate he's rooting for [the Eagles'] arch rival."

Though Runyan says he does respect the fact that Christie "doesn't let anyone tell him what he can or can't do."

Gronk scores touchdown. Gronk spikes football. Gronk makes married woman wanna cheat on her husband.

That's basically the plot for a brand new erotica novel called "A Gronking to Remember" ... an X-rated book (available on Amazon) penned by a woman with a serious obsession with the Patriots tight end.

The book is a 38-page fantasy by Lacey Noonan -- who drones on and on about how watching Rob Gronkowski play football sends "jiggling ribbons of electric jelly" through her body.

To complicate things, the main character says her husband isn't getting the job done in the bedroom -- leaving her "aching for a love pummeling" from #87.