NFL

Jerry Rice says there's no debate in his mind ... Eli Manning doesn't belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"When I’m judging a player, I’m looking what he brings to the table. And, what I see with Eli Manning, there’s not consistency.”

The NFL's best-ever WR simply doesn't think Manning's good enough -- especially when compared to a true HOF quarterback like Drew Brees.

"I would think that Drew Brees is going to be a shoo-in," Rice said on the "Joe, Lo & Dibs" show on 95.7 The Game earlier this week.

"Eli? There’s a chance of him getting in, but I’m not going to say he’s a true Hall of Famer.”

Of course, the debate has REALLY heated up over the last two years -- given how terrible Eli has looked at the end of an up-and-down career.

On one hand ... dude does have two Super Bowl rings on his resume -- but on the other ... he's thrown 234 career picks and owns just a 113-110 all-time, win-loss record.

Some say the 2 'ships trump everything ... but not Jerry.

How can Cam Newton top a huge Thanksgiving dinner for 800 kids??

MORE KIDS!!

The Carolina Panthers superstar is one-upping his own holiday tradition this year ... buying a bunch of turkey dinners for 1,200 underprivileged children AND their families!!

It's all part of the 7th annual "Cam's Thanksgiving Jam"... a fun time full of games, music, face painting and balloon artists.

Cam will be there to personally serve the kids in attendance ... so we're sure there will be some dancing goin' on.

And, if that's not good enough for you -- Cam's giving everyone a take-home turkey dinner too!!

Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick are a happy, loving couple these days ... and they can thank Jim Carrey for that -- so says the ex-NASCAR driver herself.

Danica was delivering a motivational speech in North Dakota on Wednesday ... and afterward, she fielded some questions about her relationship with the Packers star QB.

One of the questions ... what was Aaron Rodgers' first line that got you to (eventually) go on a date with him?

That's when D.P. said the future Hall of Famer went straight to the "Dumb and Dumber" quote well to catch her attention.

"He was at the bar, puttin' out the vibe -- 'Dumb and Dumber,' you know?" Danica says.

"And, I remember he was doing movie lines! And, people that love movie lines, LOVE movie lines. So, I think we had a dialogue in movie lines, and I was like, 'This guy is really funny!'"

Danica says that all went down at the ESPYs back in 2012 ... and it helped lay the foundation for their future relationship, 'cause they kept in touch until they got serious about a year ago.

As for the actual first date ... Danica wasn't spillin' many beans there, but did say, "We were cooped up. We were cooped up. We weren't out in public."

In other words .... touchdown, Rodgers?!?!

Le'Veon Bell's locker turned into a garage sale on Wednesday ... with his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates savagely raiding his things after he bailed on the season.

Bell no-showed for the league-imposed deadline on Tuesday ... which ended his 2018 season before it even started.

Players quickly found the silver lining of the situation after practice ... taking all his Jordan brand cleats and team gear.

Oh ... and a mixtape labeled "Le'Veon Bell #1," according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

"Appreciate the cleats, my guy," Bud Dupree said while takin' his new Js.

It's probably all in good fun ... the Stillers are 6-2-1 and James Conner is straight-up COOKIN' on the gridiron. So, it doesn't seem like there's any bad blood over there.

Steelers fans ain't the only people pissed off at Le'Veon Bell today ... here's David Spade giving up on the Pittsburgh superstar completely after he destroyed his fantasy season!!!

ICYMI ... Le'Veon's held out all year looking for a new mega-deal from the Steelers -- but decided to officially quit on the season Tuesday when he failed to report at the league-imposed deadline.

This, of course, crushed fantasy owners who not only picked Le'Veon in the first round in summer drafts -- but kept him on the bench all year waiting for his return!!

Spade happened to be one of those unlucky people ... and unleashed his hatred for the running back outside of Craig's on Tuesday night.

"I gave up on him today when the rest of the world did too," David says. "He's got to win me back!"

Aqib Talib didn't just have the best seats in the house for Tuesday night's Rockets-Nuggets game ... dude got the dopest souvenir ever too -- James Harden's game-used jersey!!!

The L.A. Rams -- in town 'cause they wanted to practice at altitude to prep for their now-moved Mexico City game (more on that later) -- popped by the Pepsi Center to catch some hoops.

Dudes like Talib, Todd Gurley, Jared Goff and Marcus Peters were all courtside ... but for some reason -- Harden decided Talib was most worthy of the post-game swag.

The Bearded One even signed it ... and Talib loved it, saying, "That courtside drip, you feel me?! That's authentic. It's still sweaty. That thing still sweaty, straight off the court!"

L.A. was set to face the Chiefs next Monday night in Estadio Azteca, and was trying to hit up Colorado Springs all week to prep for the altitude in Mexico's capital.

But, since recent Mexico City concerts tore up the field ... the game got moved back to L.A. -- which appears to mean the Rams will head home soon.

Don't feel too bad for at least one of the Rams superstars for leaving the game empty-handed -- Gurley was still rockin' the sick diamond pendant YG gifted to him this week!!

Baker Mayfield is hot ... Sam Darnold is not ... that's according to a future Hall of Famer who says the Browns nailed the #1 pick by drafting Mayfield, and punting on big Sam.

The man destined to end up in Canton is Browns legend Joe Thomas -- an all-world OL star for 11 seasons -- who made 10 Pro Bowls and 1st team All-Pro 6 times.

Yeah ... guy was amazing.

So, should the Browns have taken Darnold -- widely regarded as the best QB prospect -- or did they grab the right guy drafting Baker with the 1st pick?

"They absolutely did. I think for Sam, if he wouldn't had that really good game on national TV against the Lions early on in the season, people would be talking about him being a bust, because he really hasn't played well since then."

In other words, Thomas really believes the Browns have FINALLY found their franchise QB (he blocked for an incredible 21 signal callers during his career in Cleveland).

"For me, the future is really bright. Baker is playing really well and he's already exceeding my expectations."

It's been a roller coaster ride of a season for the 3-6-1 Browns (they recently fired head coach Hue Jackson) ... but still, Joe's feelin' super optimistic -- especially with the way B.M. lit it up on Sunday.

The L.A. Rams are giving the Thousand Oaks community something to cheer about in the wake of the recent tragedies ... donating tickets to their next home game to those affected by the bar shooting and wildfires.

The "Monday Night Football" matchup with the K.C. Chiefs was supposed to go down in Mexico City ... before poor field conditions brought the game back to L.A.

There was a massive concert at the game's original venue -- Estadio Azteca -- just last week ... and judging by the pics, there was no way the field would've been fixed in time.

The Rams are taking it as an opportunity to bring the city together ... and announced thousands of tickets will go to "first responders who are bravely protecting the greater Los Angeles community, as well as people who have been impacted by our community’s recent tragedies.."

Dan Rather ain't all that impressed by the Giants' win Monday night -- he thinks they're still awful ... but he's happy as hell for Eli Manning!!

The CBS News legend watched Eli turn back the clock on 'MNF' ... leading a game-winning TD drive over the 49ers late in the 4th quarter -- and dude couldn't have been more proud of the QB.

"I'll tell you what, whatever you think of the Giants -- and they are terrible -- I love Eli Manning," Rather tells TMZ Sports.

Dan says Eli reminds him a little bit of himself ... saying he too is an aging legend on the back 9 of his career -- and he understands exactly what the QB is going through.

"As an anchorman on the fade, on the way out, you say to yourself, 'I'm not as good as I once was. But, for once, I'm as good as I ever was.' That was Eli Manning last night against San Francisco."

Dan says he thinks the Giants should not only continue to roll with Eli this season -- he wants to see him under center NEXT season too.

Dez Bryant's callin' his Achilles surgery Tuesday a huge success ... straight from his hospital bed -- while feelin' loopy as hell!!!

The wideout, after just 2 days with the New Orleans Saints, popped his Achilles tendon in practice last week and needed surgery to repair the mess.

That operation just went down ... and, per a completely drugged out Dez, it went well!!

"I just finished surgery. I'm out," Dez says with a laugh. "God is great. Thank everybody for the support."

In case you didn't believe the superstar receiver ... Dez put his doc on the screen to confirm the good news.

"Everything went well. Success! Nothing to worry about."

Le'Veon Bell ain't playing for the Steelers this year ... and maybe never again -- 'cause the All-Pro RB just missed the deadline to report to the team.

Bell -- who's been holding out since the offseason in search of a new mega-deal with Pittsburgh -- had until 1 PM PT to sign his franchise tag.

But ... the deadline came and went with no Bell to be found.

As we previously reported ... Bell's been tearin' it up on jet skis and in nightclubs during his time away from the squad -- but most, including the team's owner, expected him to be back with the team today.

Bell, though, decided against it ... and will now forfeit ALL of the $14.5 MILLION the Steelers were set to pay him this season.

It's not like Pitt's exactly crying over the move ... James Conner's been killin' it in Bell's stead -- and teammates have ripped the RB for his holdout throughout the past few months.

Sorry, Redskins fans ... Marcellus Wiley ain't giving props to Washington for its 1st place start ... telling TMZ Sports they've only got a 6-3 record 'cause the NFC East sucks!!

"Man, I hate to be that guy," the ex-NFL star says ... "But, it's a suppressed division. We know that."

The Eagles and Cowboys are 4-5 and the Giants are 2-7 ... and Wiley seems to think that's the only reason the 'Skins are looking at a playoff spot right now.

"Dallas is trying to figure out which way is up. Obviously, Philadelphia is having a hangover from last year. And, you look at the Giants, man, Eli at the quarterback position not living up to the standard."

"Yeah, they're taking an advantage of a suppressed division right now."

The good news for Washington? Marcellus ain't giving much of a chance for the rest of the teams in the East to catch the 'Skins -- laughing at the idea that the Giants can run the table down the stretch.

YG is so happy with the way Todd Gurley and the Rams are playing this season ... dude just had to say thanks to the running back -- WITH A DOPE NEW CHAIN!!!

The superstar rapper is a huge L.A. Rams fan -- and with the team off to one of its best starts in franchise history ... YG hit up Jason Of Beverly Hills to get the squad's best player a present.

We're told YG had 4 "4 Hunnid" pendants made ... with nearly 3 carats of flawless white diamond in each -- and gifted one of them to Gurley before L.A.'s win over the Seahawks on Sunday.

Gurley was pretty stoked about the present ... writing on his IG with a pic of the new chain -- "thank you brother."

Unclear how much YG dropped on the gift ... but Jason tells us, "He's a really great friend. I need to have more friends like that."

Dez Bryant's done for the season ... but the Broncos would be stoked to have him on their squad next year -- so says one of Denver's star D-lineman.

TMZ Sports got Domata Peko out in Bev Hills enjoying the Broncos' bye week -- when we had to ask, does he think Dez can come back from the torn Achilles he suffered last week?

Peko said of course ... saying one of his ex-Bengals teammates proves that.

"Achilles are tough, man. One of my homies, though, his name is Leon Hall and he had two Achilles and he's still playing. So, yeah, man, he can come back."

Domata then told us he'd love to be teammates with Dez in 2019 -- if the wideout wants to come to Mile High.

"We'll take whoever, anybody, to help us win!"

One problem? Bryant might be a wanted man -- the Saints seemed fired up about the WR, despite only having him on the roster for two days, and say they want him back in 2019.

But first, Dez has gotta get healthy -- something Peko thinks the 30-year-old ex-superstar can easily do.

Aaron Rodgers was some 2,000 miles away from California Sunday ... but he made sure to let wildfire victims know he was behind them, rockin' a Santa Monica Fire Dept. hat and saying his heart goes out to those affected.

Fires have torn through both Northern and Southern California since late last week ... and the Packers superstar has felt the effects all the way in Wisconsin.

Rodgers grew up in Chico, Calif., played ball at Butte C.C. and Cal, and calls Southern California his "adopted home" ... so the hat choice only felt right for the star QB.

"I was thinking at my house today, this was the only kind of paraphernalia that I have that could represent my support for those folks who are fighting the fires."

"Hearing the stories of people running down the highways to avoid the fire. Knowing that people burned alive in their cars, it's heartbreaking for sure. And then, you have a fire in my adopted home of Southern California. So it's been a tough week for sure."

Meanwhile ... the L.A. Rams are auctioning off game-used jerseys to help support victims of the fire -- and across the league teams held moments of silence for victims.

Is Jay-Z's battle with the NFL over?

Hova -- one of the biggest critics of the league's treatment of Colin Kaepernick -- took in the Rams vs. Seahawks game from the sidelines over the weekend, which has some fans confused.

If you remember, Jay famously turned down performing at the Super Bowl halftime show on behalf of Kaep, then boasted about dissing the league on his song, "Apes**t."

The video featured people kneeling during Jay's verse, so it's obvious his stance was about Kaepernick, who still doesn't have an NFL job. So, why the sudden change of heart?

We should say ... Mr. Carter has never ACTUALLY said he's boycotting watching games, or attending them, but he definitely wanted the entire world to know he was anti-NFL, and it seems at least for now that's in the past.

One possible explanation is that he was there to personally support a Roc Nation Sports client, Rams RB Todd Gurley, who's playing so well right now (he rushed for 120 yards and a TD) maybe Jay just HAD to see him in person.

Really though, the guy has been that good ...