NFL

Colin Kaepernick's girlfriend is lashing out at the NFL -- claiming the only reason CK doesn't have a job is because the shot callers in the league are still blackballing him.

Nessa -- a hugely famous New York DJ -- weighed in after their good friend, Eric Reid, told reporters that Kap has NOT thrown in the towel when it comes to an NFL comeback.

Reid said he's one of Colin's closest friends and said Colin not only wants to play, "He's ready to play" -- and he's still working out 6 days a week.

Nessa confirmed everything Reid said -- and emphasized that "all the teams know" Colin is NFL ready right now.

That's when she went in even harder on the league ...

"Colin trains everyday. All the teams know. But they’d rather keep blackballing him. The league, owners & mgmt are the ones who don’t want him to play."

She added, "Journalists should ask the league why they’re blackballing Colin."

Ex-49ers running back Jarryd Hayne -- who's also an international rugby star -- was arrested in Australia for aggravated sexual assault and now faces up to 20 years in prison.

Officials say the accuser is a 26-year-old woman who claimed she hooked up with Hayne on Sept. 30 in what started as a consensual sexual encounter. She claimed the two met online.

But, at some point during the incident, the woman claims Hayne's actions turned criminal and she suffered injuries as a result.

Cops investigated the matter and ultimately determined there was enough evidence to charge Hayne with a crime -- "aggravated sexual assault inflicting actual bodily harm."

Hayne turned himself in to police on Monday and was released on bail several hours later.

A spokeswoman for NSW Police issued a statement to local media outlets saying -- "Police are investigating following reports a woman was sexually assaulted by a 30-year-old man in late September."

"The investigation is being led by detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad."

Hayne is a massive star in Australia -- and famously left the rugby world in 2015 for a brief stint with the San Francisco 49ers. He flashed potential on the field but it ultimately didn't work out.

It's not the first time Hayne has been accused of a sex crime -- back in 2015, a woman in the United States claimed Hayne raped her after she had been drinking and passed out.

Forget the records ... the Bears are better than the Rams, Chiefs AND Patriots -- so says legendary coach Mike Ditka.

Of course, Mike's biased ... dude played for Chicago and then coached the Bears -- but he tells TMZ Sports there's MAYBE only one team in the league better than them right now.

"I look at this team and I look at the Saints, and these are the two best teams I've watched this year."

That means Mike's got the 7-3 Bears over the 9-1 Rams, the 9-1 Chiefs, the 7-3 Pats and even the 7-2-1 Steelers.

"People who say it's fool's gold, I mean, what's it going to take?"

Now, Mike's not going crazy with this squad ... he still doesn't believe the defense compares to the legendary one he coached back in '85 -- but he is saying they've got a real shot at a ring this season.

"Barring injuries, they certainly have the talent on that football team to go on to the Super Bowl and win it."

Arizona Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones has pled guilty to misdemeanor assault stemming from a shoving match in an AZ hotel bathroom earlier this year ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, staffers at the W Hotel in Scottsdale told police Ricky bull-rushed his way into a guests-only restroom and gave this explanation to police -- "Literally, I had to piss."

Hotel staffers claimed they tried to politely turn Ricky away from the bathroom -- but he wouldn't take no for an answer.

A shoving match broke out and employees eventually tackled Ricky (6'5", 245 lbs) down to the ground.

Cops reviewed the surveillance tape and arrested him on 3 misdemeanor charges of assault, disorderly conduct and third-degree criminal trespass.

But, Monday in court, Ricky cut a deal with prosecutors -- in which he agreed to enter a guilty plea to Class 3 misdemeanor assault and, in exchange, the other charges were dropped.

It's a good deal for Ricky who was facing up to 8 months in jail if convicted on all original counts.

As part of his sentence, Ricky has been ordered to complete an alcohol abuse program. If he keeps his nose clean until May 2019, the conviction will be wiped from his record.

And, of course, the NFL will also likely mete out its own punishment for violating the league's Personal Conduct Policy.

Bow Wow's gonna hate this ...

Ezekiel Elliott's keeping one of the most embarrassing moments of the rapper's life alive -- bringing back the #BowWowChallenge after destroying the guy's favorite team.

You remember the Bow Bow Challenge, right? When Shad Moss was mocked ruthlessly for posting a pic on social media implying he was flying on his own private jet ... when he really wasn't.

The scandal inspired a viral challenge of people clowning the rapper for lying. Good times.

The fad eventually died off ... but Zeke just brought it back after he worked the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

The running back grabbed Dak Prescott and his right tackle La'el Collins and pretended they were off to the P.J. while the rest of the squad hit the commercial airliner.

"So this how the team go home -- and this how we go home! Bow Wow Challenge, baby!!"

Here's the grossest thing you'll see all day ... NY Giants WR Sterling Shepard straight-up pulled the nail off his big toe -- and documented it all on video.

The New York star hit the Giants locker room Monday ... and noticed his foot needed a little manicuring after beating the Buccaneers on Sunday.

So, Shepard reached down ... grabbed the nail on his left foot ... plucked it straight off -- AND DIDN'T EVEN FLINCH!!!

"Aw, yeah! It's time to come off! Yessir!"

Unclear when Shepard suffered the toe catastrophe that caused the gruesome scene ... but we're all hopeful he puts the camera down next time it happens.

The NFL is STILL blackballing Colin Kaepernick from the league ... and the Washington Redskins' QB tryout list Monday is legit proof of that -- so says Antonio Cromartie.

The Redskins lost Alex Smith for the season to a gruesome leg injury Sunday ... and shortly after, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the team is bringing in some QBs to try to replace him.

Some of the names: Mark Sanchez, EJ Manuel, Kellen Clemens and TJ Yates.

"No @Kaepernick7 shows you how @NFL continue to black ball him," Cromartie said.

"I’m sorry but none of these QB’s are better than Kap. #ImWithKap"

The ex-DB ain't wrong ... none of the 4 quarterbacks on the Skins' tryout list has a career QB rating above 77.1 ... while Kap still owns an 88.9 mark.

As we previously reported ... Kap's been outta the league since 2016 after he began kneeling during national anthems -- but he's been training his ass off for another shot at the league ever since.

Mohamed Sanu honored comic book legend Stan Lee on his cleats during the Falcons game on Sunday ... and the final product would make the Spidey creator proud.

TMZ broke the story ... the man behind the Marvel Universe died last week at 95 years old after suffering several illnesses over the past year.

Sanu -- a huge superhero nerd -- paid homage to the guy who created icons like Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk and Black Panther with custom cleats which he busted out to use against the Dallas Cowboys.

The artist behind the shoe design is Dez Customz -- who has done work for other huge NFL stars like Leonard Fournette and Cam Newton.

The Falcons ultimately lost 22-19 ... but Sanu won the kick game for sure.

NFL future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson says Colin Kaepernick should definitely be on the list of QBs the Washington Redskins put together in the wake of the Alex Smith injury.

But, Charles says he doesn't think Kap will ultimately get the call ... and we all know why.

Woodson says he watched when Alex busted his leg on Sunday and feels bad for the guy.

And, with the team reportedly already scheduling workouts with potential backups like EJ Manuel, T.J. Yates and Mark Sanchez ... we asked Woodson why Kap's phone ain't ringing.

"I don't think he will be picked up but he definitely should be in the conversation," Woodson tells TMZ Sports.

"There's a lot of guys that are in the conversation to be picked up. We know the reason [Kaepernick is] not one of those guys ... but he should be."

The obvious insinuation ... CW clearly believes it's all about kneeling and not about his actual talent.

Still, Charles says Kap is "doing great things" off the field -- referencing Colin's social activism.

The Cleveland Browns are reportedly mulling over interviewing George W. Bush's former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, for a head coaching job ... but she says she's not quite there yet.

ESPN reported Sunday that the Browns' front office was interested in possibly bringing Condi for an interview to replace recently-fired head coach Hue Jackson. She's a huge Browns fan, and met with some of the owners during a game earlier this year.

Aside from that though ... it's unclear what, if any, professional experience she'd bring to the table ... when it comes to football, that is. She's got a pretty decent resume, otherwise.

The Browns' general manager, John Dorsey, issued a statement shortly after the news spread like wildfire, saying in part ... "Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is a great leader, possesses the highest possible character and also happens to be a Browns fan."

He fully shot down the speculation, though, by adding ... "Our coaching search will be thorough and deliberate, but we are still in the process of composing the list of candidates and Secretary Rice has not been discussed."

As for Ms. Rice ... she offered her own statement on the rumor, saying "I love my Browns -- and I know they will hire an experienced coach to take us to the next level."

After going on to advocate for the hiring of more women in coaching positions, she seemed to shut down the notion of a head coaching gig by saying ... "BTW -- I'm not ready to coach but I would like to call a play or two next season if the Browns need ideas! And at no time will I call for a "prevent defense."

The Cleveland Browns haven't sniffed the playoffs since 2002, but that drought could end THIS YEAR ... so says Rashard "Hollywood" Higgins, who believes his team is destined for the postseason.

Baker Mayfield and the Browns are currently dead last in the AFC North with a 3-6-1 record ... and just fired head coach Hue Jackson 3 weeks ago.

But, Hollywood says the players are uniting behind interim coach Gregg Williams ... and if they keep up the momentum from their blowout win against the Falcons last week, they're destined to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Higgins -- who caught a TD in that huge Browns win last week -- has a message for people doubting his claim.

Kenyan Drake's doing his best Martha Stewart impression Sunday ... throwing a Thanksgiving bash for underprivileged kids -- and it's all going down at the Dolphins' stadium!!

Miami's on a bye this week ... so Drake's taking advantage of the empty Hard Rock Stadium by having a feast with 50 children from the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County -- TMZ Sports has learned.

We're told most of the kids have never had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner ... so the star running back is really providing a special treat.

In addition to the turkey, gravy and all the fixins... Drake is also handing out gift baskets (filled with food for the kids' families) and autographed cards.

We're told Drake was very involved in the Boys & Girls Club as a kid in Atlanta ... so the cause is super special to the ex-Alabama star.

Drake ain't the only NFL stud puttin' in this kinda work -- as we previously reported, Cam Newton is set to feed 1,200 kids at his annual "Cam's Thanksgiving Jam" next week.

Drew Brees deserves the MVP this season ... AND it's time we start talking about him as the greatest of all time ahead of Tom Brady -- so says his ex-Saints teammate Lance Moore.

TMZ Sports spoke with the WR who won a Super Bowl with Brees back in 2009 -- and he's dying to know what more Drew needs to do to finally get the respect he believes the QB deserves.

"I don't know how else you would quantify the greatest of all time," Lance says.

"If you're talking statistics, Drew's the all-time completion leader, all-time completion percentage leader, all-time yards leader, he's second in touchdowns -- what more do you want from this guy?!"

Of course, Lance is a bit biased ... dude did play with Drew for 8 years in New Orleans -- but he says that only strengthens his argument for why Brees belongs above Brady.

"I was with the guy forever and I know not just how great of a player and how he prepares, but how great of a person he is."

Don't get it twisted ... Moore says he's still got Brady along with Peyton Manning in his all-time top 3 -- it's just he's got Drew leading the pack.

We also spoke with Lance about N.O.'s star receiver, Michael Thomas ... and he explains why M.T. can secure a spot over both Joe Horn AND Marques Colston as the best Saints wideout ever down the road.

AND ... if you're looking for a Super Bowl prediction, Moore gave us one of those too.

Forget the TB12 Method ... Rob Gronkowski clearly needs to come out with his own fitness line -- 'cause Camille Kostek says he's the reason for her smokin' hot bod!!

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model -- who joined Harvey and Charles on "TMZ Live" -- says she's been training with the Patriots tight end ... and credits his workouts for gettin' her magazine ready this fall.

"I'm doing the same workouts [as him]," Camille says ... "Maybe not the same weight, but I'll do just as many reps and he'll push me until I can't go anymore."

Soo ... what's the RG87 Method's secret? Camille tells us the New England superstar LOVES resistance bands!!

If you wanna see the results of Gronk's training program firsthand ... Kostek's gonna be on the beach in Miami for a charity celeb soccer match this Saturday.

In case you can't make that ... no worries -- we've gotchya covered here!

Olivia Culpo wasn't lyin' when she said she was keeping Danny Amendola's birthday present ... rockin' her ex's $12,000 Rolex and a bad ass leather outfit in Miami!!

The gorgeous model shaded the Dolphins star on social media after he was spotted flirting with a sports reporter on the beach last month ... saying she was gonna keep the flashy watch for herself.

Not only was O.C. sporting her ex-boo's ex-birthday present ... she was wearing skin-tight leather pants that would make Olivia Newton-John's "Grease" character jealous ... along with a black hoodie, leather jacket and black beanie.

As for Culpo's next move ... it sounds like she's not jumping right back onto the dating scene ... telling reporters at the CMA Awards she's not looking for a replacement just yet.

Forget NCAA, NFL or CFL, the most impressive tackle you're gonna see all year was made by a California Highway Patrol officer during a high-speed chase just moments ago ... AND IT WAS NASTY.

It went down near Seal Beach, CA after a suspect allegedly jacked a truck, then led law enforcement on a wild chase that ended up on foot after a perfectly executed PIT maneuver.

Here's the thing, the perp had a CLEAR head start on the po-po ... but one officer not only WALKED HIM DOWN, but then executed a takedown tackle that would make Khalil Mack jealous.

(Shout-out to the NBC4 chopper pilot ... for being in perfect position to catch the hit.)