NFL

DeSean Jackson paid tribute to Nipsey Hussle before he LIT UP the Washington Redskins on Sunday ... and now his special cleats could be yours if the price is right.

As we previously reported, the Philadelphia Eagles star WR went to custom cleat designers and asked for NH-themed kicks for EVERY game in the 2019 season.

Jackson sported the first pair during pre-game warmups in Week 1 -- cleats that featured Nipsey's face and birthday with the words, "Rest In Paradise."

Jackson went on to TORCH the Redskins -- hauling in 8 catches for 154 yards and 2 TDs in the Eagles 32-27 comeback victory.

After the game, DeSean posted about the kicks ...

"Every game this year Im auctioning my @nipseyhussle cleats I wear in Pre game. Proceeds will go to his kids Kross & Emani !! Link will be up this week. Rest in paradise bro !!"

Next week, Jackson will rock another Hussle-themed pair during his "Sunday Night Football" match-up against the Atlanta Falcons to pay tribute to the rapper who was shot and killed in front of his L.A. apparel shop back in March.

The Cleveland Browns sucked ass on Sunday ... but at least Odell Beckham looked stylish during the blowout!

The superstar WR sported a Richard Mille RM 011 Orange Storm Men's Watch on his wrist while his Browns took on the Tennessee Titans.

Guessing Beckham thought the swag would help him ball out ... but the only thing it did was draw criticism as the Browns got smashed by Marcus Mariota's squad at FirstEnergy Stadium in a 43-13 loss in Cleveland.

Beckham played okay -- 7 catches for 71 yards and 0 TDs -- but it'll be interesting to see if he rocks the watch again next week coming off of such a disappointing 1st week.

Oh, and yeah ... he's almost certainly gonna get fined by the NFL for wearing the watch.

Rashad Jennings says Eli Manning doesn't have to look over his shoulder on who'll replace him eventually, which is he thinks the veteran QB's gonna have a breakout year.

The former-Giants running back was in New Jersey Sunday, where we asked him how he thought his old team would do this season, just hours ahead of their first game against the Cowboys ... in which Eli would be starting over Daniel Jones.

Rashad says he thinks the Giants have what it takes to squeak into the playoffs, but notes that it won't be easy ... even with who he calls the best running back in the game today, Saquon Barkley.

That said, IF the Giants can clinch a playoff spot ... RJ believes they got the fortitude and experience to go deep and possibly surprise a ton of people come January.

As far as how Eli himself will perform, Rashad explains why he thinks the guy is gonna be laser-focused on the field, despite the chatter that Jones might end up replacing him mid-season if he stinks. According to Rashad, Eli sees what's ahead ... and can focus on the game now.

Eli Manning WILL fend off Daniel Jones this season ... so says NFL legend Brett Favre, who tells TMZ Sports the Giants QB is going to have a BIG year!!!

"I think he may surprise some people," No. 4 says.

A lot of football pundits disagree ... saying it's only a matter of games before Jones -- the Giants' first-round pick this offseason -- gets the keys to the car.

But, Favre is confident Eli will play well enough to keep his job ... and is saying the QB has the perfect mentality to have a huge 2019 season in New York.

"I think he'll have a better year than most are giving him a chance to have."

Favre tells us it's the Giants' system that gives him confidence in Eli, saying, "He's got some really great, young, talented players around him, and he knows he doesn't have to do too much."

The Giants kick off the season Sunday afternoon against the Dallas Cowboys ... can he prove Favre right??

Could Brandon Marshall's epic run in the NFL be over??

Maybe ... the 6-time Pro Bowl wide receiver tells TMZ Sports, "We'll see what happens, man ... We'll see what happens."

35-year-old Marshall just had a workout with the Indianapolis Colts a few weeks ago (he said it went well) -- but it doesn't seem he's getting a whole lot of interest from teams beyond that as the season kicks off this week.

So, we had to ask ... is retirement coming???

Marshall wouldn't say ... only telling us he's happy with his roles on "Inside The NFL" and in the fitness industry.

"I'm doing what I love to do right now," Marshall says. "I've been doing that for some time now. And, there's always a lot to work through."

If it is indeed the end of Marshall's career ... it sure was a good one -- the guy played 13 years and logged 12,351 receiving yards, 83 TDs and 970 catches.

OBJ and Olivier Vernon ain't the only shiny new pieces on the Browns this season ... 'cause safety Jermaine Whitehead just copped a new diamond pedant -- worth $75k!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the ex-Auburn star is adding to his growing jewelry collection ... copping a Roman Numeral "II" pendant from Luxe Jewelers in ATL in honor of his favorite number ('cause he's the 2nd son in his family).

We're told the piece is made of 7 carat VVS diamonds and 18k gold and features the years he played ball in high school, college and the NFL on the back.

Of course, Whitehead also had a massive jewelry haul earlier this year ... which added up to $79k, so the dude is clearly a fan of shiny things.

Hidden within this cheeky pic is an athlete ready to get the season started! This football fanatic has spent the last 5 years playing in the NFL positioned as a wide receiver.

This famous face was originally drafted to played for the New York Giants, but this award-winning athlete is switching gears this season as he will be reppin' the Cleveland Browns.

Drew Brees sure did score with these good looks!

Here's a 22-year-old version of the San Diego Chargers quarterback rockin' a tux at the ESPY Awards -- Brees was nominated for the 'Best College Football Player' award -- in Las Vegas back in 2001 (left).

And 18 years later ... The now 40-year-old QB was most recently spotted getting back to business at the NFL preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, just last week, in New Orleans, Louisiana (right).

Brees has since been the receiver of several awards. Last year Brees took home the ESPY award for 'Best Record-Breaking Performance' for the second time.

The question is ...

Antonio Brown has gone ballistic again ... this time demanding to be released from his $50 million contract with the Oakland Raiders.

Antonio spelled it out in an Instagram post on Saturday morning, saying "Release me @Raiders #NOMore."

He also posted a pic of a quote ... "You are gonna piss a lot of people off when you start doing what's best for you."

Here's what triggered the craziness. Late Friday night, the Raiders decided to fine Brown $215k for conduct detrimental to the team over an altercation with GM Mike Mayock on Sept. 4. The way the story goes ... Brown exploded on Mayock, allegedly threatening to sock him in the face while calling him a "cracker." Brown's outrage stemmed from a previous $15k fine for missing team workouts.

Brown reached out to reporter Jeff Darlington and complained the $215k fine voids nearly $30 million in guaranteed money from his Raiders' contract. This pissed him off enough to go on social media and ask to be released.

He's certainly drawing a line in the sand, telling Darlington, "No way I play after they took that and made my contract week to week."

The last 24 hours have been wild to say the least -- Brown posted a video Friday night containing pieces of a phone conversation with head coach Jon Gruden. In the video, Gruden essentially tells Brown to cut the crap and get back on the field. Unclear if Gruden knew he was being recorded during the call. Now it seems Brown's career in Oakland is hangin' by a thread -- and the Raiders will likely make a decision in the next few hours.

Stay tuned ...

The Colts should have been on the phone with Colin Kaepernick the second Andrew Luck retired ... so says Brandon Marshall, who tells TMZ Sports Kap's got more upside than Jacoby Brissett!!!

"I know Jacoby knows the offense, but I think the upside of Kap is better," Marshall says ... "It's higher, you know what I'm saying?"

Kap's been famously out of the NFL since taking a knee during the national anthem in 2016 ... but his ex-college teammate thinks now is the PERFECT time for a squad to bring him back in.

"Honestly, man, a team like the Colts, they could've used him," says Marshall, who played with Kaepernick at Nevada from 2008-2010. "The Dolphins, they could've used him."

"He could upgrade that roster immediately," Marshall added. "Even with being out of the league for three years, he could definitely upgrade that roster. I think that's an easy pick."

Seems Colin would be more than ready if one of those team's GMs called ... he's posted a couple workout videos this summer -- and he sure looked good throwing to Odell Beckham Jr.

But, even if a team doesn't come calling this season ... Marshall says he's damn proud of his friend, telling us, "God chose him for a reason to be the face of the movement at the expense of his career, unfortunately."

These famous fellas are ready to get football season started!!!

Stars such as Brock O'Hurn, Steph Curry, and Austin Mahone may not be NFL pros but they sure know how to impress a crowd while playing the game!!!

With the gridiron games back on the field, these stars need to make some waves while they can!!!

Instead of just watching the clock and waiting for kickoff, take some time to check out these stars  throwin' some ball!!! Get a look through our gallery of footballin' beach boys ... see how the hottest celebs are choosing to play the game!!!

Antonio Brown just posted pieces of an intense conversation with Jon Gruden ... where the coach tells him point-blank to "stop this sh*t and just play football" ... and it seems AB has a problem with the message.

Here's parts of the convo ...

Gruden: "What the hell is going on, man?"

AB: "Just a villain all over the news, man."

Gruden: "You're not a villain. You're the most misunderstood f**king human being in my entire life that I've ever met. I mean, I brought you here because you're my favorite guy. I've never seen a guy work harder."

Gruden: "Please stop this sh*t and just play football. How hard is that? You're a great football player. Just play football."

AB: "I'm more than just a football player, man."

AB posted the vid with apparent intentions of pointing out he's been treated like a piece of meat and not a person. In other words, he's trying to convey that he's more than just a football player.

The problem ... did Gruden know he was being recorded?? And, if not, how is he going to feel about AB posting their convo on the Internet?

There are possible legal ramifications too, if both Gruden and Brown were in CA at the time of the call.

Cali is a 2-party consent state ... which means both sides have to be aware if the convo is being recorded ... or else it can be considered an illegal recording.

Brown and the Raiders have been butting heads for the past month ... with things really coming to a head in the past 48 hours. You have to wonder whether this is the last straw.

Of course, AB publicly apologized at practice earlier on Friday after an incident with Raiders GM Mike Mayock ... so was the apology sincere??

Antonio Brown hurled a racial slur at Oakland Raiders general manager Mike Mayock during their heated altercation this week -- calling him a "cracker" -- so says ESPN.

ESPN's Josina Anderson says multiple sources confirm Brown "unleashed a barrage of cuss words during the altercation" ... including using the word "cracker," a derogatory term for white people.

Anderson reports Mayock "tried to keep his cool during the situation" and tried to walk away as he saw things starting to escalate.

The news comes in the wake of NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reporting that Brown threatened to punch Mayock in the face during the altercation that started over Mayock's decision to fine AB roughly $54k for missing workouts.

The Raiders are currently weighing their options with Brown and could cut him before their season opener on Monday Night Football -- which would be a HUGE move considering they just signed him to a 3-year, $50 million contract this offseason.

Brown's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, says he's working like a maniac trying to salvage the relationship ... but most people believe Brown is done in Oakland.

Reggie Bush says there's no way anyone who actually knows Drew Brees could call him homophobic -- and the ex-NFL All-Pro is doubling down on his support for his former QB.

Brees has been under heat all week after it was discovered he made a video for Focus On The Family -- an organization condemned by gay rights groups as VERY anti-LGBTQ.

Drew has since addressed the controversy, posting a video saying he had no idea about the group's anti-LGBT politics -- and explained that a key part of his Christian faith is to love EVERYONE.

Bush -- who won a Super Bowl with Brees on the Saints -- defended Brees on Twitter, and when we saw him at LAX, he made it clear he'll ALWAYS have Drew's back.

"Anybody who doubts Drew, don't know him. Period."

Reggie went on to say he feels the entire issue was "blown out of proportion" -- and wasn't really a big deal to begin with.

"You need to be terrified of me too, bitch."

Yep, the guy who uttered those words to the mother of his child just got PAID by the Kansas City Chiefs.

The NFL team just announced Tyreek Hill has signed a 3-year, $54 MILLION contract extension ... this just weeks after prosecutors ended an investigation into allegations the star WR had physically abused his 3-year-old son.

The 25-year-old -- arguably one of the 5 best WRs in the NFL -- has been mired in controversy all offseason stemming from an incident with his son back in the winter.

Prosecutors in Kansas say they believe somebody hurt Hill's child ... but after they couldn't determine whether it was Tyreek or his ex-fiancee, Crystal Espinal, they decided not to bring charges against either person.

Of course, shortly after prosecutors made that announcement ... secret audio of Hill and Espinal talking about their son's injuries was released -- putting Hill's NFL future in doubt.

Here's a partial transcript of that conversation ...

Crystal Espinal: "He is terrified of you. And, you say that he respects you, but it's not respect."

Tyreek Hill: "He respects me."

Crystal Espinal: "He is terrified of you."

Tyreek Hill: "You need to be terrified of me too, bitch. That's why you can't keep a f**king man."

The NFL also investigated the incident and ultimately decided NOT to discipline him saying, "Based on the evidence presently available, the NFL cannot conclude that Mr. Hill violated the Personal Conduct Policy."

The Chiefs reinstated him after the NFL's decision ... and clearly felt comfortable enough with him over the last few weeks to sign him to a new deal that will pay him $18 MILLION per year.

For his part, Hill -- who's still battling with Espinal in court over custody of their kids -- has adamantly denied the child abuse allegations, calling them "false."

"To the fans, friends, and family that I have made in Kansas City: I love you and thank you for your continued support," Hill said in a July statement.

"To the NFL, Commissioner Goodell and everyone who assisted in this investigation: thank you for your time and for conducting a thorough investigation. I will not let you down."

"[Antonio Brown] is like the worst human in the world but I'm actually on his side on this one."

That's Barstool Sports honcho Dave Portnoy breaking down the drama between AB and the Oakland Raiders ... saying Oakland should have seen this coming from a mile away.

"The Raiders ... it's like, if you sign a guy you know is a punk and a jerk, you can't complain like, 'Hey, the punk jerk is acting like a punk jerk!'"

"Like everyone knew he's a jerk! You signed a jerk! Now, he's being a jerk! You get what you signed up for!"

El Pres -- who was leaving one of his famous Pizza Reviews in NYC -- wasn't done picking apart Mike Mayock and the rest of the Raiders organization for the way they've handled AB.

"He's just doing what he did at Pittsburgh at the end of his career. I don't know what the Raiders expected. The Raiders got exactly who he was advertised to be."

So, what happens now? Portnoy thinks Brown's options are extremely limited -- "I don't know where else he's gonna go. Who else would want this guy?"