NFL

The WORST thing the New York Giants could do for the struggling and banged-up Saquon Barkley is force him to sit the rest of the season ... so says the team's all-time leading rusher, Tiki Barber.

The G-Men are having a terrible season -- they're 2-8 and going nowhere fast -- and there's been talk that sitting the 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year is the smart move for the future.

FYI, Barkley has had a rough go of it the last few weeks -- culminating in the worst game of his career against the then 1-win NY Jets -- when he rushed for 1 yard on 13 carries ... and according to coach Pat Shurmur, got banged up during the game.

So, when we saw Tiki in NYC -- the best running back in franchise history -- we asked him if Giants brass should force Barkley to hang up his cleats until next season.

His answer ... hell no.

"I don't think they should shut him down. I think that would be detrimental to his psyche, 'cause he wants to be out there playing," Barber tells us.

"I think limiting his carries might be smart going forward. Get Wayne Gallman some runs, and try to keep [Saquon] as healthy as possible."

We also talked to Barber about rookie QB Daniel Jones -- who's thrown a bunch of TDs (15) -- but has also fumbled the ball at an alarming rate (13 times).

Remember, Tiki had a fumbling issue before NYG head coach Tom Coughlin changed the way the RB carried the ball … turning him into a star.

Despite putting the ball on the ground way too often, Barber thinks Jones has a bright future in NYC.

"He's having some turnover issues. But, the timing is so different and the speed is so different in the NFL. That's what's causing him to hold on to the ball a little bit longer than he should," Tiki says.

Colin Kaepernick had some demands before agreeing to work with the NFL to conduct a private workout this weekend ... starting with making sure teams were sending serious decision-makers and not the peons.

We've spoken with multiple sources about the workout and were told the NFL contacted Kap's camp first after multiple teams reached out to the league to express interest in the QB.

We're told the league gave Colin a hard deadline on whether he was in or out -- and Colin responded with a few demands of his own.

First, Colin wanted to make sure the workout would be a "legitimate process" -- and not a P.R. stunt.

There is an expectation from Colin's side that the league will provide a list of team officials who will attend.

We're also told Colin pushed back on the workout date because he felt Saturday is a tough day for NFL teams since most teams are traveling and prepping for a game on Sunday.

But, the NFL wouldn't budge and Colin ultimately agreed to do the workout on Saturday. It's still unclear why the league was so dead set on Sat.

Colin tweeted about the workout on Tuesday -- making his expectations crystal clear ... he wants BOSSES on the premises.

"I’ve been in shape and ready for this for 3 years, can’t wait to see the head coaches and GMs on Saturday."

Colin Kaepernick will showcase his talent for NFL teams at a private workout in Atlanta on Saturday in hopes of getting another shot at playing in the league.

... and get this -- the workout was arranged by the NFL!

A memo was sent to every NFL team informing them about the workout session ... which will include throwing drills and an interview session with interested parties.

The biggest question ... will any team take Colin up on the offer and attend the workout?

There are plenty of teams in need of a QB -- starting and backups -- starting with the Cincinnati Bengals, who suck right now.

Kaepernick has been working out and training 5 days a week for years in the hopes of getting back to the NFL ... but said recently no teams have called him for a workout.

Ya gotta assume ... if a team does show up, they will ask him about his kneeling protest and if he plans to continue to take a knee during the national anthem if he does sign with a team.

Remember, Kap's former 49ers' teammate, Eric Reid -- who took a knee with Colin -- is currently playing with the Carolina Panthers and still kneels for the anthem.

Interestingly enough, Cam Newton just went to IR with a foot injury -- so there could be room for a QB over there ... we'll see if they attend the workout.

Colin hasn't played in the NFL since the 2016 season when he parted ways with the San Francisco 49ers.

Kaepernick sued the NFL claiming the league colluded to blackball him because of his protest -- but they later settled the case.

Just call him Raystradamus ... 'cause Ray Lewis tells TMZ Sports he was positive Lamar Jackson would be a beast in the NFL, saying he even predicted it to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti back in 2018!!!

"I was telling him about this draft," Lewis says. "I was like, 'Listen. You don't know what you got in Lamar Jackson, but I watched that kid his ENTIRE career. He has an 'it' factor!'"

Ray -- who spoke with us on the set of Showtime's "Inside the NFL" -- tells us he's a HUGE college football fan ... and watched a ton of Lamar while the quarterback was tearing up defenses at Louisville.

Ray says it didn't take him long to determine the guy would be an NFL superstar, telling us, "There's a number of athletes that come around in generations that have an 'it' factor."

"He has an 'it' factor."

As for what "it" is, Lewis says it's simple -- "It's, 'I make everybody around me better.'"

Lewis says he and Jackson actually have a good personal relationship as well ... telling us he hosted Jackson at his home shortly after the Ravens drafted him 2018.

"We sat out back by my pool and I just gave him all this insight about what life is and what he can do in Baltimore and how he can change the culture."

JUST STOP WITH THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES ALREADY!!

There are people claiming Seattle Seahawks player Geno Smith called "tails" during the coin toss in Overtime during "Monday Night Football" ... but the ref thought he said "heads."

The coin ended heads up (and the Seahawks ended up winning the game) ... and some people are fuming, claiming the refs screwed the 49ers ... mostly due to a video with crappy audio that's floating around.

But, LISTEN TO A CLEAR VERSION OF THE AUDIO -- it's obvious Smith said "heads."

And, then make this all stop, please.

Sorry. It's early. We haven't had our coffee yet.

Also, the Seahawks won the game 27-24 because the 49ers' kicker botched a 47-yard game-winner.

Move over Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley ... Jamal Lewis says Lamar Jackson is the top runner in the NFL -- telling TMZ Sports he thinks the Ravens QB is a future Hall of Famer!

"It's like watching the era of Michael Vick all over again," Lewis says.

Jackson has been shredding through defenses all season ... and Lewis -- a legendary Baltimore running back -- tells us he doesn't think there's any fluke at all to Lamar's year so far.

In fact, Lewis says he believes Jackson is only scratching the surface of his potential ... and is on pace to make the Hall of Fame one day.

"He's just only going to get better and better," Lewis says. "And, I think that that's where good coaching and a good organization like the Ravens bringing that all together is going to make him a future Hall of Famer."

As for Lamar's skill set now, Lewis says after watching that sick run the 22-year-old had against the Bengals on Sunday, he's convinced the guy is currently the NFL's best runner.

Charles Rogers' condition deteriorated so rapidly, scrambling ex-teammates and friends couldn't travel fast enough to get to the ex-NFL player in Florida before he died.

We spoke with CR's former Michigan State teammate, Chris Baker, who says he learned Rogers was sick through a recently formed group chat consisting of several players from their MSU football team.

Baker says Rogers had "disappeared off the radar" in recent years -- so getting info about him was tough. But, once he learned the WR was ill, the group did everything they could to offer support and resources.

In fact, Baker says he was planning on visiting Rogers on Tuesday because he didn't realize Charles' condition was as dire as it was.

"I knew he was in trouble, I didn't realize he was in this much trouble."

Rogers passed away Monday morning. Baker says he has intentionally tried NOT to seek out information about Rogers' condition -- but reports say he had been suffering from cancer and liver failure.

Baker and his teammates -- along with Charles' family -- are clearly devastated by the loss. When we spoke with Baker, he remembered Charles as a great athlete and a good dude.

Michael Irvin says he's still 100% on Team Antonio Brown -- rooting for the embattled NFL star to get his career and life on track ... and he ain't apologizing for it!

The NFL Hall of Famer tells TMZ Sports he knows supporting AB isn't the popular thing to do these days ... but Mike doesn't care what everyone else thinks.

Irvin says he spent his offseason giving motivational speeches -- and talked to kids from "some of the hardest ghetto areas in Miami that Antonio Brown has come from."

"And, I want his story to end well so I can use it as inspiration and motivation for all those other little black kids in the ghettos and in the hells of America that are trying to get out."

Irvin says he knows Antonio is self-destructing with some of his off-the-field antics -- but the Cowboys legend tells us, "Everybody's talking about the problem, but nobody's talking about the solution."

"We as a country get off on the problem because somehow, someway we take that as some kind of self-fulfilling thing that, 'Hey, he made all this money playing football but at least I'm not making the stupid decisions that he's making now.' And, I think that's a sad way to look at it."

Irvin adds, "I want his story to end well so I can use it to inspire others that are growing up in the same hellhole he grew up in and ain't nothing wrong with that, man."

"And, I'm not gonna let anybody make me think there's something wrong with that."

Brown has a BUNCH of obstacles keeping him from playing again -- starting with allegations he raped a woman in 2018. The NFL is currently investigating the situation and, according to multiple reports, he's not expected to play in the NFL again this season.

Charles Rogers -- the #2 overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft -- has died, TMZ Sports has confirmed. He was only 38.

The details surrounding Rogers' death are unclear. We're working on it.

One of the people confirming his death is former Michigan State teammate Chris Baker.

"Devastated to learn of the passing of my spartan brother Charles Rodgers," Baker said.

"Spoke with his mom this morning. Please pray for her and his children. Please also be respectful of their privacy at this difficult time. Rip Chuck."

Rogers was selected by the Detroit Lions and flashed huge potential -- catching 22 passes for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns during his first 5 games of the '03 season. But, he suffered a broken clavicle, which ended his rookie campaign.

The following season, he broke his clavicle again -- on just the 3rd play of the '04 season.

He was cut by the Lions in 2006, essentially ending his NFL career.

After his football career ended, Rogers admitted he had struggled with substance abuse -- including an addiction to Vicodin. He had been arrested multiple times for alcohol-related issues.

Rogers -- who reportedly signed a $40 mil rookie contract with the Lions -- is survived by 8 children.

Rogers was a legend at MSU -- where he earned 1st-team All-American honors during his 2002 junior season, when he posted 68 catches for 1,351 yards and 13 TDs.

Story developing ...

Dr. Oz says he wants to help Sterling Shepard figure out what's wrong with his brain ... but he's warning the New York Giants star retirement might be his recommendation.

Sterling has been held out of Big Blue's last four games because of complications with a concussion ... and his head coach, Pat Shurmur, just called it a "serious injury" this week.

When we got Dr. Oz out in NYC on Thursday ... he offered to lend the receiver a hand -- saying he wants to conduct some tests on the 26-year-old to see if he's legitimately okay.

"If Sterling Shepard's brain is still functioning as a young man's should, then I'm fine with it," Dr. Oz says. "If it's not, he should be reconsidering returning to the gridiron."

Dr. Oz says he has a battery of tests he's personally used to make sure his own brain was okay after his football career at Harvard ... and he tells us he'd love to use the same exercises on Shepard as well.

As for some prescriptions he'd currently recommend to Sterling? Dr. Oz says the receiver needs to chow down on fish, walnuts and avocados to keep his brain strong.

Former Jets star Mark Gastineau says he was raped as a child for years.

The ex-defensive end -- a five-time pro-bowler who played for the team between 1979 and 1988 -- made the shocking revelation this weekend to the NY Post after emerging cancer-free following a years-long battle with stage 3 colon cancer and several rounds of treatment.

He told the outlet that his sexual abuse started at age 11 and continued until he was 14, allegedly at the hands of what he describes as a Mexican farmworker on his family farm in Arizona. He says the guy was his own father's "right hand" on the 80-acre ranch.

Despite holding in the story for years, Gastineau didn't say he doesn't attribute any off-field trouble he found back in the day -- including assault and drug abuse problems -- to the trauma he experienced as a child, which he didn't elaborate on much with the Post.

Oakland Raiders stud Erik Harris -- a former D2 walk-on who BALLED OUT on Thursday -- just gave an awesome pump-up speech to everyone who's doubting themselves, saying, "Keep pushing forward!"

Harris' story is amazing ... the dude turned himself from an undrafted free agent in 2012 into the star of "Thursday Night Football" this week -- and when we asked him about the whole journey, he said it's been pretty epic.

The 29-year-old tells us he was about to give up his dream of playing pro football a few years ago ... but he decided to spend $80 on a Canadian Football League tryout, and it changed his life.

"It was special," Harris said of his time in the CFL. "It was special. Definitely part of who I am."

Harris was able to latch on in the NFL after his time in Canada ... and for the past two years, he's been a regular in Jon Gruden's Oakland lineup.

And, finally, on 'TNF' -- he showed the country all the fruits of his labor ... intercepting the hell out of Philip Rivers THREE TIMES (one was called back because of penalty).

So, when we asked the guy to give a message to all those who are currently in the shoes he wore back in 2012 ... he delivered an epic pump-up speech about never giving up.

"Believe in yourself," Harris said. "Find that confidence within yourself and keep pushing forward because if you continue to have that focus on that vision, then things will come true."

Terry Bradshaw doubts Antonio Brown will ever see another snap in the NFL ... telling TMZ Sports straight-up, "I wouldn't sign him."

"He's erratic," Bradshaw told us in NYC ... "His behavior makes me nervous. I don't know what's wrong with him. It makes no sense."

AB added another chapter to one of the most bizarre NFL stories ever on Thursday ... quitting the league in a profanity-laced social media rant, before eventually backtracking.

Bradshaw agrees the 31-year-old WR is crazy talented, but the off-the-field issues could be too big of a hurdle for him to overcome.

"Ya gotta deal with a lot of stuff. Are you willing to do that?"

Bradshaw says if he were running an NFL team, "I'd have to sit him down and I gotta make sure he's okay."

Brown has already been cut by TWO teams this season -- the Raiders and the Patriots -- and he cussed out the NFL on Thursday, saying the league treats black players unfairly.

The Seattle Seahawks reportedly looked into signing Brown recently but opted to sign Josh Gordon instead ... ultimately deciding Brown was not worth the trouble.

Brown is also being investigated by the NFL over allegations he raped his former trainer at his home in 2018. AB has denied the allegations and said the accuser's lawsuit is nothing more than a cash grab.

The best player in college football might never play a down in the NCAA again ... Ohio State's superstar pass rusher Chase Young has been suspended indefinitely.

Young -- a junior who leads the country in sacks with 13.5 and is the projected No. 1 overall pick in next spring's NFL draft -- is accused of committing an NCAA violation back in 2018.

Unclear what Young allegedly did to spur the probe ... but the school confirmed in a statement the 20-year-old will miss at least the Maryland game this weekend.

"Ohio State’s Chase Young will not play in this Saturday’s game between the Buckeyes and the Maryland Terrapins due to a possible NCAA issue from 2018 that the Department of Athletics is looking into," the Buckeyes said.

Young is one of the five most touted college football prospects of this last decade ... comparable to past No. 1 overall picks Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney.

The 6'5", 265-pounder is just one sack away from Ohio State's single-season record -- a hell of an accomplishment considering NFL stars Joey Bosa and Nick Bosa just had careers there.

As for how the investigation will affect his draft stock ... it undoubtedly won't -- scouts have been drooling over the DE all year, with ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper saying this month, "He, right now, is the No. 1 player in the draft."

"I don’t see that changing between now and April."

Forget 49ers-Seahawks ... Alabama vs. LSU is an even bigger matchup this weekend for some in Seattle's locker room -- 'cause D.J. Fluker says there's some hilarious wagers going on!!!

D.J. -- an OL who cut his teeth at 'Bama -- tells us he's going to make some bets with LSU alums Al Woods and Ethan Pocic this week that could have some seriously embarrassing ramifications.

"We talking about full-fledged LSU, full-fledged Alabama gear -- somebody's going to wear it," Fluker says. "I'm going to take a picture of it; hopefully we get to post it all on social media!"

Fluker tells us while that might seem hilarious on the outside ... he says to SEC diehards like himself, it's straight-up demoralizing!!!

The game kicks off on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PT ... and some are hyping it up as one of the greatest regular-season matchups in the last DECADE!!!

As for who's going to win it ... Fluker's confidence level in the Tide is high -- but he admits things could get hairy if Tua Tagovailoa has to sit because of an ankle injury.

The NFL is finally hearing Antonio Brown's side of the story in his rape case ... the superstar receiver is set to meet with league investigators next week.

AB is accused of raping his former trainer, Britney Taylor, at his Florida home back in 2018 ... and after she filed a lawsuit against the 31-year-old over the incident, the NFL launched a probe into the matter.

It's been about two months since they kicked off the investigation ... and many around the league feel it's the reason AB has yet to sign with a new team since being cut by the Patriots in September.

But, Brown is finally ready to have the meeting with league officials ... and according to multiple reports, it could take place as soon as next Thursday.

Don't expect it to spell the end of Brown's time as a free agent, though ... NFL Network's, Ian Rapoport, says next week's meeting will likely be the first of several in the case.

"The league's investigation into civil allegations of sexual assault & rape is not expected to conclude any time soon," Rapoport said.

Brown has vehemently denied Taylor's allegations, saying through his attorney in September, "Any sexual interaction" between Taylor and Brown "was entirely consensual."

Antonio's been working out like a maniac despite the investigation ... but admitted on Twitter a few weeks ago that it's looking like he won't return to an NFL field until 2020.