NFL

Move over, Jameis Winston ... top NFL draft prospect Mekhi Becton is officially the king of car-pushing workouts -- the Louisville O-lineman just shoved a pickup with the brakes on!!!

The 6'7", 368-pound beast -- who's projected to be a top-15 pick next month -- took his quarantine workouts to the streets this week ... and it was impressive as hell.

Check out the video ... Becton moves the Ford Raptor -- which weighs roughly 5,500 POUNDS -- without much effort ... all while the car's brakes were activated!!

"Only a MONSTER can push a RAPTOR," Becton said of the impressive feat.

Of course, Mekhi's workout comes just a few days after Jameis Winston showed off his car-pushing skills ... but we're pretty sure Becton gets the nod here. Sorry, Jameis.

By the way, 20-year-old Mekhi is fighting with a few other left tackle prospects to be the No. 1 overall lineman off the board on April 23.

Begs the question ... could this vid be all NFL GMs need to put him over the top of Tristan Wirfs and Jedrick Wills Jr.??

It's official -- Tom Brady will wear #12 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after securing the digits from teammate, Chris Godwin!!!

And, here's the crazy part -- Godwin gave it up for FREE!!!

There have been CRAZY stories in the past about players exchanging money, jewelry and more to trade jersey numbers with their teammates.

Most famously, Clinton Portis offered Ifeanyi Ohalete $40k for his #26 ... and the transaction actually ended up in court.

But, there was no drama this time around ... with Godwin just handing the number to Brady -- no strings attached.

It would have been a branding disaster for Tom to take a different number -- he's had #12 for 20 years and built his TB12 brand around it.

Godwin -- who will now wear #14 -- previously said he'd part ways with his number #12 jersey out of respect to the GOAT ... but mentioned he had been wearing doce since high school.

It may end up being a great investment for Godwin ... 'cause maybe TB12 will be looking for that #14 down the field a LOT more this season.

Joe Theismann tells TMZ Sports the Redskins would be making a HUGE mistake if they passed on Chase Young for Tua Tagovailoa next month ... saying he simply doesn't think the QB is worth it.

"Without hesitation," the Redskins legend says, "I take Chase Young."

As for why, Theismann tells us Tua has just too many question marks surrounding him heading into April's NFL draft.

"He's not a generational quarterback," Theismann said. "[Joe] Burrow might be. I think so. But, Tua is not. I'm not sold on the strength of his arm."

Joe tells us he believes Young is the best player in the draft regardless ... and with the Redskins moving to a 4-3 defense, he thinks the pick should be a no-brainer.

Of course, some in D.C. disagree with Theismann ... mostly because Dwayne Haskins was pretty bad in his limited playing time as a rookie last season.

But, Joe tells us he ain't ready to give up on the ex-Ohio State superstar just yet ... and says Ron Rivera and the 'Skins shouldn't be either.

NFL games played in empty stadiums?? Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank can see it, saying he thinks the league might have to go that route in 2020 amid coronavirus concerns.

"I could easily see camps being shorter, players being tested on a daily basis, things of that nature," Blank said. "No fan attendance. Things like that."

Blank revealed the bleak possibility to Peter King over the weekend ... saying the risk of infection might still be too high for fans to be at NFL games -- even in September.

Of course, fanless matches ain't exactly a new phenomenon in COVID-19 times ... soccer games overseas were already doing that before the lockdown -- and the NBA is reportedly considering doing the same if/when it returns this summer.

Blank says he also thinks the NFL could have a shorter preseason ... but he still believes a 16-game regular-season schedule is very much on the table for the league at this point.

"If I had to speculate now, and I use the word speculate because that’s really all it is, I would say yes [to 16 games]," Blank said. "Only because it’s so far away from where we are today."

The Falcons owner added he believes football is necessary to help heal people during the global pandemic.

"I do think we need football now," Blank said. "It’s hard to turn on any device you have today, almost any site, television, PCs, laptops, phones -- without the first thing popping up being something on the virus."

"And, that’s appropriate. However, I also think that people want a diversion. People want to be optimistic. People want to think about things that are really good times for themselves and their families and their loved ones and their communities. I think to have that kind of hope and aspiration mixed into your daily life is important."

Tom Brady has NO hard feelings toward Bill Belichick despite his New England departure ... and calling their split this month a "divorce" wouldn't be fair -- so says the QB's dad.

"Divorce sounds a little bit harsh," Tom Brady, Sr. says, "I think it's a separation, you know?"

When Tom bolted for Tampa Bay earlier this month ... reports indicated Tom wasn't exactly pleased by the lack of love Bill and the Pats showed him when it came to free agency.

But, Tom's dad spoke with Steph Curry's parents, Sonya and Dell, on their "Raising Fame: Sports Edition" podcast ... and he shot down all rumors of a rift with The Hoodie.

"Bill's got a lot of responsibilities to keep the Patriots on track and that is a bigger responsibility than keeping Tommy under the hood," TB Sr. says.

"So, both of them are mature individuals and I really respect Bill's decision and respect Tommy's decision as well. It's okay to take different paths. You don't have to stay joined at the hip."

In fact, Tom's dad claims his son has nothing but love for the Patriots' head man ... even after the split.

"I mean, I can't tell you the hundreds of times that Tommy has said Bill is the best coach in football. Tommy sings Bill's praises."

Forget expensive cars and flashy jewelry ... James Bradberry says the first big purchase he's going to make with his new Giants contract is the gift of retirement for his mom!!

"I'mma surprise her with that," the new NY corner tells TMZ Sports. "It's not an actual thing I'd be giving her, but I'll be telling her, 'Hey, you ain't got to go to work anymore if you don't want to.'"

James balled out this past season in Carolina, recording 3 INTs and 12 pass breakups ... and he was rewarded for the effort with a 3-year, $45 MILLION contract from the Giants in free-agency this month.

But, Bradberry says his mom is priority No. 1 when it comes to spending that new cash ... telling us she deserves all of it for the way she raised him and his sister as a single mom in Birmingham, Ala.

"She sacrificed a lot for me and my sister while growing up," Bradberry says. "And just to be able to repay her without having her go to work anymore that'd be good for me because she can now do whatever she wants. Enjoy life."

Ex-Steelers stud Ike Taylor says Tom Brady is going to LOVE his new head coach, telling TMZ Sports he had a blast playing for Bruce Arians for YEARS in Pittsburgh.

"BA's a 'we' guy," Taylor says ... "He’s one of the guys. BA is one of the guys."

Taylor spent nearly a decade around Tampa Bay's head man when Arians was a Steelers assistant ... and Ike had nothing but good things to say about him when we talked to him this week.

In fact, when we asked if TB12 was going to have an easy time playing for the dude down in Florida ... Ike couldn't have been more convinced.

"BA is the ultimate player's coach," Taylor says. "Just from being around BA, Tom Brady is getting a player’s coach, who, for the most part, is just going to let him be him."

Of course, there's been some concern that Bruce's infatuation with the deep ball could hurt Brady -- considering that requires 42-year-old TB12 to hang in the pocket more and take more hits.

But Ike says he knows Arians will be flexible ... and might even implement some of Brady's old offense into this season.

"I would say six or eight games throughout the season the offense should be clicking," Ike says.

Floyd Mayweather thinks it's RIDICULOUS that the allegations against Antonio Brown are keeping him out of the NFL ... and he put the league on blast during a video chat with AB.

"They need to let you play in the NFL, man. They need to stop worrying about what you do on the outside."

"You can get arrested 40 times, 50 times," Mayweather told AB on Friday ... "Do that got something to do with you catching the ball or what you doing on the field?"

Of course, the allegations against Brown are very serious -- he's been accused of violent rape and he was arrested back in January for attacking a moving truck driver.

The league is investigating the allegations against AB -- but in the meantime, no team wants to touch him out of fear he'll likely get a big fat suspension.

But, Mayweather told Brown ... "You're supposed to be in the NFL. Tom Brady is one of the best quarterbacks of all time! He's not requesting you for no reason!

"He's requesting you because he know every time he throw it to you, you're gonna catch it."

Mayweather also brought up Brown's helmet issues with the NFL -- and suggested he was being singled out because he came from "nothing to something."

But, he ended the conversation with this ...

"Just stay focused, you'll get back in the NFL. You'll get back! There's too much talent for them to let go down the drain! We need you with the Raiders, we need something in Vegas!"

Brown responded, "I want to get it back. Tell 'em we can run it back, do this right!"

Have you seen those memes making fun of Jason Pierre-Paul's mangled hand? The ones where they compare him to a Ninja Turtle?

Yeah, JPP has seen 'em too ... and he's laughing all the way to the bank!

The Tampa Bay Bucs star finally decided to clap back at his hand-haters on Friday -- almost 5 years after a fireworks accident blew off parts of his right hand.

"For those all those memes out there with the ninja turtle hand lol. I'm still counting dem racks with it."

JPP ain't lyin' ... the 31-year-old just inked a 2-year, $25 MILLION contract to stay with the Bucs last week ... and has earned more than $75 million throughout his career.

But don't worry, the guy has a sense of humor ... and says he got a good laugh out of all the memes.

"I remember shiii was funny tho 😭😂😆🤣 never give up."

The Patriots can still continue as kings of the AFC East without Tom Brady ... so says Eli Manning, who claims even with the G.O.A.T. in Tampa, New England is in great shape.

The Giants legend (and noted Patriots killer) made the bold statement this week in an interview with the NY Post, saying you can never count out a Bill Belichick-coached squad.

"I think they still have a very good team, a great defense, great coaches," Manning said.

"Obviously Tom was a very important part on their success over the years, but I think they have kind of a way and they have a system that Belichick has implemented there that I think will continue to find ways to have success."

Of course, Eli says things will be different ... he still ain't sure who will fill Tom's shoes in 2020 -- but he's still confident in The Hoodie nonetheless.

As for Tom's departure ... Eli says he was shocked to see Brady move, saying, "I guess you just kind of wonder what was the reasoning?"

"I don’t know if he felt unappreciated, or just wanted to try something different, but was surprised that this went down."

Eli says he thinks Tom will find success with his new squad next season ... but he's wondering just how much having no offseason due to coronavirus will affect the team.

Bruce Arians just slammed the door right on Antonio Brown's face ... saying there's no way in hell the Buccaneers sign the guy -- despite the WR's plea for a roster spot in Tampa.

"I just know him," the head coach said Thursday. "And, it's not a fit in our locker room."

Brown has been begging Arians to give him a look since his old pal, Tom Brady, signed there last week ... and it seemed like the wideout was willing to give the team a massive discount.

In fact, AB even went as far as to say he had "a lot of fun" with Arians during their time together in Pittsburgh ... and thought they could rekindle the magic in Florida.

But, Arians, speaking on Tiki Barber's "Tiki And Tierney" show this week, said AB needs to look elsewhere for a job ... 'cause the Bucs have ZERO interest.

"Yeah, it's not gonna happen," Arians said. "It's not gonna happen. There's no room. And, probably not enough money. But, it's just not gonna happen. It's not a fit here."

Of course, Brown is perhaps the most talented wide receiver in the league ... but he'd bring serious baggage to any locker room -- and that's even if the NFL allows him to play.

Remember, Brown is accused of some heinous things -- including rape and assault -- and Roger Goodell and league officials are still investigating it all.

Plus, even on the field, AB hasn't been a model citizen ... he squabbled with the Oakland Raiders over a helmet and even got in a fight the team's GM -- this just months after he essentially forced his way out of Pittsburgh.