NFL

"I was 270 lbs with a 48-inch vertical, benching 500 pounds, running a 4.5, 4.6." -- LaVar Ball

You read that correctly ...

LaVar tells TMZ Sports his size, strength and agility was OFF-THE-CHARTS when he was a college athlete -- making him a better prospect than any tight end in NFL history.

So, why didn't things work out for the Big Baller on the field?

Ball says he has a perfectly good explanation -- and he's using the lessons from his failed efforts to go pro to make sure his kids succeed ... and so far, it's working.

So ... either this is an Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite moment, or LaVar would've really dominated the league.

You decide.

Arthur Jones is lean, mean and ready for an NFL return after shedding 25 freakin' pounds in 3 weeks ... and he's telling TMZ Sports how he got it done.

Arthur -- Jon Jones' older bro -- is a 6-year NFL vet who's currently a free agent ... but that hasn't stopped him from stayin' in game shape.

Matter of fact -- better than game shape.

Jones -- who recently had hernia surgery -- decided to switch up his eating and workout habits shortly after the procedure ...  swearing off all animal products and hittin' the yoga studio.

A.J. even gives us his ideal NFL landing spots ... and spoiler alert, one team already has a Jones on the D-line.

Colin Kaepernick just got another HUGE star to back his 'Know Your Rights' campaign ... rap superstar J. Cole, who was hanging with the free agent QB, showing his support.

The NFL might be cool on Kaep at the moment, but the celebrity world certainly isn't ... huge stars like Chris Brown, Charlamagne Tha God and John Legend are backin' C.K.

Colin's girlfriend -- Hot 97 star DJ, Nessa -- posted a picture with Cole, Kaep, and herself on Instagram, with the Dreamville rapper rocking one of Colin's "I Know My Rights Shirts."

The shirt is part of Colin's campaign to educate youth on their rights ... empowering them as American citizens.

It's clear J. Cole is down with the movement ... and in the photo caption Nessa says an "inspirational" conversation was had between the 2 stars.

Former NY Giants TE Adrien Robinson was arrested ridin' with 25 POUNDS of pot on Monday ... according to cops in Pennsylvania.

The 28-year-old former 4th round pick was pulled over around 10:30 PM in Union County, PA ... when police say they noticed A.R. acting suspiciously.

Cops searched his '16 Chevy Impala -- and tell us they found almost 25 pounds of weed in his car.

Robinson was arrested and taken to Union County Prison, where he was charged with felony possession with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia -- a misdemeanor.

Robinson spent a few hours in jail before posting bail ... and being released.

A.R. -- who the Giants GM once deemed the "JPP of tight ends" for his raw talent and ability -- caught only 5 passes for 50 yards in his NFL career.

Colin Kaepernick's staying quiet. His girlfriend? Not so much.

Nessa -- the famous radio host -- posted a photo of 2 guys who have made all sorts of news by talking about her boyfriend -- Ravens legend Ray Lewis and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti.

The pic essentially compares the two to characters from "Django Unchained" -- Samuel L. Jackson's slave-master-loving character and Leonardo DiCaprio's racist master role.

And made sure to @RayLewis.

Clearly, she's not happy with Ray's comments -- in which he advised Colin to keep his mouth shut about his off-the-field activities ... including social activism.

Bisciotti is reportedly resisting an effort to sign Kaepernick -- though the team has disputed those reports.

Still, Nessa ain't happy about it. Guessing Kaep feels the same way.

Tom Brady turns 40 today -- and the fans in Boston let him know it with a screaming rendition of "Happy Birthday."

As Tom took the field at New England Patriots training camp Thursday morning, dozens of fans decked out in Pats gear -- some holding "Happy Birthday" signs -- belted out the song.

Tom smiled and waved.

The team also brought out a bunch of goats for the G.O.A.T. -- they're really blowing this thing out.

His wife, Gisele, also posted a HBD message for him -- saying he makes 40 look like 20. She's right.

Macklemore is using Marshawn Lynch to fire shots at Tom Brady -- with ball deflating jokes and a jersey theft ... and it's all in his new music video.

M & M know each other from Seattle -- and hooked up for Macklemore's new track with Lil Yachty called "Marmalade." The main theme seems to be messing with Brady and the Patriots.

Of course, the Patriots beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX after that insane decision to throw the ball from the 2 yard line instead of giving it to Beast Mode.

Clearly, both guys remember.

Marshawn makes a funny cameo in the video -- masterminding a Tom Brady jersey theft ... obviously inspired by Mauricio Ortega, the guy who jacked Brady's real uniform after Super Bowl 51.

Funny to us. Wonder if Tom's laughing?

The ENTIRE New York Giants squad turned the locker room into a club on Tuesday -- including Eli Manning ... who proved, without a doubt, to be the goofiest dancer on the team.

It all went down after practice -- everyone from Odell Beckham to Jason Pierre-Paul and Duke Ihenacho bumped the music and busted out their best dance moves.

Then the camera panned to Eli ... who was doing a sort of jig, shuffle thing. He looked like the high school prom chaperone.

The son of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is now a wanted man -- just days after being released from DUI following a DUI arrest -- because now there's a warrant out for him.

After John Bowlen was busted for drunk driving in San Luis Obispo on Sunday, officials in Colorado filed court papers seeking to revoke his probation stemming from a 2015 domestic violence case.

According to the court docs obtained by TMZ Sports, the Arapahoe County District Attorney argued that Bowlen violated several terms of his probation ... including getting arrested, failing to complete community service, failing to get a mental health evaluation, failure to get drug treatment and more.

A Colorado judge immediately issued a bench warrant for Bowlen -- who also wasn't supposed to leave the state as part of his plea deal.

The baby business is BOOMIN' for Antonio Brown -- his girlfriend just gave birth to their brand new son!

The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver was able to get away from football Tuesday for the birth of Apollo Brown!

(It helps that today was a scheduled off day for Steelers players!)

Both baby and daddy looked great (Antonio had a big smile on his face) -- hopefully mom, Chelsie Kyriss, is doing well too.

It's AB's 5th kid -- 3 with Chelsie and 2 from a previous relationship.

Ray Lewis has a message for Colin Kaepernick -- when it comes to your social activism, tone it down!

The Baltimore Ravens legend just posted a video saying he applauds what Colin stood up for last season ... but says he needs to change his PR plan.

"What you do off the field, don't let too many people know," Ray said ... "because they gonna judge you anyway. No matter what you do. No matter if it's good or bad."

Ray added, "If you do nothing else young man, get back on the football field and let your play speak for itself."

The problem with Ray's advice ... it goes completely against what Colin is trying to achieve with his "I Know My Rights" campaign and his "Million Dollar Pledge."

Colin's position has been that he's trying to shine a light on communities in need and educate young people -- and he's using his fame as an NFL player to help spread the message.

Staying quiet and sticking to football seems like the exact opposite of Colin's off-the-field goals.

Before Terry Crews took over Hollywood, he was an NFL linebacker who says he was ready to die on the field -- same mind-set as NY Jets rookie Jamal Adams.

But things have changed.

"I wanted to die on the field when I was playing ... but not anymore," Crews tells TMZ Sports.

Of course, Crews became a massive star AFTER his 5 year NFL career -- starring in huge movies ("The Expendables"), huge TV shows ("Brooklyn Nine-Nine") and big ad campaigns (Old Spice, anyone?)

The message? There's MUCH more to life than football -- and he's living proof.

Crews also shared his message with a mother and her football playing son outside of Craig's -- advising the kid to be a kicker because it's safer.

The kid's mom asked Terry if he would let his son play football with all of the CTE concerns -- you gotta hear Crews' answer.

Oakland Raiders rookie Gareon Conley is speaking for the first time since he was cleared in his rape case -- saying he knows he's 100% innocent but "could've exercised better judgment."

As we previously reported, a grand jury decided to NOT move forward with charges against the 1st round draft pick -- after a woman claimed Conley raped her in an Ohio hotel back in April.

Conley claimed they engaged in consensual oral sex but he did not force himself on her in any way.

Now, Conley tells TMZ Sports, "I am thankful that this burden has been lifted as I enter training camp with my new teammates and organization. I am thankful to the City of Cleveland and the Cleveland police for reaching a conclusion based on the facts, not speculation. I am thankful to the Raiders organization for believing in me, drafting me, and supporting me."

"Finally, I am thankful to my agent and my team for never relenting in their defense of me as a person and client."

"The past few months have been extremely trying for me and my family. Although I was the target of malicious and false accusations, I do realize however that I could've exercised better judgment and that there are still lessons for me to take away and grow from."

Didn't take long for a grand jury to decide Gareon Conley's fate -- the Oakland Raiders rookie cornerback will NOT be charged with rape stemming from an April incident, officials say.

The 1st round draft pick was accused of raping a woman at an Ohio hotel just days before the NFL Draft -- and prosecutors kicked the case over to the grand jury on Monday morning.

But just a few hours later, the jury made a decision to NOT move forward with charges against the former Ohio State star.

The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office issued a statement, saying:

"After a thorough investigation by the Cleveland Police Department, the facts and circumstances surrounding the allegations of sexual assault against Gareon Conley were presented to a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury returned a No Bill on all possible charges."

Conley had previously admitted to having oral sex with the accuser but insisted it was consensual. The woman had claimed Conley forced himself on her and engaged in vaginal intercourse.

Prosecutors are moving forward with the rape case against Oakland Raiders 1st round draft pick, Gareon Conley, this according to the Cleveland Police Dept.

Officials say the District Attorney's office believes it has enough evidence to prosecute and they kicked the case over to a grand jury -- which will ultimately decide whether to indict the 22-year-old.

As we previously reported, a woman claims the former Ohio State cornerback raped her at a hotel room in Cleveland on April 9 -- just days before the NFL Draft.

Conley says the two did have "brief oral sex" -- but insists it was consensual and says there was no vaginal intercourse.

The accuser had told police they met in the elevator at the hotel. But video shows the two partying at the same bar and leaving at the same time earlier that night.

Meantime, the Raiders officially signed Conley to his rookie contract a few days ago -- reportedly worth more than $10 million over 4 years.

10:11 AM PT -- He did it again -- cop say Bowlen tried to use the "Do you know who my father is?" tactic with police.

Officials say John was driving over 100 mph on the 101 Freeway -- driving like a maniac and scaring other drivers. Multiple people called 911 for more than a hour trying to get cops involved. Ultimately, 5 troopers joined the search and helped apprehend him.

Once the car was stopped, officers found a puppy in the vehicle -- and animal control was called to get the animal.

Officials say Bowlen was "not cooperative."

More trouble for "the blood of the city" ... the son of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen was arrested for DUI in California on Sunday, TMZ Sports has learned.

31-year-old John Bowlen was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol in the Paso Robles area around 2 PM -- and during the stop, officers determined he was under the influence of alcohol.

He was hauled to a nearby station where he was booked on 2 counts of misdemeanor DUI. He's set to be released later Monday morning.

This isn't John's first brush with the law -- the former Broncos marketing employee was arrested for domestic violence in 2015 in an incident in which he was also accused of hijacking the phone of his GF when she called 911.

During the call with the 911 operator, John claimed to be the "blood of the city" and friends with the mayor, and assured officials nothing was wrong.

He was ultimately found guilty of harassment and sentenced to 2 years probation.