NFL

Donald Trump is patting himself on the back this morning -- giving himself much of the credit for landing the 2026 World Cup in North America ... and admitting he got advice from the man who owns the Patriots.

It was announced this week that the United States, along with Mexico and Canada would be the joint host countries for the 2026 games.

Friday morning, Trump applauded ... himself.

"Thank you for all of the compliments on getting the World Cup to come to the U.S.A., Mexico and Canada. I worked hard on this, along with a Great Team of talented people."

He added, "We never fail, and it will be a great World Cup! A special thanks to Bob Kraft for excellent advice."

Interesting, considering Trump and Kraft -- longtime friends -- had disagreed about the way POTUS handled the NFL kneeling issue.

4:10 PM PT -- Officials say Winslow is being charged with 9 criminal charges including kidnapping with intent to commit rape, forcible rape, forcible sodomy, burglary, indecent exposure and more.

Here are the charges in total:

-- 2 counts of kidnapping with intent to commit rape
-- 2 counts of forcible rape
-- 1 count of forcible sodomy
-- 1 count of forcible oral copulation
-- 2 counts of residential burglary
-- 1 count of indecent exposure.

If convicted on all charges, he faces LIFE in prison.

Officials tell TMZ Sports ... Winslow was arrested by the Sheriff's Major Crimes Division at 1:05 PM on Thursday.

He's being booked into custody at the Vista Detention Facility -- a county jail in San Diego.

Officials say a search warrant has been executed for Kellen's home.

Ex-NFL star Kellen Winslow Jr. was arrested in San Diego -- again ... this according to the San Diego County District Attorney.

Details surrounding the arrest are unclear but law enforcement sources tell us Winslow is facing multiple criminal charges.

We don't know if this has anything to do with his arrest last week when he was accused of breaking into a home in a mobile home park in the San Diego area. For that incident, he was arrested for felony burglary.

But moments ago, the San Diego D.A. told TMZ Sports ... "A warrant was issued this morning for Kellen Winslow II’s arrest and he was taken into custody by San Diego Sheriff’s Deputies Thursday afternoon."

"Arraignment is anticipated Friday, June 15 ... Charges will be announced at that time."

We've reached out to Kellen's camp for comment -- so far, no word back.

Tom Brady told Oprah this week that Bill Belichick and the Patriots took the national anthem issue so seriously last season, they held multiple meetings to address it.

"We had meetings after practice, talking about how we wanted to deal with that particular situation at the time, whether it was taking a knee," the quarterback said.

New England players ultimately chose to kneel during the anthem prior to their Sept. 24 game against against the Texans ... though some -- including Brady himself -- opted to stand and link arms.

Tom says it was an issue that led to plenty of discussion in the New England locker room -- particularly after Donald Trump said at a fall rally that players should be fired for the protests.

"I think there were a lot of really good, healthy conversations coming out of it in our locker room, you know?" Brady said.

He added: "I've been playing sports long enough. Everyone comes from something different. And I think showing respect for everybody in a locker room -- a team full of guys trying to go the same direction -- you better have that empathy for everybody."

Drew Brees took more hits on Kelly Slater's surf wave machine than he does on an NFL Sunday ... saying learning to ride the waves from the surfing legend caused him to get "absolutely thrashed."

It all went down recently when the Saints quarterback took a private plane up from San Diego to Slater's wave park in Lemoore, CA ... and took on some of Kelly's epic man-made waves.

Brees couldn't ride the water for more than a few seconds ... with Slater estimating the QB fell on 8 or 10 waves "back to back to back."

But ... the story has a happy ending. Slater switched boards for Drew -- a "Cadillac to a Ferrari," as Brees called it -- and the New Orleans legend finally rode one!!

What's Tom Brady's Achilles heel?? A naked Achilles heel ... 'cause the Patriots superstar's biggest problem is being barefoot!

TB12's wife, Gisele Bundchen, revealed the random fact in Vogue's "73 Questions" ... when she answered several rapid fire questions about the New England Patriots quarterback.

One of the most interesting parts of the video ... when Gisele reveals how Tom quarterbacked a diabolical scheme back in the day to trick her into thinking her apartment flooded ... so he could propose!

Tom even makes a brief appearance in the video before Gisele spills all his secrets about their relationship and how she prepares for Patriots games.

But, the most bizarre part is when Gisele -- who's on the July 2018 cover for Vogue -- is asked to share one thing we don't know about TB12, and that's when she says the dude can't stand being barefoot.

You don't gotta be an NBA star to pull world-class chicks -- because pro gamers are doing pretty damn well these days ... this according to Fortnite god Ninja.

With gaming events like Fortnite and League of Legends selling out stadiums -- yes, STADIUMS -- pro gamers are making more cash and are becoming more famous than ever.

So, when we saw Ninja at the Fortnite Pro-Am at the E3 convention in L.A., we asked how he felt about that old stereotype that gamers are just nerds who live in their parents' basement.

Bottom line ... if you're still thinking that way, you're living in the stone age.

"I think that if they want to, [pro gamers] can have relationships, find relationships from their popularity just like professional basketball players can go out and if he's not married ... probably find someone."

He's right. Case in point -- FaZe Censor ... a pro gamer who's dating SMOKING HOT WEATHER GIRL YANET GARCIA!!!

There's more ... Ninja also says there was a celebrity at the Pro-Am who's got real skills on the sticks. And after some sleuthing, we found out the guy he's talking about is Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen!

So, if the whole NFL thing doesn't work out, sounds like the pro-gamer life is a pretty sweet gig!!!

Sorry, James Harrison ... there's a new retired linebacker pushin' serious iron in the gym -- and it's just as frightening.

DeMarcus Ware did his best impression of the former Steelers superstar in the weight room Tuesday, hang power cleaning 275 pounds -- FOR REPS.

The video starts in the middle of D-Ware's set ... so, unclear how many times he actually tossed around the nearly three bills ... but it's AT LEAST five.

The craziest part? The soon-to-be 36-year-old Ware -- who retired after the 2016 season -- called the workout a "Basic Tuesday."

FYI ... Ware just signed on to be a part-time pass-rush consultant for his old team, the Broncos ... and he was STILL the most jacked dude out at practice Wednesday.

Dana White was so impressed by Greg Hardy's 57-second knockout on Tuesday, he wants to get him back in the Octagon as soon as he can ... telling TMZ Sports he's shooting for August.

"He's got a lot of raw talent," White said from his gym ... "He looked good in his showing there."

White says he wants to get Hardy more experience before he puts the ex-NFL star on the main UFC stage -- and the ideal situation would be a second fight in his Tuesday Night Contender Series.

"In a perfect world what I'd love to do is turn him around and have him fight again in the last fight of the Contender Series."

FYI, the series finale is reportedly set for August 7 ... which would give Hardy exactly 8 weeks to prep.

White says if Hardy wins that fight, he'd still like to see him rack up a few more wins before he gets a major UFC fight.

As to the criticism that comes with signing Hardy -- who was convicted of domestic violence (which was later overturned when Hardy appealed) ... White says he's ready for it.

"What I respect about the guy is he did something really bad and horrible. He went through everything you need to go though after you do something disgusting like that. Then he hit rock bottom, picked himself back up, started to work his way up to become not only a better human being but a better athlete."

TMZ Sports has obtained the 911 call made by the woman who claimed Kareem Hunt shoved her at his apartment ... telling the operator, "I was assaulted and I need help."

Back in February, cops in Cleveland were called to Hunt's residence by a 19-year-old woman who said the Pro Bowl RB roughed her up.

"I was assaulted and I need help."

The operator asks the woman who assaulted her, and she responds ... "I think his first name is Kareem."

She goes on to say he's a 5'10" black male with a medium to heavy build.

As for Hunt's side ... he VEHEMENTLY denied touching the woman, and his friends told cops she was actually the one to go crazy after he asked her to leave his place ... with her screaming "F**k you, n*****!"

Greg Hardy made one hell of an impression on Dana White -- knocking out his opponent 57 seconds into his UFC Contender Series fight.

Hardy was matched up against another former NFL lineman Austen Lane Tuesday night -- and the winner gets an opportunity to earn a UFC contract ... if White feels like the fighter has earned it.

Hardy -- who was undefeated in his previous 3 amateur MMA fights -- hit the Octagon like a violent tornado ... and rocked Lane -- who was 2-0 with 2 KOs in his previous pro fights -- with a couple of devastating haymakers.

Lane went down ... and the ref called it immediately for Hardy.

Reggie Bush is set to get PAID ... 'cause a jury in Missouri just awarded the former NFL star a $12.5 MILLION payout in his lawsuit against the Rams.

Back in 2015, Bush -- a 49er -- was playing the Rams in St. Louis at Edward Jones Dome. While returning a punt, Bush was pushed out of bounds and slipped on a slab of concrete just outside the playing field.

Reggie tore his lateral meniscus -- a serious injury -- which ended his season.

RB filed a lawsuit against the Rams in 2016 -- accusing them of stupidly installing a ring of concrete around the field ... creating a big risk for players in cleats.

Last week the trial started ... and the jury awarded Reggie a massive payout Tuesday. Bush is set to get $4.95 million in compensatory damages -- money he was given to cover lost earnings ... and $7.5 million in punitive damages.

Google Christian Kirk.

That's what Kirk's friend told cops to do before both men were arrested for criminal damage to a car in February ... adding, "Y'all costing my dog millions."

TMZ Sports obtained police body cam footage showing police as they interviewed Kirk's friend in an Arizona parking lot after receiving a call for 2 guys throwing rocks at cars.

The video shows Kirk's friends pleading with cops to let Kirk go.

"I'm about to cry for my friend right now man, this sh*t f**ked up. He's about to be a first round draft pick and y'all out here over a van man. Y'all really costing my dog millions."

"Like, Google this man, Google him."

FYI -- Kirk ended up being drafted in the 2nd round of April's NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals ... and the criminal charge against him was dropped.

No word on if they Googled him, bro.

Johnny Manziel did just what you'd expect him to before his pre-draft visit with the Patriots -- he raged with Gronk and trashed his hotel room with wine!!

The now-CFL QB gave a play-by-play of the incident leading up to his meeting with the Pats back in 2014 ... saying he intended on chilling and watching a movie ... but then had a major accident that resulted in a bottle of wine spraying all over his hotel room.

Then, he got a FaceTime call from Gronk ... and THAT'S when the fun started.

"He's like, 'yeah, I just got out of practice. You want to hang out?' That escalated probably a little bit more than just having a bottle of wine in the hotel room," Johnny said on his "Comeback SZN" podcast with Barstool Sports.

"But for as big as he is, that guy can actually play some ping pong. I was really surprised. And maybe drank a couple beers."

Ex-NFL All-Pro OT Branden Albert just caught a BIG break in his jewelry store taser case ... and if he keeps his nose clean, he won't spend a minute behind bars.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Albert was arrested back in February in Atlanta after cops say he went berserk while shopping -- ultimately ending in him being tasered twice, arrested and charged with 2 felonies.

Now, we've learned he's been accepted into Georgia's Pretrial Intervention Program -- which means if Albert abides by terms set by the court, he won't be prosecuted.

The terms ... Albert has to pay the jewelry store for the stuff he broke ... and do 40 hours of community service. He also has to complete a mental health evaluation and take any prescribed medication.

Once completed, the case will be thrown out ... and Albert can petition the court to have any trace of the charge expunged from his record.

If he doesn't fulfill the terms ... prosecutors could haul him back into court to face the felony charges -- where he'd face up to 10 years in prison.

Chris Johnson just got SERVED!!

The NFL running back was blindsided with an assault and battery lawsuit at an autograph signing over the weekend -- filed by the valet he allegedly attacked in April ... and TMZ Sports has the video.

Here's what went down ... CJ was signing pics and memorabilia for fans at a minor league baseball game in FL on Saturday ... when a process server patiently waited in line for her time to meet the All-Pro back.

Once the server got her chance ... she placed the papers right on the table for Johnson, who nearly puts his John Hancock on the complaint and summons until he realizes what's in front of him.

In the civil suit, the alleged victim states he was seriously injured, lost work 'cause of the incident, and has medical bills to pay. It's unclear exactly how much he's asking for ... but it's at least $15K.

It's a clever tactic, but not the first time we've seen this move used -- Warren Sapp was duped at a meet-and-greet back in February.

Chris Johnson was charged with battery for allegedly choking a valet in April ... and now TMZ Sports has the surveillance video of the alleged violent altercation.

Here's the deal ... Johnson was charged with misdemeanor battery after officials in Hillsborough County, Florida say the NFL star roughed up a nightclub valet.

According to court docs, Johnson "became angry at the businesses valet" and "intentionally touched and struck the victim" by "placing him in a choke hold and punching him in the face causing minor injuries" April 9 at The Lodge.

The video quality ain't the best ... but you see a man who appears to be Johnson attempt to grab something from the valet ... before the men leave the frame and are lost in a crowd.

We spoke to Matt Powell -- the alleged victim's attorney -- who tells us Johnson didn't have his valet ticket, and got pissed when his client asked him to prove the Porsche he was trying to take was his vehicle.

Powell says Johnson grabbed the keys before choking his client while an unidentified person punched him in the face -- injuring his face, neck and back.

We also obtained a video taken shortly after the alleged incident, where the victim appears bloodied and beaten ... and says he was scared for his life.

"I thought I was gonna die."