NFL

The Steelers have been dominating their rivalry with the Browns for YEARS ... but LaMarr Woodley says that's all about to change ... telling TMZ Sports Cleveland is finally a legitimately dangerous team.

FYI -- the Stillers has had their way with Cleveland ... going 33-6 since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999.

The Super Bowl champ says the Browns have made all the right moves to get back to relevance ... and warns his old club they don't wanna meet Cleveland in the playoffs.

The Browns got a lot of hype this year -- with the additions of Baker Mayfield, Tyrod Taylor and Jarvis Landry ... and the squad looked pretty good against the Giants on Thursday (we know, preseason ... but still).

Did you know Andrew Luck was jacked? We didn't ... until now.

The Indianapolis Colts QB was flexin' a legit 6-pack Thursday night in the locker room after his pre-season game against the Seattle Seahawks ... a game where he went 6-9 for 64 yards.

It was Luck's first NFL action since 2016 -- but just because he missed playing time doesn't mean he missed the gym ... at least judging by the video.

Luck was standing behind coach Frank Reich -- who was talking about the importance of getting better every day -- and proved he's been doing that when it comes to his physique.

LeSean McCoy's ex-girlfriend, Delicia Cordon, says she seems to be healing up after the violent attack at the Georgia home last month ... but says she's still dealing with the emotional trauma.

"Just to update those who expressed concern, physically I seem to be healing properly," Cordon said roughly 1 month after she was pistol whipped during a home invasion robbery.

"However mentally is still a battle!"

Cordon was hospitalized for serious injuries to her face and body after a masked man allegedly broke into the home in the middle of the night, beat her up and stole jewelry.

"I want to take a moment to express my sincerest appreciation to every last one of you that prayed for me during the last month," Cordon said.

"I wont question God, & I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Thx to my amazing support system cause only Lord knows where I'd be without them!"

Cordon says she will continue to fight to ensure "justice [will] be served" to whoever is responsible for the attack.

Donald Trump's most recent rant on the NFL's anthem controversy has Cam Jordan PISSED OFF ... with the superstar calling POTUS an "overly insecure prepubescent child."

Trump lashed out at NFL players who continued to take a knee during the "Star-Spangled Banner" this morning ... calling for them to either stand or face suspension.

The Saints Pro Bowler went to his own Twitter to tee off on Trump on Friday ... saying, "Only way to say it. What a Goober. He is who I thought he was."

"Guy is 70+ yr old acting out in what was once the highest respected political position, as a overly insecure prepubescent child..."

FYI -- Jordan was one of the several Saints players to sit during the anthem last season ... and had talks with Drew Brees about promoting social justice while respecting the flag at the same time.

But, clearly, we still know where Cam stands.

The lucky NY Giants fan who got Baker Mayfield's 1st-ever touchdown pass Thursday night -- THREW IT BACK ON THE FIELD ... and the whole thing is on video.

Baker hit Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku for a 10-yard strike in the 2nd quarter -- and Njoku tried to gift the ball to a fan in the end zone.

But, the fan wasn't a Browns supporter -- or a fan of money -- because he took the valuable pigskin and fired it right back onto the field in disgust ... screaming and yelling the entire time.

The fan then started pointing to his Giants hat while the crowd at MetLife Stadium in NJ cheered him on.

Ultimately, Big Blue lost the game -- and the fan lost an opportunity to turn that collector's item into a serious profit.

Baker Mayfield's first game as a Cleveland Brown wasn't just impressive ... it was ONE OF THE GREATEST STARTS EVER -- so says NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger.

Baker took over for starter Tyrod Taylor at the end of the 1st quarter of Cleveland's game against the NY Giants Thursday night ... and lit it up -- chucking two TD passes.

Baldinger -- who had a long NFL career as a lineman in the '80s and '90s -- was floored ... calling it afterward, "one of the greatest rookie quarterback debuts I've ever seen."

"This ability right now just to be able to make this throw to the sideline -- like, the throw is ridiculous," Baldinger says of one of Mayfield's highlights.

Baker's coaches had been steadfast earlier in camp that he's the backup to Tyrod ... but it might be tough to keep that same spiel up now.

Donald Trump is pissed off at two Miami Dolphins receivers who continued the "take a knee" demonstration into the 2018 NFL season ... and now he's calling for them to be suspended.

Both Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson took a knee during the national anthem at the Miami Dolphins pre-season opener versus the Tampa Bay Bucs on Thursday. Other players raised their fists.

Enter Trump ... who tweeted first thing Friday morning -- calling for swift action against the players.

"The NFL players are at it again - taking a knee when they should be standing proudly for the National Anthem," Trump said.

"Numerous players, from different teams, wanted to show their 'outrage' at something that most of them are unable to define."

"They make a fortune doing what they love. Be happy, be cool! A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest."

"Most of that money goes to the players anyway. Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay!"

On the other hand, the players were praised by Colin Kaepernick -- who started the demonstration. He offered the following message to the players -- "Stay strong brothers."

Trump hated it ... but, Colin Kaepernick had nothing but love for Kenny Stills and other NFL players who demonstrated during the national anthem on Thursday night.

Stills -- along with his Miami Dolphins teammate, Albert Wilson -- took a knee before their preseason game against the Bucs on Thursday night. Kaep was watching and approved.

"My brother [Kenny Stills] continued his protest of systemic oppression tonight by taking a knee," Kaep wrote.

"Albert Wilson joined him in protest. Stay strong brothers!"

Kaep added this note about Stills -- "[He] was awarded the Miami Dolphins’ community service awards the last two years. He participates in a number of youth organizations and was a team captain last year."

Baker Mayfield only threw 20 passes Thursday night ... but that's all Mark Wahlberg needed to see, saying, "Cleveland got another star!"

Mark's been Baker's biggest fan -- the dude bet actual money on the Browns to win six games this season -- and he had his "I told you so" moment watching Mayfield's highlights Friday morning.

"My boy Baker Mayfield," Mark says.

"First preseason game, 11-for-20, 212 yards, two touchdowns, getting after it No. 6! Come on! Cleveland got another star! Let's go."

Mark ain't speaking in hyperbole ... NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger called Baker's first game one of the greatest debuts he's ever seen.

Kurt Warner says he would 100% support any teammate who chose to kneel during the national anthem ... telling TMZ Sports it's important to get behind guys who want to make societal change.

Important to note: Warner says he himself would never kneel during the anthem.

We got Warner at LAX and asked him his thoughts on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott taking heat after saying he doesn't think kneeling during the anthem is appropriate.

That's when Warner jumped into the issue, saying no matter what he'd do personally, he'd NEVER try to stifle teammates who wanted to engage in protest.

"I would support my teammates that, if they believed something was the right stand to make I have no problem with that."

Warner says that, while he'd stand to respect members of the military (including his wife), he gets that the protest isn't about disrespecting the armed forces, and hopes other people get that too.

Kelvin Benjamin just brushed off Cam Newton like a defensive back ... leaving Cam hanging on a high five and exchanging heated words with the QB -- and it's all on video.

Remember ... the Bills wideout blasted Cam in the media this week -- essentially blaming Newton for all of his struggles in Carolina the past few years.

“It was a bad fit from the get-go," Kelvin told The Athletic. "If you would’ve put me with any other quarterback, let’s be real, you know what I’m saying?"

Cam appeared to try to squash the beef in the leadup to Carolina's preseason game with the Bills ... but when Newton walked up to the wideout, things took a turn.

Newton tries to shake Kelvin's hand ... but Benjamin turns it down. When Panthers LB Thomas Davis intervenes -- Cam brushes him off so the two can have a heart-to-heart.

The altercation goes on for a while ... before it's clear the two can't see eye to eye and Cam bolts for the locker room.

Ray Rice is putting the NFL on notice ... 'cause dude just popped up shirtless in Jamaica -- and he looks like he could abs-olutely still give a team some carries this season!!

Remember ... Ray's been outta the league since he was suspended indefinitely in 2014 for striking his then-fiance (now wife) Janay Rice in a casino elevator.

But, the ex-Ravens superstar has said repeatedly he wants another chance to play ... and by the looks of things -- the 31-year-old's certainly still in shape to do it.

The NFL Network is responding to Heath Evans -- who claims he should NOT have lost his job for sending sexual pics to a wardrobe lady because she sent sexy pictures back.

But, the NFL Network ain't buyin' what Heath's sellin' -- essentially saying the fact it was mutual doesn't mean it wasn't "misconduct" in the first place.

"Heath’s employment was terminated as a result of his own misconduct – which he freely admitted to on Twitter today," network spokesperson Alex Riethmiller tells TMZ Sports.

"Before severing its relationship with Heath, the NFL carefully considered all of the circumstances, including the information that Heath provided. In the end, the NFL concluded that his conduct was not acceptable in our workplace and we stand by our decision to terminate his employment."

Heath Evans is adamant he did NOT sexually harass a wardrobe specialist at NFL Network -- claiming they exchanged MUTUAL sexual text messages ... but he was fired anyway.

Evans was named in a 2017 lawsuit filed by Jami Cantor who claims she was sexually terrorized by several ex-NFL stars working at the Network ... including Marshall Faulk, Warren Sapp, Donovan McNabb and others.

In her suit, Cantor claimed Evans sent her nude pics on at least 2 occasions -- but now, Evans says it was definitely a 2-way street.

"My accuser and I had exchanged mutual flirtations that included her sending me and me sending her pictures of a sexual nature," Evans wrote in a statement.

"I regret having engaged in the picture exchange. Nothing ever came of the mutual flirtations and we remained friends during and after her employment ended at the network."

Evans says he has text messages that prove his story.

But, despite his apparent evidence, Evans says the NFL Network pressured him to sign a non-disclosure agreement about the case ... which would bar him from telling his side of the story publicly.

Evans says he refused -- so the NFL Network fired him on July 27. Now, he's sounding off on social media.

Still, Evans says he has no hard feelings towards Cantor -- "While I certainly wish she hadn't falsely included me in the series of allegations she made, I understand better than most that people who have been mistreated and hurt, often hurt other people."

Jerry Jones is praising the hell out of his QB, Dak Prescott, for the way he's handling the drama surrounding the national anthem controversy ... telling TMZ Sports, "I'm so proud of him."

Jerry was leaving Mr Chow in Beverly Hills on Wednesday night when we asked if he expected Dak to get a lot of blowback for supporting Jerry's "My players will stand" position on the anthem.

"I'm so proud of him, just proud of him the way he leads the team ... for not letting it mess with their practices."

We also asked JJ how he felt about Ice Cube standing up for Dak's right to voice his opinion -- and Jerry showed love for Cube as well ... saying, "I'm a fan of Ice Cube!"

Ex-NFL star Greg Hardy -- who's been killing people in his short MMA career -- says he's 100% focused on fighting in the UFC and wouldn't even consider going back to the NFL ... with one exception.

"I'm not putting any brakes on the UFC movement, man. I'm going all in with it," Hardy told the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show.

But, Hardy added ... "I'm not crazy, man. I'm not gonna turn down anybody's $10, $15 million, but I can't see myself stepping off this path."

Hardy is still playing semi-pro football with the Richmond Roughriders -- but, with Dana White clearly pumped about the guy's potential as a UFC fighter, those days may be coming to an end very soon.

FYI, Hardy's 5 MMA fights have lasted a grand total of about 3 and a half minutes.