NFL

Reggie Bush says Drew Brees will call it a career after this season only if the Saints do one thing ... WIN THE SUPER BOWL!!

There's been a lot of talk about Brees' potential retirement lately -- the dude does turn 40 in January -- so, we went to one of his ex-New Orleans teammates to get a read on the situation.

Bush was blunt ... telling TMZ Sports there's no way the QB calls it quits after this season -- UNLESS the Saints get a ring.

The demonstrations in the NFL continued in Foxboro on Thursday night -- where three Philadelphia Eagles players stayed inside the tunnel during the national anthem.

Malcolm Jenkins, Michael Bennett and De'Vante Bausby stood quietly in the field entrance tunnel while "The Star-Spangled Banner" played out before the Eagles took on the New England Patriots.

All three came out onto the field when the song ended.

Jenkins and Bennett have been leaders in the demonstration movement -- Jenkins has raised his fist during the anthem while Bennett has sat down.

Both players have said they are demonstrating to help put a spotlight on racial injustice and police violence in minority communities.

It's been 192 days since Super Bowl LII ... but in case anybody in New England forgot what happened that game -- Eagles fans have them covered WITH A BIG-ASS FLYING BANNER!!

The Pats and Eagles play in a little S.B. rematch Thursday night ... and Philly fans were kind enough to remind New England how their last go-around went -- with an airplane over Gillette Stadium.

The sign -- in big, bold, red letters -- reads, "41-33 Philly Philly SB LII."

Of course ... the Eagles whooped the Pats, 41-33, to win their first-ever Super Bowl back in February.

A lot less is on the line in preseason Week 2 ... but we're pretty sure Tom Brady's still pissed.

Josh Gordon's off-season is WAY more complicated than we thought -- the Browns WR is in the middle of a nasty child support war ... and if he doesn't make things right, he could go to jail.

Christina Lockhart has been fighting like hell to get the troubled NFL star to fork over child support for their 3-year-old daughter for years ... but it's been a fight every step of the way. She clearly feels Gordon's screwing her over.

Lockhart recently got a court order forcing Gordon to pay $6,765 per month starting August 1 ... but her lawyer told WKYC she has NOT received the payment.

The child support figure is tied to Gordon's 2018 salary with the Browns -- $800,000 -- but there's a catch.

Gordon's attorney claims in court docs the WR won't get his first paycheck until September 9 -- Week 1 of the NFL season.

But, in court docs obtained by TMZ Sports, the judge clearly outlines the penalty for missing payments -- up to 30 days in jail for the first violation, 60 days for the second violation and 90 days for the third.

Dez Bryant just touched down in Cleveland ... and the dude's already signing Browns gear!!

The free agent wide receiver was spotted scribbling his signature on a Browns helmet at Cleveland Hopkins Airport on Thursday ... right before he's scheduled to meet with the team.

FYI -- Cleveland's had a lot of trouble getting a hold of Dez ... with Browns GM John Dorsey saying Bryant wasn't returning any of his phone calls last week.

But, Dez quickly responded with a tweet saying he would be making a visit to The Land this week ... adding he "wouldn't mind playing for the Browns."

J.J. Watt revealed his big-ass broken leg scar while unveiling his new kicks Thursday ... and the remnants from his season-ending surgery last year are NASTY.

Remember ... the Texans star fractured his tibial plateau back in an Oct. 8 game against the Chiefs -- and he's been working like a mad man to get back to the field.

While showing off his new "Reebok JJ II's," Watt also put the scar -- which looks like it's about half a foot long!! -- on display ... and described his grueling comeback process.

"You have to work and grind to rebuild," Watt says.

"It's dirty. It's hard. It's not easy. It's not fun. But, there's beauty in the struggle. It's time for a fresh start."

Judging by J.J.'s most recent trip to the gym ... we're pretty sure that "fresh start" is gonna come with a whole lot of ass-kicking.

Well, this is interesting ...

Serena Williams -- who owns a minority stake in the Miami Dolphins -- says she's convinced, if a team hired Colin Kaepernick, he would win the Super Bowl.

However, she's also convinced no one will ever hire Colin Kaepernick.

It's all part of her new interview with Time -- where Serena says she supports the rights of NFL players to protest during the national anthem.

When asked specifically about Colin -- whom she's only met twice -- Williams said she doubts an NFL team will hire him, especially after he filed his collusion grievance against the league.

But, as the Time article states, "She’s convinced Kaepernick would win a Super Bowl."

"He’d have so much to prove," Williams said ... "I would. I can’t imagine he would be any different. 'Man, I’m about to show out. Y’all gonna see stuff you’ve never seen before.'"

Interesting, since some think the Dolphins could use a QB right now ...

Williams also says she doesn't believe Kaepernick is a broken man because of the alleged blackballing -- she thinks it's the opposite because he's focusing on raising money for nonprofits.

"Colin is happy with what he’s doing ... Some people are different. He’s just different."

Denver Broncos DE Adam Gotsis has just learned prosecutors will NOT push forward with rape charges stemming from allegations he sexually assaulted a woman in 2013.

Gostis was arrested on March 7 in Fulton County, Georgia after a woman told authorities the football star vaginally raped her while they were both college students at Georgia Tech.

The Fulton County District Attorney's Office launched a full investigation -- but ultimately decided there was not enough evidence to prove Gotsis committed the crime.

"After a careful and thorough investigation, The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office has decided not to proceed with the case against Mr. Adam Gotsis," D.A. Paul Howard Jr. said in a statement.

"My office understands the sensitivity and significance of these investigations, but the evidence presented does not warrant any further action in this case."

LaDainian Tomlinson tells TMZ Sports he has no problems with Dak Prescott's national anthem opinions -- ONLY IF they're actually his.

Remember ... the Cowboys star backed Jerry Jones just days after the team owner insinuated he'd cut players for kneeling during the anthem.

When we got L.T. out at LAX ... he told us the criticism Dak received for that stance was BS ... but only if that's what the star QB truly believed.

"Dak has to be his own man," the NFL legend says. "Hopefully he's not influenced by ownership or anybody else. He has to be his own man."

Bottom line ... L.T. says players are gonna get flak for their opinions on protests regardless -- so Dak shouldn't even have to think about being a pawn for Jerry.

Ex-NFL lineman Willie Colon has a strategy for dealing with President Trump's personal attacks on his enemies -- "When they go low, we go high."

The former Steelers and Jets player was out in NYC (wearing a sweet NY Knicks shirt) when we asked for his thoughts on a possible tape of Trump saying the n-word.

"Nobody should use the n-word," Colon said ... "Let alone Trump!"

DeAndre Hopkins had to dodge punches like they were Iggy Azalea dating rumors Wednesday ... 'cause 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward tried to mess up his face during practice!!

It all went down in Houston -- where the Niners are in town for a joint workout with the Texans -- when Hopkins didn't like that Ward ripped off his helmet during a 1-on-1 rep.

The superstar wide receiver shoved the DB ... took a swing -- and then had to FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE as the whole 49ers squad swarmed.

D-Hop was eventually taken to the ground and a pig pile formed ... but when it all unfolded, everyone was alive and practice carried on.

BEAST!!!

Here's Matt Stafford's very pregnant wife, Kelly Stafford, gymin' for 2 in Detroit this week -- rippin' off set after set while 38 weeks preggo!!!

Kelly (who's pregnant with baby #3) hit up Elite Training USA and crushed everything from the battle ropes to the weight sled and even some modified deadlifts!!!

Kelly is calling the routine, "Operation GET BABY OUT."

Meanwhile, Matt's working pretty hard too -- gearing up for the NFL season with the Detroit Lions.

Kelly is technically due in 2 weeks -- but she's at full term now and clearly she's ready to celebrate a birthday.

The 2017 Oakland Raiders coach has some advice for the 2018 Oakland Raiders -- PAY KHALIL MACK ALREADY!!!

Jack Del Rio -- who was fired after the '17 season and replaced by Jon Gruden -- decided to weigh in on the Khalil Mack holdout ... the biggest roster news in Raiders camp right now.

"Gotta pay the man!" Del Rio said ... "[Mack] is the total package. Great player and an even better person!"

Del Rio coached Mack for 3 seasons ('15, '16, '17) and clearly thinks the 2017 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is worth splurging for.

Former "Last Chance U" star Isaiah Wright tells TMZ Sports he's not wasting any time now that he's out of jail -- and still plans to take his football talents to the NFL.

20-year-old Wright was a superstar running back at East Mississippi Community College -- and was one of the breakout stars in the Netflix docuseries about the school's football team.

But, his career came to a screeching halt in Sept. 2017 when he was arrested on one 1 count of criminal homicide in the stabbing death of an 18-year-old man.

Wright was adamant he did NOT kill the man -- and after nearly a year behind bars, he was finally released after pleading guilty to the lesser charge of facilitation of aggravated robbery.

So, what's next for Wright? School and football.

Wright admits it was a challenge staying in shape during his jail stint but says he's focused on training. Isaiah also says he has 2 years of college eligibility left and hopes to land with a D1 program soon.

Wright says he's spoken with his former EMCC adviser Brittany Wagner (who was also featured on "Last Chance U") and says he has offered up her support.

And, the end goal for Wright?

Andre Rison NEVER encourages fighting on the football field ... but with the way Terrelle Pryor got absolutely punked by D.J. Swearinger on Tuesday -- the NFL legend says he's making an exception.

The ex-Falcons receiver tells us Pryor -- who lost a rep (and then his manhood) in a Skins-Jets joint practice -- shoulda found a way to exact revenge before the day was over.

"At some point in time, you've got to pick a play where you go back at that guy," Rison says. "Fisticuffs may occur."

Rison is speaking from experience ... telling TMZ Sports about the time his Falcons got into a full-out BRAWL with the Eagles during a joint practice that left him with a scar that's STILL ON HIS EYE.

A judge has ordered LeSean McCoy to allow his ex-girlfriend, Delicia Cordon, back into his Georgia home, so she can collect her belongings ... as long as she has a sheriff to accompany her.

Cordon had moved out of the home after she was pistol whipped in a violent robbery on July 10 -- and McCoy has since changed the locks, according to court docs.

Cordon argued that she still had valuable pieces of property in the home -- including jewelry and photos -- but McCoy refused to let her retrieve the items.

But, moments ago, a state court judge in Fulton County signed off on a plan for Cordon to go to the house on August 20 at 2 PM with a deputy sheriff who will supervise while she collects her stuff.

The war between the two sides is far from over -- Cordon is suing McCoy in connection with the robbery and assault ... insinuating he orchestrated the incident.