NFL

How's Arizona Cardinals quarterback Sam Bradford handling being demoted in place of rookie QB Josh Rosen?

Really well ... at least, according to Josh.

Bradford got the hook Sunday after falling behind to the Bears ... in another lackluster start for the former #1 overall pick.

Rosen was thrown into the game with just minutes remaining -- and while he couldn't pull off a Baker Mayfield and lead his squad to a come-from-behind victory, he's officially been named the starter moving forward.

But there's no bitterness or hostility -- so says Rosen -- who thanked 30-year-old Bradford for being supportive at practice on Monday.

"Since day 1, Sam has had my back and helped me become the best quarterback I could be. I cannot thank him enough for showing me how to be a professional in every sense of the word."

"He is a leader, mentor, and great person. He and Mike Glennon couldn’t have been more supportive at a time that I thought might be a bit tense or awkward today."

"I couldn’t be more thrilled to be in a QB room with two of the most selfless people I’ve ever been around as I start my career as a quarterback in the NFL. For that I say thank you."

"With that being said, let’s get the valley rockin’ AZ!!!!"

Next up ... Seattle.

DeMarcus Ware jumped over a grown ass human on "Dancing with the Stars" -- and it was awesome!!!!

The ex-Denver Broncos superstar -- who won a Super Bowl with the team back in 2016 -- hit the ballroom Monday night in a sweet bedazzled #94 blazer and crushed it with his partner, Lindsay Arnold.

But, let's get back to the jump ... Ware is a 6'4", 260-pound man. He's also 36 years old and retired 2 years ago.

So, RESPECT THE HOPS!!!

The big question ... how did Ware and Arnold do??

The judges liked the cha cha routine to Flo Rida's "Sweet Sensation" -- and scored the pair a solid "23" ... tying with heavy favorite Tinashe and Brandon Armstrong with the best score of the night.

The competition is stiff this season -- Ware's up against stars like Olympic legend Mary Lou Retton, model Alexis Ren and former 'Harry Potter' actress Evanna Lynch (she played Luna Lovegood).

FYI -- Ware's teammate Von Miller was also on the show in 2016 (he was eliminated in week 7).

There's only one explanation to D-Ware's dance moves -- he had to have learned from Tony Romo.

Joe Theismann says the NFL should straight-up just take the pads off QBs now ... 'cause the league's new roughing-the-passer penalty "has reached the point of absurdity."

The ex-Redskins quarterback watched guys like Clay Matthews get flagged for simply tackling QBs all day Sunday ... and he was LIVID.

So much so -- Joe tells TMZ Sports the next step for the NFL will be to just eliminate QB hits from the game altogether.

"This is my question to the NFL, 'What is the defensive player supposed to do?' Would somebody please explain it to him?" Theismann says.

Remember ... Theismann's career was ended by a violent hit to the QB -- and even he can't believe some of the flags he's seen through three weeks so far.

"You wanted an offensive game, I understand that," he tells us.

"But now you've reached the point of absurdity."

Still ... even with all the flags protecting QBs -- Joe had a hard time watching passers not slide ... telling us that's why Jimmy Garoppolo's season is over after just 3 games.

By the way ... Joe says Jimmy should be ready to go for the 2019 season -- if he follows some of the tips Joe learned during his lengthy rehab process.

Sorry, Khalil Mack ... Mike Ditka thinks you got a great shot at an NFC North title -- but he's telling TMZ Sports it's time to slow the roll on the '85 comparisons.

ICYMI ... Chicago beat up Arizona on Sunday and is one Aaron Rodgers-led miracle away from being 3-0 -- leading some to call this Chicago's best squad since 1985.

But Ditka -- who coached that historic Super Bowl team 33 years ago -- says let's all calm down with that talk.

"I don't know if the talent level on this defense is near what it was on our defense," Iron Mike tells us.

Don't get it twisted ... Ditka's still in love with this team -- saying they do at least hustle and pursue like Mike Singletary and William Perry used to.

Andre Reed LOVES Josh Allen -- telling TMZ Sports he's fired up over the Buffalo Bills QB's victory over the Vikings ... and thinks this could be the start of something special.

It's high praise for the rookie -- since Reed isn't just a legend in Buffalo, he's an NFL Hall of Famer, one of the best to ever do it.

Reed told us he was super impressed with Allen's play during the 27-6 win over Minnesota ... especially since the Bills were 17-point underdogs going into the game.

So, how can Allen keep the momentum going next week against Green Bay and prove the massive upset wasn't just a fluke?

In a shocking move to absolutely zero people, Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson has finally given the keys to his offense to Baker Mayfield ... officially.

"I informed the group this morning that we're going to start Baker Mayfield and Tyrod will be the backup if healthy," Hue told reporters at his morning press conference.

"He's earned it, by the way he's played," Jackson noted.

"Now the other added pressure of being out there first is there. But I think he can handle it. He's demonstrated that."

Tyrod Taylor will be the backup ... once he's medically cleared to return to action after the apparent concussion he suffered on Thursday night.

Mayfield absolutely tore up the NY Jets during his NFL debut -- filling in for Taylor with 2 minutes left in the 2nd half. He led the Browns to a come-from-behind victory with more than 200 passing yards ... and even caught a 2-point conversion.

Next up ... Oakland.

She's one of the top-selling recording artists of ALL TIME -- so, why hasn't Mariah Carey performed a Super Bowl halftime show?

It's not that she's opposed to the idea ...

In fact, when we saw Mariah leaving Craig's in L.A. on Sunday night, she told us -- "I would love to!"

Mariah has performed AT the Super Bowl before -- just not during the halftime show. She did the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in 2002 -- a performance Rolling Stone ranked as one of the most memorable of all time.

Back in 2016, Carey told Andy Cohen on 'Watch What Happens Live' that she would do the halftime show when she has a new song coming out.

Well, she just dropped a new promotional single -- with plans to release her 15th album in the very near future.

So ... Mariah in 2020??

Hip-hop fans pissed at the NFL for the Maroon 5 halftime show decision might have their Hail Mary answered by none other than Cardi B -- but the NFL might have to blink ... TMZ has learned.

Our sources say Cardi is in negotiations to perform her song with Maroon 5, "Girls Like You" -- and the main issue being discussed is whether or not CB gets a solo set. We're told she's getting a lot of offers to perform in early February ... so she's trying to make the best deal possible.

Super Bowl LIII is being held in Atlanta, and some fans were hoping the NFL would give props to the ATL's hot music scene. Needless to say, Maroon 5 isn't checking that box for those fans.

Waka Flocka Flame told TMZ Sports the performers should be black and have connections to ATL.

That's why Cardi would make a lot of sense for the NFL.

The NFL. MLB. The NBA ... Quidditch?

Hey, it's possible for the "Harry Potter" inspired sport to join those massive leagues -- but only if black people start playing ... at least according to Martellus Bennett.

FYI, Quidditch is a fast-paced field game that's been described as part rugby, part dodgeball ... and involves putting a ball through 3 different rings while running with a broom between your legs.

We know what you're thinking ... but Marty B gave the sport a try recently (destroying his opponents) and told TMZ Sports it's actually super fun!

In fact, Bennett says the game has real mass appeal -- "If they took it to the urban community it would be [a national sport]."

He also notes the upside is huge because "there's more Harry Potter fans than there are NFL fans."

He may have a point, the NFL is primarily an American thing. Harry Potter is a global sensation.

There's more ...

Since Bennett won a Super Bowl with the Patriots, we asked if he thought New England could be a good landing spot for Colin Kaepernick ... since Colin's attorney recently suggested the Pats had an interest.

Here's something you don't hear rappers say a lot lately ... CUT THE NFL A BREAK!!!

RZA -- the leader of the Wu-Tang Clan -- says he doesn't think the NFL deserves all the crap it's been getting for booking Maroon 5 for the Super Bowl halftime show.

And, the reason? He really digs Adam Levine!!

Remember, the game will be played in Atlanta -- home of stars like Outkast, T.I. and Migos. The guys from Maroon 5 are from L.A., and some people are pissed about that.

But, not RZA -- who says Adam is everything that's RIGHT about music ... he's talented, progressive and embraces hip-hop. He even points out Adam has a song with Future.

In fact, RZA says he wouldn't be surprised if Adam brought out a special guest like Drake!

Wanna see Wu-Tang perform at the Super Bowl?

Well, that's not gonna happen -- but RZA says the guys would definitely be down to perform a halftime show for the NY Jets or the NY Giants -- all they have to do is ask!!

Wu-Tang's for the children!!!!!!

Wondering how Jimmy Garoppolo's famous date night with Kiara Mia ended up??

Good news ... Kiara tells TMZ Sports she's down to take all the imagination out of it for you -- and make a legit porn parody of their epic L.A. night!!

"I might possibly be open to that!" the famous porn star tells us. "That sounds fun!"

Remember ... Jimmy and Kiara hit up Avra restaurant in Beverly Hills for a romantic evening earlier this summer -- but nobody spilled the beans about what went down afterward.

When we got Kiara at LAX and asked if an X-rated remake of the night was a possibility ... she seemed into it -- and even had some ideas for the male lead!!

BTW ... Kiara said her date with Garoppolo has opened the door for other athletes to dip into the porn star dating world ... and some have maaaaybe even popped into HER DMs!!

Baker Mayfield's gonna have to wait until NEXT WEEK before he officially becomes the starting QB for the Browns -- which begs the question, WHAT'S THE HOLDUP?!

Cleveland's head coach, Hue Jackson, says he needs the weekend to process everything and won't touch the depth chart until AT LEAST Monday

"I've given the players the weekend off obviously, so I'm going to take my time because I have some time," Jackson told reporters Friday.

"And, I'm going to get an opportunity to meet with them here Monday morning and kind of go from there."

Some say Hue's just being respectful to Tyrod Taylor -- who was the 1st-string guy until he was knocked out of Thursday's game with a possible concussion.

Baker came in with 2 minutes left in the 1st half and LIT IT UP -- going 17-23 for 201 yards in a wild 21-17 come from behind thriller.

"I wanted to really watch tape and talk to the staff and talk to John [Dorsey] and then make a decision from there," Jackson says.

The drunk driver who killed Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson in February just got sentenced to 16 years in prison.

As we previously reported, 26-year-old Jackson and his Uber driver were hit by a pickup truck while they were standing on the shoulder of a highway in Indiana.

37-year-old Manuel Orrego-Zavala pled guilty to 2 counts of "DUI that causes the death of another" in July.

Today, he faced a judge in Indiana ... and was hit with the maximum penalty -- 16 years in state prison.

After his prison sentence, Orrego-Zavala -- who's a Guatemalan citizen in America illegally -- faces deportation.

The case became a national story when President Trump tweeted that it was "disgraceful" that Jackson was killed by a man who was in the U.S. illegally.

1:05 PM PT -- Milton PD responded to the Cordon news conference ... issuing a release addressing some of the claims made by the victim, Ms. Cordon.

In the statement, Milton PD notes that LeSean "has not been cooperative in the investigation" ... despite the fact multiple requests were made to his attorney.

LeSean McCoy's ex-girlfriend has DOUBLED the reward for information leading to the arrest of her attacker to $40,000 ... and once again, pointed the finger at the NFL running back.

Delicia Cordon held a press conference detailing the violent July 9 incident when a masked man broke into her home, pistol whipped her multiple times ... and stole expensive pieces of jewelry.

Cordon says she believes McCoy orchestrated the attack -- pointing to the fact her assailant was looking for specific items LeSean had gifted her in the past.

No arrests have been made and McCoy has denied having any involvement -- but Cordon doesn't believe him.

"I live my life in fear. Everyday not knowing if I’m walking past the man who savagely attacked me," she said.

"LeSean said he’s gonna deal with all this after his season -- I don’t have that option. I have to deal with this every day."

Cordon says McCoy is not cooperating with the investigation and refuses to hand over security footage from the night of the attack.

Josh Gordon seems to be making a good impression on his new boss -- with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick saying the WR is a "smart kid" who's been busting his ass.

Gordon was traded to the Pats on Monday after a rocky 6-year stint with the Cleveland Browns that included multiple suspensions stemming from substance abuse. The last straw for CLE was when Gordon said he injured himself last week during a promo shoot.

So, how's it going for Josh in New England? Not bad, according to Belichick.

"Josh is a smart kid. He's worked hard. He's picked up a lot," Bill said during Friday's press conference.

Bill noted Josh hasn't been in town for very long -- but noted that he's "done about as much as [he] can in the few days [he's] been here."

This is AWESOME!!!

Baker Mayfield's high school football coach, Hank Carter, tells TMZ Sports he couldn't be more proud of his former QB ... and tells Cleveland to strap in, it's gonna be one helluva ride!!!

Baker played for Hank at Lake Travis High School in Texas -- where the QB led the Cavaliers to the 4A state title in 2011. Dude racked up 6,255 yards and 67 TDs during his HS career.

So, we had to ask Coach Carter how he felt about Baker's insane NFL debut -- and guess what, HE WAS FIRED UP!!!

"It's fantastic! I'm so proud of that guy!"

Coach Carter says Baker's been loaded with potential for years -- and he's "not surprised" the guy is having success at the top level.

In fact, Carter says there's one thing Browns fans need to keep in mind -- this is just the beginning!

"No one will outwork that dude. That's the thing [the fans] gotta understand. He will not be satisfied with the success they had last night."

Congrats!