NFL

10:55 AM PT -- Eric Reid hasn't yet decided if he will continue kneeling during the national anthem ... telling reporters at his first-ever Panthers news conference today he's still considering it.

The newly signed safety -- sportin' an all-black "#IMWITHKAP" shirt ... says he needs to evaluate "the scope of our country" before he decides whether he'll continue to take a knee.

The 26-year-old says he's also considering other ways outside of pregame kneeling to continue his protests ... telling reporters, "I'll make that decision later."

Think Eric Reid is happy to be back in the NFL? Judging by this pic at Panthers practice Monday morning ... he's STOKED!!!

The 26-year-old rocked his new #25 jersey for the first time Monday -- it's a huge deal considering Reid sued the NFL claiming he was being blackballed for kneeling during the national anthem.

Reid was one of the top available defensive backs (he's a stud) -- but remained unsigned until last week when the Panthers finally pulled the trigger on the 2013 Pro Bowler.

After Reid signed his 1-year contract, he got love from a bunch of NFL stars who feel he should have been on a team months ago ... guys like Colin Kaepernick and Torrey Smith.

Reid flashed the black power fist while signing his deal -- leaving many wondering if he'll continue his kneeling protest now that he's back in the league.

The Panthers take on the Giants at home on Sunday ... so, stay tuned.

Big win means big dance party for the Chicago Bears -- who broke out the disco ball in the team locker room after beating the brakes off the Bucs ... and TURNED UP!!!

It's become a tradition for the Bears -- with head coach Matt Nagy believing his players should be able to celebrate the hell out of every victory.

So, after Mitch Trubisky and company dominated Tampa Bay in a 48-10 ass whooping at Soldier Field ... the ball came out and the music got loud!

The song -- "My Dawg" by Lil Baby.

"Great team victory. Unbelievable team victory," Nagy told the team after the game.

"That's a full team win right now and we protected Soldier Field."

Earl Thomas just flipped off the Seattle Seahawks -- his OWN team -- after suffering serious injury ... and with no new contract to show for it.

The All-Pro safety jacked up his leg Sunday during a defensive play against the Arizona Cardinals, and ended up getting carted off the field with a cast on his left leg. During his ride, he looked over at the Seattle sideline and flipped the whole staff the bird.

The Seahawks' head coach Pete Carroll said Earl had fractured his lower leg. The injury might be season-ending -- much like Tyler Eifert's own ankle injury Sunday almost certainly will be -- and Thomas made no bones about how he really felt about his raw deal with his squad. As we reported ... he was holding out earlier this year for a better contract that would pay him more money, and he even wrote a 1,500-word letter in explaining himself.

Clearly, Thomas ended up joining his teammates on the football field after initially refusing to report to training camp last month ... unlike Le'Veon Bell, who's still battling with the Steelers for his money. Lots of people have thoughts on that sitch ... including Snoop and Pittsburgh's own mayor.

Those who are quick to get queasy should look away-- Bengals star Tyler Eifert's ankle went in a direction it definitely shouldn't have during a game against the Falcons ... and his season is likely over.

Cincinnati's starting tight end suffered a gruesome injury Sunday against Atlanta, where he was attempting to run the ball downfield ... but got pummeled by linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, who awkwardly fell on Tyler's right ankle, and snapped it sideways.

Tyler was eventually carted off the field, and he appeared to be in sheer agony as they drove him away. It's almost certainly a season-ending break, which sucks for the dude since he's had a series of injuries over the last few years that have kept him from playing.

He missed the entire 2014 season to an elbow injury, hurt his other ankle in 2015 and had both his 2016 and 2017 seasons delayed due to back issues. Tyler's 2017 season ended after just two games due to another injury as well. He's never played a full 16-game season.

Is Tom Brady the greatest NFL player of all time? Tim Tebow thinks so ... but this clip just set off a firestorm in the TMZ office.

Jim Brown. Joe Montana. Jerry Rice. Lawrence Taylor.

You could make a case for all of 'em -- but some people feel TB12's resume is the most impressive.

5 Super Bowl rings. 8 AFC championships. 3 NFL MVPs. 4 Super Bowl MVP. 13 Pro Bowls.

Jim Brown posted 12,312 yards in just 9 seasons -- and remember, the NFL season was significantly shorter back when he played. He was a 3-time MVP and made the Pro Bowl every year he played. He was an 8-time All-Pro.

Lawrence Taylor was a monster who changed the game forever. He was also the last defensive player to win the NFL MVP award (1986).

Jerry Rice is easily the greatest WR of all time. He still holds the record for all-time receiving yards and TDs ... and he leads the TD category by a mile.

This is really, really, REALLY gross.

A Miami Dolphins fan left Hard Rock Stadium last weekend without part of his toe -- when it was SMASHED TO BEJESUS in a freak accident during the game.

Jean Michaud was hanging out at a bar area inside the stadium while the Fins were taking on the Oakland Raiders when a heavy piece of marble slab fell off the bar and smashed his foot.

Michaud says he took off his shoe and noticed his big toe looked like a smashed grape ... and immediately called for help.

Paramedics raced to the scene and began to treat Michaud on the spot. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he underwent surgery. The big toe was partially amputated. He was discharged the next day.

It's unclear how the slab fell off the bar and onto Michaud's foot -- but he claims he wasn't leaning on it or messing with it in any way. He's since hired a lawyer and is weighing his legal options.

We reached out to the stadium and the Dolphins for comment, but haven't heard back from either party.

L.A. Rams wide receiver Robert Woods might be close to getting his stuff back ... cops have made an arrest in his burglary case.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Woods' San Fernando Valley pad was broken into Thursday while he was gone -- because he was busy destroying the Minnesota Vikings defense on "Thursday Night Football."

Law enforcement sources tell us ... cops investigating the burglary pulled over a suspect they believed was connected to it Friday, and found items belonging to the Rams WR in his car.

We're told the alleged burglar had other stolen items in his vehicle as well ... so he's being investigated for multiple burglaries in the area.

As we first reported ... cops believe Woods' burglary -- as well as the burglaries at Dodgers slugger Yasiel Puig's house -- are far from random. Police think they're being targeted by crooks because they're pro athletes ... so it's easy to know when they won't be home because they're at their games.

Hopefully, Puig will get some of Woods' good fortune soon ... especially since he's been burglarized FOUR times.

Terrell Owens wants to see Dez Bryant back in the NFL -- but warns the WR, if he doesn't get on a roster in 2018 ... his career is over.

Look, Owens knows how tough it is to get an NFL contract -- he's been trying to get back in the league for years and says it's not always about how well you can play ... it's about perception.

Owens tells TMZ Sports he strongly believes Dez's priority should be getting on a team now, proving himself -- and then worrying about contract stuff after he's proved all the doubters wrong.

And, get this ... Terrell also likes the idea of a Dez Bryant/Dallas Cowboys reunion -- telling us there's an upside for both parties ... if the relationship hasn't been fractured beyond repair.

We think there's hope ... thanks to Beyonce and Jay-Z.

There was nothing random about the burglaries at the homes of Yasiel Puig and Robert Woods -- cops believe they were most likely targeted because they're pro athletes who were PLAYING when the crooks struck.

TMZ Sports broke the stories ... Puig was at Dodger Stadium and Woods helping the L.A. Rams crush the Vikings when intruders broke into their homes, both located in the San Fernando Valley.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... they don't believe the burglaries are connected -- but cops do think the bad guys in both cases were using social media and team schedules to plot their crimes.

Cops are also investigating to see if the crimes were inside jobs -- orchestrated by people connected to the athletes.

We're told cops are meeting with both Puig and Woods to help strengthen their home security -- including more surveillance cameras, alarms, lights and guards to stand watch while they're working.

Seems obvious ... but a lot of people feel "it could never happen to me" -- until it does.

Peyton Manning's single-season passing TD record is TOAST ... 'cause Patrick Mahomes is driving his Chiefs bus straight through it -- so says K.C. legend Tony Gonzalez.

Mahomes has lit up the league so far ... chucking 13 TDs in 3 games -- and Gonzalez tells TMZ Sports he thinks Pat will catch Manning's all-time mark of 55 in a single season.

"Right now, I'm looking at it, yeah," Tony tells us. "He's on his way!"

In fact ... the legendary tight end's been so impressed with Mahomes -- he's got him as MVP of the league for now ... with two other hot QBs right in the hunt.

By the way ... Tony also shared his thoughts on another Tony -- saying there's no way in hell Romo should make a comeback to the league.

Troubled NFL QB Trevone Boykin has been charged with felony aggravated assault for allegedly punching his GF and cracking her jaw back in March ... and now he's facing 20 YEARS in prison.

TMZ Sports has learned ... Boykin was indicted for 2nd degree felony aggravated assault-serious bodily injury by a grand jury in Tarrant County, TX on Friday.

At the time of the incident, Boykin's longtime GF, Shabrika Bailey, claims he choked her and broke her jaw during a physical fight before finally taking her to the hospital for treatment.

As for Boykin, he's vehemently denied any physical altercation took place.

Boykin was a stud at TCU but had issues off the field -- including a fist fight with cops days before the Alamo Bowl.

He was undrafted -- but later signed a contract with the Seattle Seahawks and seemed to be doing well until the domestic violence arrest.

You've seen Tom Brady's dad bod ... but have you seen his dad dance moves?!?!

Well -- here they are ... straight from the stretch line at New England Patriots practice Friday.

There's some wrist rolls, a little body wiggle, some ass droppin' ... and then it's all capped with a pose-off with backup QB Brian Hoyer.

The song?? Migos' "Handsome and Wealthy" ... the perfect TB12 tune.

Not too sure what the occasion for the turn up is ... Tom's squad is off to a 1-2 start and has a HUGE game with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

The war at the Coliseum wasn't just on the field Thursday night -- a bunch of fans got into a brawl in the stands ... with one guy getting tossed over several rows of bleachers!!

The standoff began just before the end of the 1st half ... a Rams fan got into it with several Vikings fans.

You can see the Rams fan smack a female Vikings fan in the face ... and then it gets crazy.

Punches are thrown, a beer gets tossed, a woman gets her hair pulled (hard!) and then the Rams fan grabs a dude ... and FLINGS HIM OVER 4 ROWS OF BLEACHERS!

The video is nuts -- and the guy who was tossed is lucky he wasn't seriously injured. In fact, he got up and continued to scream at the dude who chucked him.

We're told security responded and removed several of the combatants from the stadium. Unclear if any arrests were made.

JOE BUCK SAYS THE RAMS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!

Nah, just kidding ... but he really likes 'em.

The "NFL on FOX" play-by-play guy called the Rams game on Thursday night at the Coliseum in L.A. -- and was clearly impressed when he hit up Craig's for dinner after the game.

When we asked if Rams fans should have Super Bowl expectations after their 4th straight win, Buck answered, "They should."

DAMN RIGHT THEY SHOULD!!!

"I think they're good," Buck added ... "They're REALLY good."

Buck also showed love to Jared Goff -- who gunned his way through the Vikings like he was a blonde Deadpool mixed with John Wick multiplied by Schwarzenegger in "Commando" (throwback).

Oh, and did you hear what Todd Gurley said about the Rams after the game?

"Nah, we can't be beat right now. No ifs, ands or buts about it."

L.A. Rams wide receiver Robert Woods had a GREAT night on Thursday -- until he got home ... and saw his home had been broken into while he was playing the Vikings, TMZ Sports has learned.

Woods caught 5 passes for 101 yards and a TD in the Rams victory over Minnesota at the Coliseum in L.A. Clearly, somebody knew he would be out of the house (the game was nationally televised) and burglarized Robert's San Fernando Valley pad.

We're told when Woods returned to his home after the game, he called police -- but since no alarm was set, it's unclear exactly when the burglary took place. It appears the intruder entered through a back window. Sources say cops and Woods are trying to put together a list of what was taken.

The situation appears to be similar to Yasiel Puig -- who also lives in the Valley. His home was hit while he was playing a game at Dodger Stadium earlier this month.

Woods is from Los Angeles -- he went to high school in Gardena and played college ball at USC.

Story developing ...

Everson Griffen says he's "focused on resolving personal issues" after being hospitalized for a mental health evaluation this week ... but has vowed to return to the field.

As we previously reported ... the Minnesota Vikings star was involved in a series of bizarre incidents -- including at the team hotel on Saturday -- which ended in the All-Pro being transported to a hospital for a mental health exam.

At the time, team staffers feared he could hurt himself or others.

Griffen broke his silence Thursday on social media ... apologizing for the incident and promising to address his issues.

This past week's events have raised many questions and I want to apologize to everyone who was impacted," Griffen says. "I am currently focused on resolving personal issues with which I have been dealing for a long time."

"Once I have had time to address those issues, I hope to share my story with everyone."

"I am extremely grateful for the support I have received from my family, the Vikings organization, my teammates and our tremendous fan base."

Griffen also apologized for missing the team's Thursday Night Football match-up with the Rams ... but Vikes head coach Mike Zimmer made it clear he wants to make sure Griffen is okay getting back on the field.