Joe Mixon Cops Found Juveniles 'Doing Dart Wars' In Neighborhood ... Police Audio Reveals
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3:54 PM PT -- Police officers encountered several juveniles who were "doing dart wars" when they initially arrived at Joe Mixon's neighborhood on Monday night ... new police audio, obtained by TMZ Sports, reveals.
In the clip -- which picked up parts of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office's response to the reports of gunfire in Mixon's neighborhood -- you can hear what appears to be an officer saying, "It's juveniles. They're doing dart wars. Slow everyone down."
Cops, according to the audio, were first called out to the Cincinnati-area location after someone on the scene had alleged "several males and females" were "running at this location."
"They couldn't get a description," a law enforcement officer can be heard saying in the clip. "One of them pulled out a gun, ran toward the back of a building. Several shots were heard. A male with a gun was seen running, getting into a Jeep. He's currently still on scene. Two other vehicles are involved."
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said Monday morning an investigation into the matter is still ongoing. Further details surrounding the situation have yet to be released.
7:49 AM PT -- The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said in a statement to TMZ Sports on Tuesday that Joe Mixon's home is "part of the crime scene."
Further details related to the football player's potential connection to the case were not released, however.
Multiple cops reportedly entered Joe Mixon's Cincinnati-area home on Monday night ... hours after they launched an investigation into an alleged shooting in the NFL star's neighborhood.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said its officers headed out to the 7900 block of Ayers Road -- where Mixon lives in Ohio -- at around 8:25 PM after receiving a call of gunshots being fired.
A juvenile, according to cops, had been injured and transported to the hospital.
On-the-scene reporter Chancelor Winn said deputies cordoned off Mixon's home with caution tape after arriving -- and, at one point, knocked on his door while saying, "Sheriff’s Department. Come out."
Here’s a better video of three more people heading inside. @FOX19 pic.twitter.com/5UUcXkGR89
— Chancelor Winn (@ChancelorWinn) March 7, 2023 @ChancelorWinn
Eventually, per Winn, they gained entry into the Bengals running back's home at around 1:30 AM. They left roughly two hours later. No arrests were made.
It's unclear if Mixon had any involvement in the investigation -- but WLWT News 5 reports his sister said the 26-year-old "was not involved in the shooting Monday night that injured a teenager."
Happening now: Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a shooting in the 7900 block of Ayers Road in Anderson Township. Happened around 8:30pm. Deputies say a juvenile was taken to the hospital with “minor injuries.” pic.twitter.com/LclEeRRliF
— Jatara McGee WLWT (@jatara_) March 7, 2023 @jatara_
Mixon has yet to publicly comment on the matter.
Story developing ...
Originally Published -- 06:17 AM PT
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Patrick Mahomes Daughter's A Soccer Star!!! ... Proud Parents
Gotta start 'em young ... and Patrick and Brittany Mahomes are doing just that -- 'cause their 2-year-old daughter, Sterling, is already showing off her athleticism in an adorable video!!!
The Kansas City Chiefs superstar and his wife posted footage of their oldest child's soccer session on Tuesday ... showing off her goal-scoring abilities.
Mom and Dad are happy as can be as Sterling kicks the ball around ... and she even gets creative at one point -- picking up the ball and scooping it into the net.
Sterling was certainly blessed in the genes dept. -- her family is full of athletes.
Of course, Brittany knows her way around the pitch -- she was a star at University of Texas at Tyler ... and ranks among the top in pretty much every offensive category in the school's history.
And Patrick ... well, you know about that guy.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
Time sure is flying -- Patrick and Brittany's first child just celebrated her second birthday at a fun bash last month.
"My baby girl is a whole 2 years old!" Brittany said at the time. "I can’t even believe it. These have been some of the best years of my life being your mama Sterling Skye! You make everyday a good day! 💗✨"
"Now please stop growing up😭😭😭"
Looks like a Mahomes might be a football star -- just not that football.
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Daniel Jones Giants Re-Signing QB ... Huge New Contract!!!
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Daniel Jones ain't going anywhere ... he's staying in New York with the Giants -- agreeing to re-sign with the team for a WHOLE LOTTA cash!!!
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the 25-year-old quarterback will be inking a new four-year deal with the Giants worth $160 MILLION. There's also $35 million in incentives tied to the contract too, Pelissero added.
The new pact now makes Jones one of the highest-paid players in the NFL ... averaging just a few mil per year less than guys like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes.
“Daniel Jones is the greatest Quarterback of all time at faking handoffs. Watch the tape. Their is an art to making defenders bite and [Daniel] is Leonardo da Vinci.”
— Hank The Stank (@stankthehank) March 6, 2023 @stankthehank
-Shea Tierney, #Giants QBs coach
pic.twitter.com/b1Sd07b0uP
Jones was certainly deserving of the new contract -- at least based on his play in 2022 -- he threw for 3,205 yards and 15 scores ... while rushing for 708 yards and seven more TDs.
He also led the G-Men to a playoff win over the Vikings as well.
The new contract will now allow the Giants to keep Saquon Barkley in the fold, too -- with Jones' deal out of the way, the team was able to place the franchise tag on the standout running back, all but ensuring he'll be back in the same backfield with Jones in 2023.
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Tom Brady I'm Too Busy For An NFL Comeback Shuts Door On Return Talk
Tom Brady may not be getting into stand-up comedy, but he's not going back to football, either ... 'cause just a day after rumors of a TB12 comeback lit up the internet, the G.O.A.T. made it clear a return to the NFL isn't happening.
"Anyone who thinks I have time to come back to the NFL has never adopted a 2 month old kitten for their daughter," Brady wrote on social media.
Rich is back from Indianapolis and boy did he hear some things — his Top 5 Rumors Heard at #NFLCombine:
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) March 6, 2023 @RichEisenShow
5. Philip Rivers
4. #DaBears
3. Lamar
2. 🧀
1. 🐐#NFL #NFLFreeAgency #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/F08mMCAcGq
The talk of a return hit a fever pitch after Rich Eisen said there was talk around the NFL Combine in Indianapolis that Brady "might not be done after all," with insiders saying ... "keep an eye on Miami."
"If Tua [Tagovailoa] may not be ready to go and suddenly, there's Tom Brady sitting in Florida, where his family is located and he can easily locate himself. Keep an eye on that I was told by a couple of birdies at the Combine."
Of course, the Dolphins were one of the teams very interested in Tom's services after his first Super Bowl-winning season in Tampa Bay.
Brady retired on February 1 ... in what was a relatively understated announcement, vowing he was done for good (this time). Ten days later, the 7x Super Bowl champ officially filed his retirement papers with the league.
One of his first acts as a retired man was a trip to the animal shelter ... where he picked up two adorable Siamese kittens for his 10-year-old daughter Vivian.
Plus, why get lit up by 325 lb. defensive tackles when you can chill on your brand new 77-foot yacht, "TW12VE ANGELS."
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Plaxico Burress Urges Ja Morant 'Learn From Me' ... After Gun Incident
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Plaxico Burress is weighing in on the Ja Morant controversy ... calling on the Memphis Grizzlies superstar to learn from his mistakes -- after Morant was suspended for brandishing a gun on an Instagram Live video over the weekend.
"If you can't learn anything, learn from me," Burress said Tuesday on "The Carton Show." He added, "Make better decisions because you really don't want for him to have that label being that he's so young. He has the opportunity to be the face of the NBA. He's that great of a player."
Of course, Burress is speaking from personal experience ... in 2008, the former New York Giants wide receiver, who caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII, suffered an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound at a nightclub in NYC.
Plaxico did not have a license to carry a gun in NYC ... and turned himself in on charges of criminal possession of a handgun. Burress eventually accepted a plea deal that saw him spend two years in prison, effectively derailing his NFL career.
.@plaxicoburress on what advice he would give to Ja Morant: pic.twitter.com/7CdF6AGXpz
— The Carton Show (@TheCartonShow) March 7, 2023 @TheCartonShow
Burress would return to the NFL in 2011 with the New York Jets, but he retired a few years later after making a return to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Plaxico's life changed because of the mistake ... and that seems to be the message he's trying to convey to 23-year-old Morant, who's been embroiled in drama recently.
"You want to see him mature as a person as his game is getting better," Burress said, "and I think that all comes with time and being around the right people."
"He made a mistake."
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NFL's K.J. Osborn Rescues Man From Burning Car ... 'Right Place Right Time'
Minnesota Vikings receiver K.J. Osborn is a straight-up hero ... the football player -- along with three others -- helped save a man from a burning car after a fiery crash on Sunday.
The 25-year-old went into details about the terrifying incident on Adam Schefter's "The Adam Schefter Podcast" Monday, saying he was in an Uber on his way home from a workout in Austin, Texas ... when he saw a car that had crashed and caught fire.
Osborn said he, his driver, and two others nearby immediately pulled over to help ... and when they realized how serious it was, all four of them rushed to the car to pull the man out of the vehicle.
Vikings’ WR @KJ_Osborn, his Uber driver, and two bystanders helped saved a man’a life after a car accident Sunday night in Austin, Texas.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 7, 2023 @AdamSchefter
🎧 https://t.co/3Oig7w0tTh pic.twitter.com/2RCb9qHYnx
"He was kind of in a daze," Osborn said. "I don't know if he was conscious but I think he felt the heat coming to his legs and obviously he just got into a big crash so he's kinda out of it."
"That's when we began to talk to him, try to get him out and he was able to a little bit, you know, muster something for himself before we were able to."
Osborn believes if he and the group didn't spring into action, the man -- who only suffered minor injuries -- would not be alive today.
"No, he doesn't live," Osborn said. "I think that car would've burned on fire. It would've been really tragic."
Osborn said he never thought in his wildest dreams that he would be a part of something like this ... but he's glad he and the other three heroes were on the scene -- calling it all, "Right Place Right Time."
"I believe God had me, us, at the right place at the exact right time," Osborn later said of the incident on his Twitter page.
Osborn's quarterback, Kirk Cousins wasn't surprised by his wideout's heroism ... saying on his social media page Tuesday, "This is totally on-brand for @KJ_Osborn. Just a tremendous person & teammate."
The Michigan native was selected by the Vikings in the 5th round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In the past two seasons, he's logged in 1,305 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
He's also currently working on his master's degree in criminal justice at the University of Miami ... with his eyes on joining the FBI or Secret Service after his NFL career ends.
Heroes don't always wear capes.
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Tom Brady Ahoy, Brady!!! ... Checks Out New 'Tw12ve Angels' Yacht
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Tom Brady has a shiny toy to enjoy in retirement -- the 7-time Super Bowl champion was spotted on his brand new yacht in Florida this week!!!
TB12 was spending time aboard the 77-foot "TW12VE ANGELS" with friends in a Hollywood, Florida marina on Sunday ... and the boat is a beaut.
The Wajer 77 superyacht is a bigger version of the Wajer 55S Brady bought in 2020 ... which he named "Viva a Vida" in honor of Gisele Bundchen's environmental conservation initiative.
In May 2021, Brady announced he was upgrading to the Wajer 77 for $6 million. According to records, the boat was manufactured in 2022 ... and was officially registered at the end of February.
At the time, Brady said he was also going to name the Wajer 77 "Viva a Vida" ... but we take it he decided to call an audible after the divorce.
As we previously reported, Brady's Wajer 77 is like a hotel on water -- it can sleep 9 people comfortably, and the former Patriots and Buccaneers legend said it would be used for trips to the Bahamas.
"With a little bit bigger boat, for us, the 77 allows us to sleep overnight really comfortably and those weekend trips would be really something," Brady said in 2021. "That would be great memories for our family for years to come."
Now that he's got a lot more time on his hands, we take it Brady will be putting the floater to good use!!!
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NFL's Calvin Ridley Reinstated After 1-Year Suspension ... For Betting
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11:44 AM PT -- Calvin Ridley just released a statement on the news ... saying, "Today's reinstatement by the NFL brings an end to a challenging chapter of my professional career, one that was self-inflicted and began with an isolated lapse in judgment."
"I have always owned my mistakes and this is no different," he continued. "I have great respect for the game and am excited for the opportunity to restart my career in Jacksonville."
"I look forward to showing my new coaches, teammates, and the entire Jaguars organization exactly who I am and what I represent as a player and person."
Calvin Ridley is cashing out of his suspension -- the Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver was just fully reinstated back in the NFL after getting busted for betting on games, the league announced Monday.
Ridley was banned for the entire 2022 season last March ... after investigators determined he bet on his own team while on the Non-Football Injury list as a member of the Atlanta Falcons in November 2021.
The NFL said at the time there were no signs the game was "compromised in any way" ... but handed down the punishment to prove it has zero tolerance when it comes to protecting the integrity and reputation of the sport.
Ridley also spoke out at the time ... saying he doesn't have a gambling problem, as he only bet $1,500 total.
The league says Ridley is now eligible to participate in all team activities ASAP ... which means he can finally get acquainted with his new Jags squad.
Ridley was traded to Jacksonville in November 2022 for a couple of draft picks ... but due to the ban, he has yet to suit up alongside Trevor Lawrence.
Originally Published -- 11:18 AM PT
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Derek Carr Signing With Saints ... 4-Year, $150 Million Deal
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10:05 AM PT -- Derek Carr's new four-year deal with the Saints is for $150 million, Ian Rapoport reported Monday.
Derek Carr has found a new home ... the former Raiders quarterback is signing with the New Orleans Saints after spending the past nine seasons with Oakland/Las Vegas.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport broke the news Monday morning ... saying the Saints are giving the 31-year-old NFL veteran a new, four-year deal.
Carr confirmed the news in a tweet -- sharing a video of a raucous scene at the Superdome, while writing, "Who dat."
Who dat ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/DIY8gBGuGu
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) March 6, 2023 @derekcarrqb
Carr -- a four-time Pro Bowler -- was released by the Raiders last month after being benched at the end of the season. The signal-caller finished his Raiders career with a 63-79 record.
Carr had flirted with several teams following his release -- including the New York Jets -- but ultimately landed with the Saints ... who Rapoport reported Monday were always the favorite for the QB.
Carr will be the Saints' latest attempt to replace Drew Brees ... since the future Hall of Famer's retirement, they've tried combinations of Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton and Taysom Hill without much success.
Originally Published -- 8:27 AM PT
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SUPER BOWL SELFIE KID Cops Slam Him Down to Ground In New Arrest Vid!!!
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Ryan McKenna, once famous for snapping a pic with Justin Timberlake at the Super Bowl, stands accused of striking a cop during his allegedly drunken arrest ... but new video shows cops tossing him to the ground pretty hard.
The clip, obtained by TMZ, shows 18-year-old Ryan with multiple cops around him as they try to detain him -- they're struggling to get his arms behind his back.
After the attempts to cuff him don't work ... you can see one of the deputies yank him by the leg, flipping him down on a concrete floor. Even after the brutal takedown, Ryan kept his arms tucked to his chest, instead of putting them behind his back.
TMZ broke the story ... law enforcement was called on the eve of this year's Super Bowl to a CPK in Naples, FL for a report of a man who was drunk and hitting his friend.
According to cops, Ryan and a 15-year-old boy got into an argument, and things escalated to the point where Ryan aggressively pushed their table and started shouting obscenities at the boy's GF.
In their report, cops admit putting hands on Ryan to calm him down, but claim he yanked their hands off his chest. Deputies then tried to detain Ryan, which is apparently when the video begins.
Cops said Ryan was taken to jail and booked for felony battery on a law enforcement officer and 2 misdemeanors -- resisting arrest and obstruction of an officer.
BTW, Ryan's mom Tracy told us her son was NOT drunk during the incident ... and instead was just joking around with his friends, trying to be funny by pushing the table.
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Domata Peko My Dad-In-Law Gave Grandkids $100k!!! ... After Selling Lotto Winner
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The guy who got a million bucks for selling the record-breaking Powerball ticket didn't spend the dough on a new car or a fancy vacation ... so says his son-in-law, ex-NFL star Domata Peko, who tells TMZ Sports he gave $100k to his grandkids instead!!
Joe Chahayed -- who owns the Joe's Service Center gas station in Altadena, CA -- was the man of the hour in November ... after it was announced his shop sold the $2 BILLION ticket.
We spoke with 38-year-old Peko about Joe's million-dollar payday ... and he says it really wasn't so life-changing, 'cause he's still grinding every day at work!!
"That's the one thing about him, he's one of the hardest workers I know," Peko said. "He's been working forever. And even though he won and got that quick little million, he's still grinding, bro."
The former Cincinnati Bengals nose tackle says Chahayed didn't ball out with his winnings, but set his grandchildren up with an amazing financial gift.
"I'm like, 'hell yeah,' that's the type of person he is, man," Peko said. "He loves to give back. And that's why I think God keeps blessing him, man, because he loves to give."
As it turns out, good karma might be heading Chahayed's way ... 'cause Peko says he heard the person who won -- a man named Edwin Castro, who reportedly collected the prize as a lump sum of $997.6 million -- wants to give Joe a nice "thank you" gift!!
Peko also said there's now a line out Chahayed's door every time there's a huge drawing ... with customers hoping luck strikes again at his station.
Of course, a lawsuit was filed as a result of the lotto ... with a guy named Jose Rivera claiming he was the real winner, but his ticket was stolen.
Peko knew nothing about it ... but he gave his instant reaction, saying, "there's gonna be some drama!!"
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Travis Kelce Hilarious 'SNL' Monologue ... With Mahomes Impression, Jason Cameo
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Travis Kelce just took the stage at Studio 8H ... and the Kansas City Chiefs superstar crushed his "Saturday Night Live" monologue -- hilariously mocking Patrick Mahomes in the process.
Kelce -- wearing a sharp double-breasted suit -- had the crowd laughing from start to finish ... with jokes about getting busted for weed in college, his infamous dating show, his QB's unique voice and, of course, beating his older brother, Jason, in the Super Bowl.
Travis Kelce's monologue! pic.twitter.com/ETJfAaELNj
— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) March 5, 2023 @nbcsnl
The Philadelphia Eagles star was in the front row for the whole thing ... and cameras even cut to him multiple times as Travis talked about growing up together.
"Jason and I have actually been playing football together since we were little kids, and he was always better than me at everything," Kelce said.
"In high school, he was an honor student, and I got kicked off the team because I failed French ... and English too, but French sounds way better."
"Then when we were in college, I actually got kicked off the team because I tested positive for marijuana. So, it just goes to show you if you smoke weed and you're bad at school, you can win the Super Bowl twice."
KC Chiefs Win Super Bowl, Defeat Eagles 38-35!!
Travis' family -- including Mama Kelce -- were also present for the monologue.
Kelce explained it was an emotional moment for him ... as he grew up watching Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler on the same stage.
Jason also made an appearance in a skit later in the show ... just as 'SNL' producers previously told us they were trying to make happen.
don’t worry, abby’s got a new bf now pic.twitter.com/XgJVv650Se
— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) March 5, 2023 @nbcsnl
It really was a family affair ... and it's safe to say it was a hit.
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Darrelle Revis Sauce Gardner Is 'A 2.0 Of Myself' ... 'I Love Him'
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Darrelle Revis is offering up some seriously high praise for Sauce Gardner ... telling TMZ Sports he's such a big fan of the NY Jets' new star -- he actually sees a lot of himself in the corner!!
"He's a 2.0 of myself," the newly named Hall of Famer said. "I love the way he plays."
Revis poured out the compliments -- and plenty more -- just weeks after Gardner wrapped up one of the most impressive rookie seasons in Jets history.
The 22-year-old, who NY took with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, started all 17 games, logged 75 tackles, recorded two interceptions and earned All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Revis told us he was a fan of it all ... and as a guy who had one of the best nicknames in the NFL -- "Revis Island" -- he even gave two thumbs up to Sauce's "Lost In The Sauce" moniker as well!
"It's pretty cool," he said. "I think it's a great branding and marketing tool for him. I think he definitely backs it up."
Revis also spoke about the comparisons between Robert Saleh's defense and the ones he used to play in with Rex Ryan -- telling us he thinks Sauce can lead in the exact same way he used to do back in the day.
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Raiders Star Darren Waller WNBA Champ Kelsey Plum Tie The Knot ... We're Married!!!
Raiders star tight end Darren Waller and WNBA champion Kelsey Plum officially tied the knot ... the two Las Vegas stars got married Saturday in front of family and friends!
Plum posted a series of pictures on Instagram ... of her and the Pro Bowl TE kissing each other, and the two looked extremely happy after saying "I do."
Kelsey captioned the pics of her and Waller, "Him 🖤 3.4.23."
Waller wore a cream-colored jacket with black slacks, a black bow tie, and black shoes ... while the bride wore a traditional white dress for the big occasion.
Of course, Darren and Kelsey's marriage is a big deal ... after all, the power sports couple are among the top athletes in their respective sports.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
Superstars across the sports world congratulated Waller and Plum after they tied the knot ... Odell Beckham Jr. and Candace Parker showed them love on their wedding day.
"Congrats man you look beautiful," Parker wrote on Plum's post, followed by the Super Bowl champ, OBJ, who wrote, "congrats to yallll!!"
Waller and Plum have reportedly been dating since last year ... and filed for a marriage license on January 22, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Kelsey -- drafted with the first overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft -- won a title with the Aces last season ... and now, she's added another ring to her finger.
Congrats!!
JuJu Smith-Schuster Patrick Mahomes 'Is A Dog!!!' ... Praises QB Ahead Of Free Agency Decision
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JuJu Smith-Schuster's making it clear ahead of his impending free agency that he LOVED playing with Patrick Mahomes ... telling TMZ Sports the quarterback is a straight-up "dog."
The star wide receiver can choose to sign with any team in the NFL later this month ... but when we saw him out at LAX this week, we had to ask if he was leaning toward a return to K.C.
JuJu was a bit coy about it all -- but he did note that catching passes from the Chiefs star QB was a dream.
"Ah, man," Smith-Schuster said. "He's the MVP. He's a dog, man."
The 26-year-old then admitted it'd be hard to turn down playing with the signal-caller again in 2023.
"Yeah, man," he said. "It's Patty Mahomes. He's a dog."
Free agency officially kicks off on March 15 -- and Smith-Schuster figures to be a hot commodity -- after recording 78 receptions for 933 yards in 2022.
It's unclear if the Chiefs have made him any sort of offer or will be willing to let him explore the market -- but JuJu clearly isn't sweating any of it.
Wearing a pair of sweet shades, Smith-Schuster -- fresh off his first-ever Super Bowl win -- said he'll be spending the leadup to free agency in Japan!!
Yeah, it's still great to be a champ.
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Eli Manning, Shaun O'Hara If Rodgers Wants To Play In New York ... 'Just Win!!!'
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If Aaron Rodgers ends up packing his bags and taking his talents to the Jets, former Giants stars Eli Manning and Shaun O'Hara have some simple advice on how he can thrive in New York -- "just win!!"
The two-time Super Bowl MVP and his good buddy/former teammate took a few minutes from their Easter extravaganza with The Children's Place in New Jersey on Friday to chat with Babcock and Lucas on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs weekdays on FS1) about the biggest story of the NFL offseason ... and they both offered a solid perspective on what's going through Aaron's head as he contemplates his future.
"It's hard just because your whole life, you work towards it," Eli tells us. "You're dedicated to the game, you've been doing it the past 25 years since high school, preparing to play this game. To say, 'Alright, I'm not doing it anymore,' it's a really tough decision."
"Usually, in your heart, you just know you're not willing to do the preparation, to do the work, to do the full commitment it takes to play at that level."
Eli -- who retired in 2020 -- says he knew he made the right call when he called it a career ... because when he started watching games as a spectator, the tackles made on the field looked "brutal."
O'Hara added even after players retire, they will continue to think they can still play ... but he says since Rodgers is playing at such a high level, he'd be shocked if he left the game behind right now.
Aaron Rodgers Ends Darkness Retreat
If O'Hara is right, there's a good chance Rodgers could end up with a new home after 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers ... and there's rumblings that next team could be the Jets.
Since Manning and O'Hara have a ton of experience playing in the Big Apple, we asked if they had some wise words for the 4-time MVP ... and Eli thinks Rodgers would do just fine, especially after he spent several days on an isolation retreat in Oregon.
"I don't think Aaron needs any advice from us," Eli says. "The guy's been playing at an unbelievable level for so long, MVP. If he wants to come to New York and play if that's an option, he'll think about it."
"He's had his time in the darkness to debate that. And, he honestly can still play at a high level and come to New York with a young team, they have a talented roster there with the Jets."
O'Hara added all Rodgers has to do to keep the fierce New York media off his back is to rack up victories ... and Eli agreed.
"Yeah, everything works out if you win."
Manning and O'Hara were together for a really special reason -- they teamed up with The Children's Place to host more than 300 kids for a day of fun at Superdome Sports in Waldwick to kick off the brand's Spring collection.
There were football drills, giveaways, obstacle courses and Easter egg hunts ... and it was clear everyone had a blast.
Eli even showed he's still got a great arm in some throwing drills ... and gave some pointers to the youngins as well.
Eli also visited the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital in Hackensack earlier on Friday ... meeting with a bunch of amazing kids and handing out Easter baskets and autographs!!
Awesome.