NFL

L.A. Rams star running back Cam Akers is in good spirits after suffering a season-ending torn Achilles ... saying he'll be back and better in no time.

The team made the news official Tuesday morning ... solidifying the end of the 22-year-old's sophomore campaign before it even began.

Despite the devastating news, Akers kept a positive attitude on Twitter ... saying, "I just want to thank any and every person sending prayers my way and wishing me well."

"I hate this happened but I’m in great spirits and I understand God makes no mistakes. I’ll be back better than ever in no time I’m a soldier. Again, thank you 🙏🏾."

Akers was set to have a huge 2021 season after earning 625 yards and 2 touchdowns in 13 games in his rookie year.

Although his 2021 is over, Akers should be good to go in time for 2022 ... and it sounds like he's determined to put the injury behind him as soon as possible.

Longtime NFL coach Greg Knapp -- who's currently the NY Jets' passing game coordinator -- is reportedly in the hospital in critical condition after he suffered serious injuries in a bike crash over the weekend.

The 58-year-old was riding when he was struck by a car ... 9News' Mike Kliss reported late Monday evening. Kliss added that Knapp's agent, Jeff Sperbeck, is asking for prayers.

Further details regarding the incident are unclear ... we're working on it.

Knapp has been an assistant coach in the NFL since the late 1990s ... and is known for his ability to get the best out of his quarterbacks.

In his career, Knapp has seen success coaching Steve Young, Carson Palmer, Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan.

Knapp was just hired to be the Jets' passing game coordinator in January ... after NY brought in Robert Saleh from San Francisco to be its new head coach.

He was already being touted as having a significant influence during offseason workouts on New York's new quarterback, Zach Wilson.

Devastating news from Shannon Sharpe ... the Hall of Famer just revealed his beloved dog, Tarzan, tragically passed away this week.

The FS1 host posted an incredibly emotional tribute to his 4-legged friend on Monday ... saying, "It's with tremendous sadness that I share with you my Tarzan (Tuggs, Tuggman) Sharpe has crossed over."

"What would I give, spend to have 1 more hour, day let alone a yr with the sweetest little boy ever?"

Sharpe adds his other pup, Taz, is going to miss his "big bro" ... but promises to take good care of him.

Just a few months ago, Sharpe experienced similar heartbreak -- his dog, Tonkaman, died in April after getting sick.

Sharpe reflects on all the other dogs he's lost over the years ... telling Tarzan to share his treats in doggy heaven with them.

"I will see you and all my boys again and when I do, I'll shower you all with love for the lost time."

"No more pain, suffering now go play and enjoy your new home."

Of course, Sharpe is a HUGE dog lover ... sharing moments with his pups non-stop on his social media -- from playing dress-up to taking selfies.

He also used his vacation time to cover the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2018.

T.J. Watt CLEARLY knows diamonds are forever ... 'cause the NFL superstar went all out for his fiancée's massive engagement ring -- scoring a piece of ice worth $100,000!!!

The Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker popped the question to his longtime GF Dani Rhodes at a beautiful waterfront spot last week ... and the ring he used for the occasion is AWESOME!!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the 26-year-old hit-up celebrity jeweler Moe Diamonds for the bling, and he spared no expenses.

We're told the ring features a 2.5-carat flawless colorless triple EX graded diamond -- which is very rare -- and has 18k of white gold with 1.33 carats of VVS-flawless diamonds in the band.

All total, we're told the ring is valued at $100K!!!

And, what's even more interesting about the ring ... we're told Watt hit up Moe way back in June 2020 for the piece -- so he's been planning this for over a year!!!

"It still feels like I’m dreaming," Rhodes said on Instagram the day after saying "yes."

"Woke up today feeling so incredibly happy and blessed that I get to marry my best friend🤍 I can’t wait to love you FOREVER."

Watts and Rhodes have been dating since 2016 -- when they met at the University of Wisconsin.

They're both professional athletes ... Watt is entering his 5th season with the Steelers and Rhodes just signed with the Throttur Football Club, a soccer team in Iceland.

In fact, Rhodes is former teammates with J.J. Watt's wife, Kealia -- the two actually played together on the Chicago Red Stars women's soccer team.

TMZ Sports has obtained the crash report from Richard Sherman's car accident last week ... and it looks like the NFL star just barely avoided a head-on collision with a barrier.

In the docs, police produced a diagram of how they say Sherman wrecked his 2014 Mercedes on a highway in Washington at around 1:24 AM on July 14 ... and it appears to be more evidence the 33-year-old is fortunate to be alive today.

According to cops, it appears Sherman didn't see a right turn coming, and instead of navigating around the bend -- he crashed the left side of his car into a barrier.

The picture shows just how close Sherman was to a head-on collision ... which could have been potentially life-threatening, given that officials have accused Sherman of driving drunk at the time of the wreck.

In the docs, cops say Sherman -- despite the collision -- continued to drive into a parking lot before he ditched the ride due to the severe damage to the car.

As we previously reported, law enforcement says Sherman then eventually made his way to his in-laws' home in Redmond, Wash. ... where they say he attempted to break in his wife's parents' front door.

Cops say when they arrived on the scene ... Sherman fought them, and claim the football player was so aggressive, they needed K9 help to take him down.

Sherman was arrested and eventually charged with five misdemeanors over the incident -- including driving while under the influence and reckless endangerment of roadway workers.

The end of the pandemic means no masks and a return to normalcy for some ... but for DeAndre Hopkins -- he tells TMZ Sports it's an opportunity to help thousands in his new hometown.

The NFL superstar couldn't do as much charity work in Arizona after being traded to the Cardinals in 2020 due to the coronavirus ... but he says he's hopeful that'll all change as we enter a post-COVID world.

"My mom and I, we're about to get into the community," Hopkins said out at LAX. "You know, it was COVID, so we really couldn't do much."

It's spectacular news for Arizonians ... 'cause, if you're unfamiliar, Hopkins and his mom, Sabrina Greenlee, have an amazing charity called S.M.O.O.O.T.H.

It was established to help women who have been affected by domestic violence.

Hopkins has been very active when it comes to raising funds for it all ... he even helped create a line of breakfast cereal this year to try to get more cash flow into the company.

Hopkins clearly wants to see it thrive in the desert, telling us, "We're in Houston right now, but trying to touch the Arizona market."

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Jaydon Mickens has been hit with 2 criminal charges stemming from his March arrest ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to court docs, prosecutors have levied 2 misdemeanors against the 27-year-old Super Bowl champ after they say he was illegally carrying a loaded firearm in his car in L.A. on March 5.

As we previously reported, cops initially pulled over Mickens after they said the tint on his ride was too dark.

During the stop, though, they said they found a gun inside his car -- NOT on his person -- and arrested him over it.

Prosecutors clearly felt there was enough to move forward with the case ... and it could spell bad news for Mickens, 'cause the two gun charges he's facing each carry a maximum of one year in jail if convicted.

The Bucs said in a statement shortly after the arrest they were monitoring the situation ... but Mickens has not been cut over it all and he's still set to be with the team when it opens up training camp later this month.

Mickens has been mostly a special teams player for the Bucs ... and returned kicks for the team in their Super Bowl win over the K.C. Chiefs last February.

Packers tight end Marcedes Lewis is at least somewhat confident Aaron Rodgers will show up for training camp later this month ... telling TMZ Sports he "thinks" the QB will be there.

Rodgers -- who's been feuding with Green Bay brass for MONTHS now -- still has not committed to playing for the Packers this season ... and it's unclear if he has any plans at all to join the club for training camp when it kicks off on July 26.

But, Lewis says he's predicting his quarterback will show up to the mandatory workouts in two weeks ... telling us out at LAX, "I think so."

"I hope so," the 37-year-old added. "I hope to see my guy there."

Lewis, though, made it clear he doesn't have too much inside information on the situation ... explaining, "We'll see what happens."

Rodgers has reportedly been upset over his contract situation, as well as some of the personnel moves the team has made ... and, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, it's unlikely he comes to camp without some sort of guarantee that he'll be traded after the season.

As for how the quarterback has handled this offseason amid all the drama -- staying away from the Packers and instead jettisoning around the globe with his fiancee, Shailene Woodley -- Lewis tells us he's all for it.

"It's probably good for him to just give him some time to himself -- some family time," Lewis said. "Hopefully I see him on the 26th."

Prosecutors have just hit Richard Sherman with five charges -- including DUI and criminal trespass -- after he allegedly melted down at his in-laws' home on Wednesday morning.

Officials just made the announcement, explaining all five charges are misdemeanors.

They also said they expect Sherman to appear in court for an arraignment hearing later Friday and plead not guilty to the charges.

The five counts levied against Sherman are as follows, according to prosecutors:

-Driving While Under the Influence

-Reckless Endangerment of Roadway Workers

-Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree – domestic violence

-Resisting Arrest

-Malicious Mischief in the Third Degree - domestic violence

As we previously reported, Sherman is accused of driving drunk, crashing his car, and then exploding at his in-laws' home in Redmond, Wash. just after 12 a.m. on Wednesday.

Police say Sherman tried to violently break into his wife's parents' house ... and after cops confronted him at the scene -- they say he became non-cooperative and began fighting them.

Cops say they were eventually able to take him down with the help of a police K9 ... and put him in jail, where Sherman ultimately spent close to 2 days.

The 33-year-old NFL star was eventually released without bail late Thursday afternoon.

Story developing ...

Richard Sherman repeatedly and violently threw his body into his father-in-law's door while making menacing comments toward the man ... and the alarming scene was all captured on video.

The footage appears to show the 33-year-old NFL star walking up to Raymond Moss' porch in Redmond, Wash. on Wednesday morning ... before becoming absolutely unglued.

You can see in the clip -- first posted by KIMA -- when Sherman could not get into Moss' home ... he shoved the door with his hands, and then crashed into it with every fiber of his 6-foot-3, 194-pound frame.

When that didn't work ... Sherman stood in front of the door -- and appeared to challenge Moss to come outside and confront him.

"Come through, bitch!" Sherman said, before repeating "Come through!" over and over and over again.

Moss appeared to try to talk to Sherman from behind the locked door ... but Richard responded, "I don't give a f*** about what you're saying! Open the door!"

"That s*** cute from behind the door," Sherman continued. "Come through! That s*** real cute!"

It looks like Sherman then attempted once more to get into the home ... and when the door still wouldn't open, he shoved it violently several more times, before walking away.

As we previously reported, cops ended up arresting Sherman and booking him on a domestic violence burglary charge.

He went on to spend all day Wednesday and most of the day Thursday behind bars ... before a judge released him without bail late Thursday afternoon.

Richard Sherman has finally been released from jail ... a judge just let him out without bail while his criminal case plays out -- calling the NFL star a "pillar in this community."

The King County court judge, however, did put some conditions on the release ... including ordering Sherman to stay away from his father-in-law, as well as not possess any firearms.

The judge also made it clear Sherman is to not consume any alcohol ... and ordered the former Seattle Seahawks cornerback to appear in person for all future court dates.

It's a pretty big win for Sherman -- who did not appear in the Washington court and was instead represented by his attorney -- considering prosecutors were asking the judge to set the NFL star's bail at $10,000.

As part of his ruling, the judge said of Sherman, "I see Mr. Sherman is a pillar in this community. He's a business owner. He's a husband. He's a father."

"I'm going to release Mr. Sherman on his own promise to return to court."

As we previously reported, the 33-year-old was arrested on Wednesday ... after cops say he physically tried to force his way into his in-laws' home.

Colin Kaepernick is officially a children's book author --- after signing a multi-book deal with Scholastic!

The former star NFL quarterback made the announcement Thursday ... saying he's partnering up with a publishing company and will release several new children's books starting next year.

"I’m excited for Kaepernick Publishing to be collaborating with Scholastic on books with Black and Brown voices at the forefront," Kap said.

"I hope that our books will inspire readers to walk through the world with confidence, strength, and truth in all they do."

The first picture book to be published will be called 'I Color Myself Different' and is based on a moment Kap had in kindergarten -- when he realized he was different from his adopted white family.

"This story is deeply personal to me, and inspired by real events in my life. I hope that it honors the courage and bravery of young people everywhere by encouraging them to live with authenticity and purpose."

Scholastic's VP Debra Dorfman says it was a no-brainer to get the deal done with Kap ... saying, "we knew instantly that we wanted to share his stories, which will be impactful messages of identity and belonging for Black and Brown children.”

"Colin’s reputation as a thought leader precedes him, but it was also clear when we met that his mission and purpose were very much aligned with Scholastic’s."

How did Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Matthews ask their best pals to be in their wedding??

ROLEX WATCHES AND CARTIER BRACELETS, BABY!!

The power couple clearly spared no expenses when it came to their future bridal party ... with some of their close friends/family revealing the NFL star and his fiancee went all out for them this week.

Matthews' good friend, Sydni Paige, revealed Matthews' presents in a social media post Wednesday ... showing Brittany hooked up her future bridesmaids with a personalized robe and a gorgeous Cartier Love bracelet.

As for Mahomes' future groomsmen ... his little bro, Jackson, revealed the Chiefs QB gave out personalized flasks, a shot of Fireball, and a silver Rollie.

Mahomes' gift basket also included a little freestyle on the card ... with the QB writing, "The time has come to help me with the task … be my groomsman for the wedding weekend with help from this flask!"

Of course, both Jackson and Sydni responded with resounding yes's ... because, uh, how could you turn that down?!?!

As for the wedding itself, Patrick dropped some hints on how and when it'll go down on his card ... finishing his rhyme with, "Drink up and let me remind, in March set your Rolex to island time!"

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Dwayne Haskins suffered "substantial" injuries -- including a knocked-out tooth -- after his wife allegedly hit him during an altercation in Las Vegas ... this according to cops.

It's all spelled out in a police report, obtained by KTNV, in which cops say they were called to the Cosmopolitan on July 3 to investigate claims that Kalabrya Gondrezick-Haskins had attacked the NFL player in their hotel room.

In the report, cops say Dwayne told them the fight went down because his wife was disgruntled after he had gone to a nightclub with friends without waiting for her and the rest of the group.

Cops say Dwayne had a busted lip that needed stitches, as well as a missing tooth. They described the injuries as "substantial in nature."

Cops also say in the report that the 24-year-old QB "would most certainly require dental work to repair his teeth."

In the report, cops say Kalabrya told them she was not sure how the football player suffered the injuries.

Kalabrya was eventually arrested ... and court records show she's been since hit with a felony charge of battery which constitutes domestic violence with substantial bodily harm.

Records show she's due in court next month for a hearing in the case.

As for the couple's relationship, it's clearly a confusing matter ... 'cause just over the weekend, the two had posted what appeared to be an engagement announcement.

In their social media posts ... the quarterback and Kalabrya showed a video of Dwayne getting down on one knee at a Vegas restaurant and giving Kalabrya a massive ring.

But, in the police report, cops say the couple told them they had actually already gotten married in March after dating for over a year.

Cops say the two also told them they were in Vegas with friends and family this month to "celebrate their commitment to each other."

Move over, Gronk ... Green Bay Packers WR Devin Funchess just came through and set a new record for the longest helicopter catch ever --- at 750 feet!!!!

...and, he did it in his house slippers!!

It went down at the Denver Broncos stadium for a Global Field Day charity event where they were having some cool activities -- and that included trying to break Rob Gronkowski's record for longest catch from a helicopter.

In the clip you can see the chopper hovering above tossing the balls down as Funchess missed over and over!

But, then the Packers WR finally gets 2 hands on the rock rom what we are told is 750 feet -- A NEW WORLD RECORD!!!

It's unclear if the folks from Guinness World Record were on hand to certify the new record.

Everyone around DF went CRAZY -- hoisting up the new catch king to celebrate!

Gronk initially set the record back in April at the Arizona Stadium, his former college team -- catching a 600 yarder from the chopper in full AZ Wildcats gear.

A 911 caller says Richard Sherman drank two bottles of hard alcohol and was threatening to kill himself before he was arrested on Wednesday ... new police audio, obtained TMZ Sports, reveals.

In the call, which was 4 minutes in length, a woman who ID'ed herself as Sherman's wife told dispatch the NFL star was "drunk and belligerent and threatening to kill himself."

The woman was frantic -- breathing heavily and speaking quickly -- and was pleading for dispatch to send officers to her home in Washington right away.

"I need officers here now!" the woman can be heard saying on the call. "He's trying to leave now. In the house, he was being aggressive. He was wrestling with my uncle. He's threatening to kill himself. He has sent text messages to people saying he's going to hang himself."

"And, he's saying that if the police show up -- please don't shoot is what I'm asking."

The woman continued, "He said if the police show up, he'll try to fight them."

The woman then can be heard saying she was worried that Sherman was going to leave the home ... telling dispatch, "It's Richard Sherman! Like, ma'am, this is, like, a f***ing emergency! I need officers here now!"

It should be noted the 911 dispatcher appeared annoyed and frustrated multiple times with the woman on the call ... telling her at one point, "Listen to me! I'm handling this! You need to stop telling me that!"

The caller eventually told the 911 dispatcher that Sherman had drank 1 bottle of vodka and 1 bottle of Hennessey ... and was concerned for everyone's safety.

As we previously reported, Sherman was arrested a short time following the call ... after cops say he tried to break into his in-laws' home in Redmond, Wash.