NFL

Simone Biles is 6,600 miles from her BF, Jonathan Owens, but that didn't stop her from showing the NFLer some love on his birthday -- with the Team USA superstar sending him an adorable cake day message from the Olympics!!

"Here in Japan it is already my favorite persons birthday 🖤 HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY BABE," Biles said to the Houston Texans safety via IG Thursday.

"Jonathan Owens I love you so much. Can’t wait to celebrate you when I get home!"

The 24-year-old is gunning to make history at the Tokyo Games -- she's gunning to break the record for the most gold medals by a U.S. gymnast -- but there's no way Biles was gonna miss out on giving her man the big shoutout!

The couple have been very supportive of each other's sports careers -- Owens was in the stands to watch Biles compete in person for the first time last month.

"Thanks for keeping me sane during the craziest times. an ear to vent too, someone to share fun times with and make the best of memories," Biles says.

"Not sure how I got so lucky & what I’d do without you! But I hope you have the best day ever. Not too much fun without me tho hahaha."

Biles and Owens made it IG official in August 2020 ... after Biles says she slid in his DMs the month before.

Forget Le'Veon Bell and Adrian Peterson ... Eric Dickerson says if the Rams turn to a vet to help fill the RB void left after Cam Akers' injury -- they NEED to give Todd Gurley a call!

The former Rams superstar explained it all to TMZ Sports out at LAX this week ... saying Gurley would be the perfect runner to sign if L.A. doesn't like what it sees from Akers' backups this summer.

"That’s a no-brainer," Dickerson said of re-inking Gurley. "I mean, he knows the offense, he knows this offense. He doesn’t have to come in and try and learn it."

"He knows [Sean] McVay, he knows the guys on the team -- that would be an easy fit."

Of course, there are plenty of roadblocks both sides would have to get through to get to that point -- many of which Dickerson acknowledges himself.

First and foremost, the two parties didn't have the best breakup when the Rams moved on from their former star in 2020.

Gurley also didn't exactly look great in his lone season in Atlanta last year, rushing for just 3.5 yards per carry.

But, Todd is a free agent seeking an NFL home, and the Rams could use the help -- so Dickerson says "business decisions" could end up motivating both sides to reconnect and enjoy a new marriage.

"At the end of the day, football, this is business," Dickerson said. "That’s what it comes down to. You got to make business decisions."

"You got to make decisions that are good for the football team, and the player has to make decisions that’s best for him."

Deshaun Watson doesn't look like a guy too concerned about his uncertain NFL future ... 'cause the QB hit up a New York hotspot Tuesday night appearing to be as cool as a cucumber, even posing for pics with fans outside the place.

The Texans superstar -- who's still being accused by more than 20 women of sexual misconduct -- had dinner at the popular 4 Seasons in NYC ... and he didn't seem to be perturbed about much.

Cameras captured the 25-year-old outside the restaurant in good spirits ... smiling and taking photos with people -- even chatting with some who had no idea who he was.

Of course, despite his positive attitude ... Watson's football future is still very much up in the air as his Texans team is slated to open training camp next week.

Watson could be barred from the workouts -- and perhaps even the entire 2021 season -- as cops and the NFL continue to investigate claims he was inappropriate with female massage therapists on multiple occasions over the past couple years.

As we previously reported, 22 masseuses have said in court docs that Watson crossed the line during what were supposed to be routine massage therapy sessions.

For his part, Watson has denied any wrongdoing ... and his reps have been adamant that any sexual encounters between the football player and the massage therapists were entirely consensual.

It's apparently "Coach" Sanders or it's no Sanders for Deion Sanders ... 'cause the Jackson State headman allegedly shut down interviews Tuesday after reporters referred to him as simply "Deion."

The bizarre scene reportedly took place during SWAC Media Day in Birmingham, Ala. ... when The Clarion-Ledger claims Sanders went off on one of its writers, Nick Suss, for calling the coach by his 1st name.

"You don't call Nick Saban, 'Nick,'" the outlet claims Sanders told Suss, referring to Alabama's legendary head football coach. "Don't call me Deion."

"If you call Nick [Saban], Nick, you'll get cussed out on the spot, so don't do that to me," Sanders reportedly added. "Treat me like Nick."

The Clarion-Ledger says when the football coach was referred to as Deion a second time during the interviews ... it claims that's when Sanders stormed out of the event.

Sanders -- who's very active on social media -- has yet to comment publicly on the allegations.

What's interesting about it all is Sanders is well-known for his nicknames ... responding to both "Neon Deion" and "Prime Time" during and after his NFL career.

As we previously reported, 53-year-old Sanders took over the Jackson State football program in 2020 ... and posted a 4-3 record in his first season as headman.

JSU is slated to kick off its second season with Sanders at the helm in September.

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."