NFL

Jon Gruden is finally speaking out about his barrage of homophobic, sexist and misogynistic emails ... insinuating to a reporter this month there's more to the story.

"The truth will come out," Gruden said, according to NFL insider Andrea Kremer.

Kremer revealed the former Las Vegas Raiders head coach -- who stepped down from his role following the public release of his crass messages -- made the comments recently to one of her producers, who cold-called the coach for a story on Mark Davis that the two were working on.

"He's still in Las Vegas," Kremer said of what Gruden told the producer. "He said he's letting the dust settle. He said, 'People who know me know what I stand for, for 58 years. I have a resume of 58 years.'"

"He said, 'The truth will come out.'"

Kremer acknowledged the Gruden comment was "cryptic" ... but it seems the coach did not reveal anything further.

Kremer added that Jon also questioned whether the whole drama could spell the end of his coaching career.

Gruden hadn't spoken publicly since his 2011-to-2018 emails were made public ... only saying in a statement following his release from the Raiders, "I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone."

Eagles star Jason Kelce clearly ain't pleased with the way Ben Simmons is handling business with the Sixers ... telling reporters Thursday he thinks the NBA star should shut up and "play better."

Simmons has been a problem in Philly for the past few months -- wanting out of the city so badly, he actually got thrown out of practice this week and then suspended by the team.

Kelce, though, says he's got the perfect solution for Simmons to fix all the woes -- and it's simply to just be a better basketball player.

"Everybody can bitch and complain about how tough this city is to play in -- just play better, man," the 33-year-old Eagles O-lineman said. "This city will love you."

Kelce added, "If I go out there and play really good, nobody's going to have any choice but to love me or appreciate me as a player."

Seems Simmons really ain't even down to try that route ... 'cause the point guard was spotted at Sixers practice this week loafing around and appearing to go through drills with his phone in his pocket.

And, with the 25-year-old's star teammate, Joel Embiid, saying he "doesn't care about" Simmons anymore ... it all looks like the guy will be jettisoned soon.

For Kelce -- who's Travis Kelce's big bro, by the way -- he clearly thinks that's a shame ... and perhaps even a cowardly way to bow out of Philadelphia.

Kyler Murray had a bone to pick with Myles Garrett following their game Sunday ... telling the Cleveland Browns star he was ticked over his inclusion in the dude's Halloween QB graveyard!

Murray's hilarious beef was all picked up on a hot mic after the Cardinals beat Cleveland ... with the quarterback asking Garrett why he had to be on one of the headstones in the pass-rusher's front lawn.

"Why you got me in the graveyard, dawg?!" Murray asked. "Why you got me in the graveyard?!"

Garrett gave a sheepish smile and then explained, "I need some added motivation."

Murray clearly didn't love the answer, replying back, "Damn!" But, he did tell Garrett he did appreciate not having a "RIP" on his marker.

As we previously reported, Garrett has laid out QB gravestones in front of his house to celebrate the spooky season ... with Murray, Lamar Jackson, Ben Roethlisberger and four others being featured in the decorations.

Garrett had said they were up because he thought they were funny, and that he liked being "kind of a troll."

Don't worry ... it seemed like Murray didn't care that much, 'cause he complimented Garrett's game and said, "You're the best at it, man."

Kristin Cavallari says her romantic relationship with Jay Cutler didn't officially end after they filed for divorce -- the reality star says the two actually dated again following their famous split, but she realized quickly, "This is wrong."

Cavallari broke it all down on Podcast One's "Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe" this week ... saying shortly after she ended things with Jay in April 2020, she wondered if it was the right decision.

So much so, Cavallari admitted she and the NFL QB went on multiple dates to consider rekindling their relationship.

"The thing with Jay and I is we're not getting a divorce because of love lost, which made it really challenging because we were crazy about each other," Cavallari revealed.

"I just decided I didn't want to be in a toxic relationship anymore and I had to break it off. But, that's made it hard and made me sit here and question it for a few months."

Kristin says that led to her going out again with Cutler ... but, apparently, the outings didn't go so hot for the couple.

"I was like, 'No, this is wrong,'" Cavallari said. "It just wasn't there anymore. It's not there for me anymore."

She later added, "Going back and dating him a little bit made me reaffirm it like, 'No, I know that I'm doing the right decision.'"

Cavallari hinted on the podcast that her and Jay's current relationship isn't the best at the moment, calling it "a rollercoaster" ... and explaining if the two didn't have children together, she "would never talk to him ever again."

"I think when we go through a breakup, like all of the sudden our minds turn on us, and we only remember the good times," Cavallari said ... "And, then reality sets in and you're like, 'Oh no. No. No. There's a reason why I left.'"

Kristin has been linked to several people since the Cutler breakup -- including most recently country music star Chase Rice.

Cincinnati Bengals' C.J. Uzomah is making amends with a fan after messing up his phone during an end zone celebration this weekend ... by hookin' him up with a new one -- AND tickets!!!

If you missed it, the Bengals TE knocked fan, Sebastian Day's, phone out of his hand while trying to high five supporters after scoring a 4th-quarter touchdown against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Bengals RB Joe Mixon noticed the oopsie, picked up the phone and took selfies before giving it back to Day ...  and the whole moment went viral!

Day's phone was beat up from the unfortunate fall ... and word got back to Uzomah.

"C.J. reached out to me and said he'd give me a new phone," Day said to FOX19.

"I really wasn't too worried about it. I like the phone I have, and he said he should be able to hook me up with some tickets. I'd rather have the tickets than a phone."

Well, Uzomah is awarding him with both ... the Bengals fan says he was offered the newest smartphone and tickets to either a Browns or Steelers game.

Washington State football head coach Nick Rolovich has lost his job ... and it's all 'cause he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The school announced the move late Monday evening ... explaining the coach's vax decision paired with state rules and regulations forced university officials' hands.

The school also said four of Rolovich's assistants -- Ricky Logo, John Richardson, Craig Stutzmann and Mark Weber -- were also being terminated over their refusal to get the shots.

"This is a disheartening day for our football program," said athletics director Pat Chun, who announced the team's defensive coordinator, Jake Dickert, would replace Rolovich. "Our priority has been and will continue to be the health and well-being of the young men on our team."

"The leadership on our football team is filled with young men of character, selflessness and resiliency and we are confident these same attributes will help guide this program as we move forward."

Rolovich has publicly been a staunch anti-vaxxer for months ... famously not showing up to Pac-12 media days in July over the conference's vaccine rules and regulations.

Rolovich had said at the time his reasoning for turning down the vax "will remain private" ... though it's since been reported the 42-year-old had been seeking a religious exemption.

Clearly, he didn't get it ... and with Washington mandating that its state employees get the vax -- Rolovich's time at Wazzu ended Monday.

"WSU students, faculty, and staff understand the importance of getting vaccinated and wearing masks so that we can safely return to in-person learning and activities," school president Kirk Schulz said.

"I am proud of all those members of our community who have set the example and taken the steps to protect not just themselves, but their fellow Cougs."

It's been more than a week since Texas A&M football fans rushed the field after beating Alabama ... but Nick Saban still has the scars bruises to prove it.

Of course, Aggies backers couldn't resist storming onto the gridiron after A&M upset the #1-ranked Crimson Tide on Oct. 9 ... winning 41-38.

Bama's head coach couldn't escape the sea of fans unscathed ... 'cause on Monday, he showed off a baseball-sized mark during a press conference with reporters.

"I still got a big bruise on my arm here from what happened after the Texas A&M game," the 69-year-old coach said.

But of course, Saban was able to spin the mark into a GOOD thing ... saying, "I can always just look at that as a reminder to what it feels like to be in that situation and motivate myself to try and do a better job with our players."

BTW, Saban's not the only coach facing off with fans -- Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin had his share of mayhem this weekend with trash (and even a golf ball) being thrown at him after the game against the Tennessee Volunteers.

With these two incidents in the last 2 weeks, Saban was asked if the SEC should do more to protect the teams ... and he said, "I don't think that's my question to really answer."

"I've said this before -- we're in entertainment business. There's a lot of people that come to the games, they got a lot of passion and excitement for what they do."

"Hopefully, institution and fans will always do that in a positive way."

Ex-Bears star Olin Kreutz is so furious with Aaron Rodgers over his "I still own you" taunt ... he said Monday he wanted to punch the Packers QB in the face over it all.

Rodgers made the savage remarks following a touchdown run in yet another win over the Bears in Chicago ... screaming to fans, "All my f***ing life, I own you."

He added, "I still own you! I still own you!"

After the game, Rodgers explained he had made the comments after seeing fans flip him off ... and Kreutz told "670 The Score" he couldn't stand any of it.

"I'd like to punch him in his face, to be honest," said the former Bears O-lineman, who made six Pro Bowls with the team in his 13 years in Chicago.

"I'd like to punch him in his face. When you see that, that's your first reaction."

Kreutz also railed against Rodgers' explanation for the taunt ... adding, "I'd like to tell you exactly how I feel about it, but I can't say too much on the radio about exactly how I feel about Aaron Rodgers doing that."

FYI -- Rodgers has, in fact, owned Chicago in his career, piling up a 22-5 record against the Bears ... and while Kreutz acknowledged the QB wasn't necessarily wrong in his crass statements, he didn't want to hear them regardless.

"Just because you're right," Kreutz said, "it doesn't make you right for doing it."

Cam Newton might not be jobless much longer ...

Seahawks head coach, Pete Carroll, confirmed Monday they've reached out to the former MVP in wake of Russell Wilson's injury.

But, a signing might not necessarily be imminent ... 'cause Carroll added the team is also "talking to everybody that could help us."

Still, the contact could certainly precede a contract, with the 'Hawks in desperate need of QB help while Wilson is out for the next couple weeks battling a busted finger.

Geno Smith has filled in well for Wilson so far, but the depth behind him ain't exactly robust -- and Cam is definitely the best option among free agent signal-callers.

For his part, Newton, who was released by the Patriots in August, has insisted he's ready to play, saying in a video over the weekend, "I still get that urge to go out and perform and do something that I've been doing since I was 7 years old."

Newton also explained he's gotten the COVID-19 vaccination ... and added he has been getting "offers" from teams.

"The realization of it is," he said, "it has to be right."

A Minnesota Vikings fan was sent crashing to the ground after being socked in the face during a wild melee at the Panthers game Sunday ... and all of the violence was captured on video.

The scene went down at some point during the Vikes' win over Carolina at Bank Of America Stadium ... when a man clad in purple got into a verbal altercation with several Panthers fans.

In footage of the fracas, you can see the Minnesota fan immediately started scrapping with a man in a Jaycee Horn jersey ... before yelling at others in the area.

Several people stepped in to intervene ... and pushing, shoving and screaming ensued.

Eventually, the altercation turned seriously violent ... with the man in the purple shirt being thrown to the ground and then being hit by a thunderous punch.

The guy laid on the floor for several moments ... but got up and appeared to try to continue the fight.

Meanwhile, another woman was knocked to the ground amid all of the chaos.

It's unclear what started the brawl, if there were injuries or if any arrests were made. We've reached out to cops, but so far, no word back yet.

Of course, fighting at NFL stadiums has unfortunately been commonplace this year ... with violent scuffles -- including one at the Bears vs. Rams game earlier this season -- breaking out seemingly weekly.

Great news for Darrell Taylor -- the Seattle Seahawks defensive end is doing well after being stretchered off the field in a scary moment during Sunday's game ... with coach Pete Carroll saying initial reports are "really good."

Taylor was carted off and taken to a nearby hospital after suffering an injury in the 4th quarter ... with players circling around him in support as he laid immobilized.

Carroll gave an update on Taylor's status after the 'Hawks' 23-20 loss to the Steelers ... saying all his initial tests came back clear and he was able to travel with the team.

"The CT scans were clear, so that's a really good preliminary report," Carroll told reporters. "There's some more tests to be done and stuff like that, so we're thrilled about that news."

Carroll says Taylor has full movement in his arms and legs ... and admits the pass rusher would have preferred to not have left the field the way he did.

"He was so mad about having to be taken off the field like that," Carroll added.

"He wanted to get up, they just wouldn't let him do it, because they had to do all the secure methods to take care of him and all of that. But man, he didn't want any part of that."

Taylor is one of the best defensive players for the 'Hawks ... with 4 sacks this season.

Patrick Mahomes' brother says he meant "absolutely no disrespect" by dancing on a Sean Taylor memorial Sunday ... explaining the whole thing was a complete misunderstanding.

Jackson Mahomes -- who's gained fame over the last two years for his TikToks -- recorded himself stepping on a swath of grass at FedExField that had been spray painted to honor Taylor.

The moves -- set to a popular song -- were seen as wildly inappropriate ... given that the Washington Football Team had chained off the area in order to recognize Taylor, who was having his number 21 retired 14 years after his tragic death.

Fans blasted the younger Mahomes on social media ... with others noting that he and Patrick's fiancee, Brittany Matthews, had even been standing on the logo prior to the dancing.

Jackson issued an apology hours after the Chiefs left the stadium with a win, deleting the TikTok and saying WFT officials had actually "directed" him to be there.

"I want to sincerely apologize for accidentally being on the Sean Taylor #21 at FedEx Field," Jackson said. "We were directed to stand in that area and I meant absolutely no disrespect to him or his family."

This is not the first time Jackson has created a headline at a Chiefs game this season ... just a few weeks ago, he doused a trash-talking Ravens fan with water.

Patrick said after that incident he was hopeful his brother would "learn from it."

Indianapolis Colts DB Isaiah Rodgers will be channeling his inner-Terminator for next weekend's game ... 'cause he just copped cleats featuring images from the classic 1984 action thriller -- that light up!

TMZ Sports has learned artist Rodney Jackson was workin' on some Terminator cleats with the idea of highlighting the T-800 model by using actual lights for the eyes.

And, when Jackson finished them ... he shared 'em with Rodgers and said the NFL player wanted 'em ASAP!

The cleats are dope -- they feature a detailed image of Arnold Schwarzenegger with a shotgun and dark shades ... the exact image of the '84 movie poster.

On the other side, the Terminator is painted on -- with red eyes that flash!

Jackson -- who also made Candyman cleats for Nyheim Hines earlier this season -- says it took a lot of wiring and a lot of work ... but he managed to get the spikes done in just one day!

Andre Rison is going to bat for Jon Gruden ... telling TMZ Sports he knows the former NFL head coach is definitely "not a racist."

Rison -- who played for Gruden and the Raiders in the 2000 NFL season -- said despite the vile, racist, homophobic and misogynistic words Jon wrote in emails from 2011 to 2018 ... he still believes the guy is a good man.

"We all say some things behind closed doors that we regret or we wouldn't say in public," said Rison, who's remained close to Gruden even after the '00 season ended. "We've all made mistakes."

"I believe who he said and what he said and who he intended it for, it was intended for that person and nobody else."

Rison did admit Gruden did mean what he said in his messages to a Washington Football Team exec and others ... and offered to apologize on the coach's behalf.

But, Rison added in all the years he's been around the 58-year-old, he's never seen anything that would suggest Gruden is a bad person.

Rison also told us he believes if this is the end of Gruden's time in the NFL, the former Raiders head man should hold his head high.

"You've already given this game some of the best tutelage and best leadership that you could possibly give," Rison said in a message to Gruden. "So if you don't ever touch the game again, don't feel any type of way."

The NFL's General Counsel Jeff Pash & then-Washington Football Team Prez Bruce Allen took a cheap shot at NFL players -- claiming almost none of them bother to vote.

Allen fired off the diss to his buddy Pash in an email TMZ Sports has obtained. Sources confirm the email exchange is among the more than 650,000 emails presented to the league during its 2020 investigation of the WFT organization -- and it says a lot about how the 2 high-ranking league officials felt about players.

In the 2018 email, Allen says, "I just got a phone call reminding me to vote in the Virginia primary before 7pm today (which I'm going to do). If NFL rules permitted NFL employees to gamble, I would bet $20.00 that less than 1% of NFL players voted in primaries this year."

Pash, who's been described as Commissioner Roger Goodell's right-hand man, replied, "Maybe even take the under" ... meaning, he'd bet even less than 1% of players votes.

Couple things to keep in mind -- this was the summer of 2018, less than 2 years after Colin Kaepernick and several other players were kneeling during the National Anthem to stand against police brutality and social injustice. So, suggesting players weren't interested in politics seems, at the very least, tone-deaf and misguided.

And, here's the bigger point ... according to our sources, the NFL had this email -- and the thousands of others -- more than a year ago, and yet took no action to discipline anyone involved. As you might know, in the wake of Jon Gruden's racist and homophobic emails (sent to Allen, BTW) ... there are calls for Goodell to release all of the emails. As of now, he has not.

The fact the league's own lead attorney and a team exec are on the record making distasteful remarks about players certainly isn't a good look -- and, perhaps, speaks to why the league's sitting on that mountain of emails.

Eli Manning letting his birds fly on national TV was hilarious, but it turns out the Giants legend truly regretted the mishap ... this according to his bro, Peyton, who says he really felt bad afterward.

Remember, Eli was telling an anecdote about playing in front of Eagles fans in Philadelphia on "Monday Night Football" a few weeks back ... and got a bit too into it when talking about how 9-year-old kids would flip him off in the stands -- giving a visible demonstration on camera.

Peyton is now giving his take on the whole incident ... saying he's heard Eli share that story 100 times, but NEVER thought in a million years he would actually do the gesture.

"Out of all times to actually do it, I was in real shock about it," Manning said this week.

"But, he felt bad and he apologized. It was not intentional but it was just funny that was the one time he picked to do it."

We also talked about the Manning Bros' successful 'MNF' broadcast ... and Peyton says he's loved his time talkin' football with Eli -- and their star-studded guests have been having a blast, too!!