NFL

Mark Davis has a serious bone to pick with the NFL ... calling out the league for its timing of the Jon Gruden email scandal and claiming the Raiders were treated unfairly.

Davis spoke with reporters at the league's owners meeting in NYC on Tuesday ... saying he's pissed about the way the Gruden incident played out in the middle of the season.

The Las Vegas Raiders owner questioned why the NFL knew about Gruden's emails for months, but didn't notify the team sooner ... adding the team only found out from the Wall Street Journal the Thursday before the coach resigned, according to Albert Breer.

When asked if his team was treated unfairly throughout the incident, Davis responded, "We’re Raiders. We’re used to this."

As for the investigation into the culture within the Washington Football Team organization, Davis says he wants a written report on the findings ... but commish Roger Goodell has already stated the NFL will NOT make it public.

The fan who gave up Tom Brady's 600th TD ball might not have the $500K pigskin, but his Coinbase account is surging in value, 'cause Rob Gronkowski and Mojo Muhtadi are hooking up the dude with over $30K in tokens!!

Gronk and Mojo (along with Steve Aoki) partnered with a new crypto company called Beyond Protocol earlier this year, Muhtadi tells TMZ Sports. BP says they specialize in tech that allows internet-connected devices to communicate safely.

Anyways, back to the Bucs fan, Byron Kennedy.

As we previously reported, TB12 joined Eli and Peyton Manning on MNF and announced he was giving the fan 1 Bitcoin -- currently worth about $60K -- for giving up the extremely valuable ball.

Cool, but still not worth half a milli (at least not yet).

Enter Mojo and Gronk ... Muhtadi tells us he spoke to the company, and they've decided to hook the fan up with 690 coins (if you know Mojo, you get this) worth about $44 each.

Do the math ... that's nearly $31K in value.

And, in addition to the BTC, Brady and the Bucs are hooking the fan up with a bunch of cool memorabilia ... including signed jerseys, a helmet, cleats, AND 2 season tickets for the rest of this season and next season.

Josh Allen's grandmother is being remembered in an incredible way ... a local Buffalo hospital has named an entire wing in her honor after Bills fans made more than $1 million in donations.

Remember, the John R. Oishei Children's Hospital was flooded with over 27,000 donations from fans after the Buffalo Bills QB's grandmother, Patricia Allen, passed away last November.

The contributions -- which totaled around $1.1 million -- were used to open up the Patricia Allen Pediatric Recovery Wing.

The 25-year-old Pro Bowler was in person for the awesome launch on Monday ... and took a tour of the 10th floor's brand new recovery center.

"It's such a surreal moment," Allen said, "I'm so grateful to have this honor, to have my grandmother immortalize like this."

The new wing also has a "Bills Fans Fun Zone" -- a playroom dedicated to the 27,000 fans who donated.

"I'm so indebted to this great community and the city of Buffalo," Allen added. "We can't thank you guys enough for allowing us to be a part of this."

The guy who gave back Tom Brady's 600th TD pass ball might have cost himself a small fortune ... 'cause one memorabilia expert says the pigskin was worth at least $500K!!

Here's the deal ... after catching the record-setting touchdown pass from Brady in the 1st quarter of the Bucs' win over the Bears, Mike Evans ran over to a Tampa Bay fan and gave away the ball.

Evans didn't think much of it at the time -- he does the nice gesture after most of his TDs -- but when he got back to the sideline, he realized his blunder.

Cameras at Raymond James Stadium caught Mike full of regret over handing away the valuable item (no player in NFL history has ever thrown for 600 in their careers) ... and eventually, Bucs staffers got to work on getting it back.

Somehow, during the middle of the game, the team convinced the guy to return the ball ... a move auction expert Ken Goldin says could have cost him HALF A MILLION DOLLARS -- and maybe even more than that.

"Given how historic this ball is as the first 600th TD in NFL history," Goldin said, "I'd estimate this ball to be worth a minimum of $500,000 (and possibly much more)."

The fan said during an interview mid-game that he gave back the ball simply because he was told Brady really wanted it.

"The trainer came over and asked for it," the fan said. "What am I going to do? Say no to Tom Brady?"

The fan added that he was promised some swag and maybe a handshake from Brady in return for it all.

As for Brady's side of it all, he was pleased with the guy's good gesture -- telling reporters after the game, "He’s going to get something nice in return."

"We'll get him a helmet or a couple of jerseys or some other stuff. It was really cool of him to do that."

Peyton Manning found himself apologizing yet again on Monday night -- this time, it's all 'cause Marshawn Lynch hilariously dropped an f-bomb live on his show!!

Just a month after Manning was forced to say sorry for his little bro, Eli, flipping off cameras during the brothers' "Monday Night Football" Manningcast ... Peyton found himself in a similar situation with Lynch.

Late in the first quarter of the Seahawks' tilt with the Saints ... Lynch was watching a play when Seattle snapped the ball unexpectedly.

"Oh," Marshawn said. "What the f***?!"

The 35-year-old former running back knew right away he had messed up, covering his mouth and adding, "I mean!"

Lynch dropped a few other expletives during the show too ... and it all caused Peyton to issue a mea culpa later in the night.

"I want to thank Marshawn Lynch,'' he said. "Not as wild about the language. I want to apologize for some of the language. It's not what we're trying to do on this show.''

He then joked about Eli's September double-barrel salute, saying, "I had to remind Eli that this show is live. So Eli's learned his lesson. Marshawn, I probably should have talked to him."

Ja'Marr Chase's early NFL success is no fluke ... so says Michael Irvin, who tells TMZ Sports he believes the new Bengals star is a "more talented" wideout than The Playmaker ever was.

"Ja'Marr Chase is off the chain, man," Irvin said of the Cincinnati rookie.

Michael told us out in NYC on Monday that he's been particularly impressed by Chase's ability to respond from a terrible preseason, one in which he dropped so many passes that people wondered if he'd be a 2021 bust.

"To make the switch to playing like one of the best receivers in the NFL right now, it's incredible," Irvin said.

The Cowboys legend added that Chase, who put up 201 receiving yards and a touchdown on 8 catches in a win over the Ravens on Sunday, is "way more talented than I ever will be."

"Now," Irvin continued, "let's see if he can get more rings than I ever had."

As for Michael's former team ... we asked Irvin about what Dallas should do in the offseason if offensive coordinator, Kellen Moore, gets a head coaching offer from another team.

Sad news in the NFL ... replay official Carl Madsen died on Sunday shortly after working the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tennessee Titans game in Tennessee.

He was 71 years old.

The NFL announced the tragic passing on Monday -- with league reporter Tom Pelissero saying Madsen died "while en route home" from the Week 7 matchup at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

No other information surrounding his death has been given.

Madsen -- a veteran of the U.S. Air Force -- was an on-field official for the NFL from 1997 to 2008 ... before he became a replay official for the league in '09.

"Carl Madsen was an NFL officiating fixture for more than two decades, first as a highly respected on-field official before transitioning to a replay role beginning in 2009," NFL senior VP of officiating training and development Walt Anderson said.

"A terrific friend and colleague, Carl's love of football and dedication to officiating was ever-present, as he generously shared his time to mentor young officials at clinics across the country. A veteran of the Air Force, Carl had a tremendous spirit and will be greatly missed."

#RIP

It turns out Jedrick Wills can't compliment a guy without sparking a QB battle ... 'cause the Cleveland Browns left tackle is clearing the air after praising Case Keenum, saying he was NOT taking a shot at Baker Mayfield.

Wills was speaking with reporters on Monday following the Browns' 17-14 win over the Denver Broncos ... when he said he didn't feel like there was a drop-off with Keenum filling in for the injured Mayfield.

While Wills was very clearly trying to speak highly of the team taking care of business in Baker's absence, some fans tried to start drama by twisting it into a diss at Baker -- and he ain't having it.

"Bro y’all are weird 😂😂😂," Wills said Monday. "Case played a good game, not s***ing on Bake at all. Relax"

Of course, Baker's still dealing with a shoulder injury ... but Keenum stepped up for nearly 200 yards and 1 touchdown to get Cleveland back in the win column.

Tyrann Mathieu says he did not tell Titans fans to "sit on a d***" after the Chiefs' loss Sunday ... calling the reports a straight-up "lie."

The Honey Badger allegedly unleashed the crass insult following K.C.'s 27-3 defeat at Nissan Stadium in Nashville ... with a local reporter tweeting he heard it loud and clear on the sidelines.

"I and another photographer heard him say those words as he turned around to some fans," K.C. sports anchor Harold R. Kuntz said.

Mathieu, though, was quick to deny the allegation ... writing on his own social media page (and then later deleting), "This is a lie!"

"I can’t believe this dude lied on me," Mathieu added in another tweet.

Kuntz said he talked with Chiefs staffers over it all ... and while he regretted tweeting about it and apologized to Mathieu over it -- he stood by his claims.

"I am standing by what I heard, but I should not have tweeted it, in hindsight," Kuntz said. "It was a frustrating game but should not have shared that info on social. For this, I apologize."

Jon Gruden's time in the NFL could be over for good ... so says Nate Burleson, who tells TMZ Sports he's "not sure" if the league will ever take the coach back.

Less than two weeks after the 58-year-old stepped down as head man of the Las Vegas Raiders due to crass emails he sent between 2011 and 2018 ... we asked Burleson out at LAX if he thinks there's any way Jon can get another gig in the league.

The wideout turned TV star acknowledged time does heal all wounds ... but he added he's just not sure if Gruden can rebound from the scandal -- given the racist, homophobic and misogynistic language he used in the online messages.

"The league is 75 percent Black and some of those words can be interpreted as racist, insensitive," Burleson said. "And, Carl Nassib is an openly gay player. And, the words that [Gruden] used when talking about Michael Sam, it really does hurt the heart to hear."

Nate added, "This is an inclusive league. And, I think that's what we pride ourselves on. I'm not sure if we'll see him back in the league. I'm not sure."

As for Gruden's claim that he made earlier this week that "the truth will come out" ... Burleson said, "There's some truth of his in those emails. Which is why it was so disheartening."

Jon has apologized for the messages -- saying he was "sorry" in his resignation statement -- and his close friends, like Andre Rison, have said they do not believe he's a racist or a homophobe.

Robert Woods is ready to unleash a power and a force that you've never seen before -- the Los Angeles Rams receiver just copped these amazing custom cleats featuring the Blue Power Ranger!!!

TMZ Sports has learned, the wideout wanted to add to his royal blue custom cleat collection ... so he hit up his go-to guy, artist Joe Castro, for the job.

Castro tells us Woods is a huge Power Rangers fan and asked for his new joints to feature the classic '90s TV show -- so it was a no-brainer to go with the Blue Ranger!

And, they're Morphenomenal!!!

Castro says it only took 5 hours to complete the blue and white kicks featuring the detailed action superhero in full gear.

It also has the Blue Ranger's Triceratops Dinozard symbol ... and, for those who don't remember, that's their robot that carries them into battle.

Woods has been going off the last two weeks -- he logged in a total of 181 receiving yards and 1 TD for Week 5 & 6.

K.C. Chiefs star Frank Clark has been hit with another gun charge ... this stemming from his June arrest where he allegedly drove around with an uzi in his car.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Clark was pulled over in L.A. back on June 20 for a routine traffic violation, when cops say they saw an uzi sticking out of an open duffle bag in his Lambo SUV.

Clark was arrested and booked for illegal possession of a firearm ... and law enforcement sources tell us L.A. prosecutors formally hit him with one count of possession of an assault weapon this week.

Clark is due in court for a hearing on the matter on Jan. 17 ... one week after the Chiefs' season is scheduled to end.

Of course, Clark was already facing a separate gun charge related to another incident in California on March 13.

In that case, cops say they pulled over the 28-year-old and another man for failing to display a front license plate.

Police say during the stop, they noticed a gun in the car ... and after searching the ride, they say they found two loaded firearms, and arrested both men.

Sources close to Clark at the time claimed the guns did NOT belong to the NFL player -- but rather to a member of his security team.

The Cowboys hate the Eagles on the field, and they clearly hate them off of it now too -- 'cause Noah Brown just crapped all over Jason Kelce for criticizing Ben Simmons this week.

Kelce went off on the 76ers star on Thursday ... telling reporters that the disgruntled point guard needs to quit crying about his situation in Philadelphia and just play basketball better.

When Brown, one of Dak Prescott's favorite receivers, got word of those comments on Friday -- he snapped, and said in a series of social media posts that Kelce needs to mind his own damn business.

"All these Philly athletes tryna s*** on Simmons for a extra pat on the back from Philly fans," Brown wrote. "Cornball activity."

"Idk when speaking on another man habits and accountability to something that ain't got s*** to do w you became cool."

He added, "S*** corny."

Brown went on to say he thinks Philly fans are going to jump down athletes' throats no matter what they say in this situation ... explaining he believes the city only likes its players when they play well.

"Philly still gone fye u up next time u f*** up so sit back and mind ya business," he said.

A Connecticut man could spend the rest of his life behind bars ... after a jury found him guilty this week of sex trafficking during the 2020 Chiefs vs. 49ers Super Bowl.

Federal prosecutors say the man, Edward Walker, brought two women and a 17-year-old girl to Miami from Connecticut in order to coerce them into having sex with people for cash during the Big Game and the leadup to it.

Authorities say Walker took the money for the acts and kept it all -- and had planned to do the same thing with the women in the future at different locations like the NBA All-Star Game in Chicago and Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Walker, though, was eventually arrested and charged, and after a trial this month ... he was found guilty of several charges, including sex trafficking by force and coercion.

Feds announced Friday that Walker now faces up to life in prison ... with his sentencing hearing slated for Jan. 6, 2022.

Cleveland Browns running back D'Ernest Johnson was in complete shock when he found out LeBron James showed him love after his breakout game Thursday night ... giving a hilarious reaction to the shout-out!!

25-year-old Johnson balled out against the Denver Broncos in his first NFL start, rushing for 146 yards and a touchdown on the ground and adding 22 yards through the air.

LeBron -- a diehard Browns fan as of a few years ago -- took note of the performance and tweeted his support for DJ Thursday night ... saying, "D’ Ernest Johnson on 1 tonight!! Love to see it! #Browns"

Johnson got wind of the shoutout during his postgame presser, and he could not believe it.

"What? LeBron?! Man, that's my favorite basketball player, I ain't gonna lie to you," Johnson said. "LeBron?! LeBron?! Bro, that's big time. That's amazing, bro."

"LeBron James, I appreciate it, man. That means a lot."

Johnson's teammate, Anthony Walker, was also star struck ... saying, "That's big time right there."

BTW, Johnson's story is incredible -- he spent a year working on a fishing boat catching mahi-mahi after going undrafted out of the University of South Florida in 2018. When the Alliance of American Football debuted in 2019, he DMed every team in hopes of getting back on the field.

After spending 8 games with the AAF's Orlando Apollos, he joined the Browns in 2019 as a backup. With Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt out with injuries, Johnson stepped up and helped Cleveland get the much-needed win on TNF.

So, did Johnson celebrate the big win with some mahi-mahi??

"Definitely not having no mahi-mahi, probably have some salmon, but not mahi-mahi."

Odell Beckham Jr. needs to get the hell outta Cleveland ... so says Robert Griffin III, who's calling for the Browns to trade the star receiver and stop wasting his talent.

It's no secret -- OBJ isn't nearly as productive in The Land as he was with the New York Giants ... and while he's battled injuries in his 3 seasons with the Browns, he's not getting many targets when he's healthy.

RG3 -- who spent the 2016 season with the Orange and Brown -- has seen enough of OBJ in CLE ... saying it's time to send the 28-year-old to a team that'll actually throw him the ball.

"The Browns need to trade OBJ because they don’t feature him, some games they don’t even try to throw it to him, their QBs don’t seem to be able to sync up with him on the deep ball or any other route," the former Heisman winner tweeted after the Browns' 17-14 win over the Broncos on Thursday night.

"He is wayyy to talented to be this poorly utilized. Oh and now he is hurt."

There was fear Odell further injured his shoulder sprain when trying to catch a pass in the win. He later returned to the game, but finished with 2 catches and 23 yards from backup Case Keenum.

Odell has 16 catches on 33 targets in 5 games this season ... with just a little over 200 yards and 0 touchdowns.