NFL

If Cam Newton were vaccinated, he would still be the New England Patriots' starter ... so says NFL Network star Kyle Brandt.

"I'll tell you right now," the "Good Morning Football" host told Harvey and Babcock on "TMZ Live" this week, "I think Cam Newton would be the starting quarterback of the Patriots right now if he was vaccinated."

"That's my opinion, but I think it's true."

It's a bold take ... especially considering Bill Belichick told media members this week that Cam's vaccination status had nothing to do with his release.

But, there's no denying the time Newton missed while dealing with COVID protocol issues last month allowed Mac Jones an opportunity to take a firm hold of the QB1 role in New England.

Brandt, though, says he believes the COVID issues won't stop with Cam ... saying he's so worried about it, it's actually impacting fantasy football drafts.

"I actually think it's something you take into consideration," Brandt said, "because these guys might have to sit out."

Dez Bryant might be done with football, but he's hoping he's certainly not through with making stacks of cash -- 'cause the ex-NFL star says he's hoping his NFT business can make him a FORTUNE.

The former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro has launched a platform designed to help athletes like himself sell non-fungible tokens and other packages to fans ... with the hopes of raking in serious coin.

In fact, Dez is so fired up over the idea of it all ... he told TMZ Sports out in NYC this week he's gunning to eventually make $100 MILLION off it.

As for what that means for his football future ... Bryant sure didn't seem like a guy too focused on getting back in the league this season.

The 32-year-old told us he's still in shape and "absolutely" can still play ... but suggested his business ventures might take up most of his time now.

"I'm a jack-of-all-trades type of guy," Bryant said. "I always been that way. I see the bigger vision. I'm one of those guys that can step outside of themselves and just see the bigger picture."

"That's what I've done and that's what I've always done my whole life, my whole football career and I see a lot of athletes lack a lot of things and I feel like me and my guy, the team that's been created, is built to provide the best of the best for athletes."

Fantasy football nerds, take note ... Victor Cruz tells TMZ Sports Sterling Shepard is about to have a HUGE season for the New York Giants!!

The former Giants superstar made the claim to us out in NYC earlier this week ... predicting the 28-year-old wideout will finally have a breakout year in 2021.

"I think watch out for Sterling Shepard," Cruz said. "I think he's going to be a guy."

Shepard has shown flashes of brilliance in the past -- in his five-year career with the Giants, he's posted 3,518 receiving yards and 20 TDs on 313 catches.

But, he's never quite had a superstar year just yet ... though Cruz clearly believes that's on the way this season.

"Sterling Shepard is going to be a guy that's going to do some really big things this year that might slip under the radar," Cruz said.

Donnie Wahlberg is bummed that his Patriots cut ties with Cam Newton this week ... telling TMZ Sports he was sure the QB would have gotten his favorite squad to this season's Super Bowl!

The "Blue Bloods" actor -- who's a SERIOUSLY diehard Pats fan -- broke it all down for us out in NYC this week ... explaining he really did love Newton as Tom Brady's successor.

"Mannnnn, I love Cam," Wahlberg told us. "I thought he was going to lead us to the Super Bowl!"

Don't get it twisted ... Wahlberg still has love for New England's new starter, Mac Jones -- he was just that high on Newton heading into this year.

"I'm telling you," Wahlberg said, "I thought he was going to take the Patriots to the Super Bowl. And, hopefully, Mac will as well. So, we'll see what happens."

Jones did ball out during the preseason, posting a 97.4 passer rating with no interceptions ... while Newton struggled. Cam also missed time due to COVID protocols.

But, Wahlberg told us he doesn't think the COVID issues and vaccine status had anything to do with the release ... saying he believes Bill Belichick just let him go so he'd "have a chance to start elsewhere."

Wahlberg added he's going to believe in Belichick at the end of the day no matter what ... saying, "If you're a Patriots fan, you trust him and that's it."

Keith McCants -- the 4th overall draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1990 NFL Draft -- has passed away. He was 53 years old.

McCants was found dead Thursday morning in St. Petersburg, Florida by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, according to The Athletic.

The former Alabama defensive end played in 88 games over his 6 year NFL career for the Bucs, Oilers and Cardinals ... and finished with 192 tackles and 13.5 sacks.

He also recorded one touchdown -- reaching the endzone off a 46-yard interception return.

McCants was an All-American at Alabama and was named CBS National Defensive Player of the Year in 1989. He was also selected as the Iron Bowl MVP.

After his playing days were over, McCants fell into financial troubles ... and opened up about his experiences on the ESPN "30 for 30" documentary, "Broke."

Unfortunately, Keith also shared his battles with drug abuse and painkillers ... telling Vice Sports back in 2015 he was taking more than 183 pills a week before the end of his NFL career ... and it took a toll on him mentally.

What will Mark Davis' new mega-mansion have in common with his Las Vegas Raiders team's practice facility and stadium???

They'll ALL look alike ... this according to records obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which show Davis is building a $14 MILLION crib that'll resemble his team's current Vegas building!!!

According to the report, the NFL team owner has already broken ground in Henderson, Nev. on the new place ... which -- as you can see in photos -- will look like a spaceship.

Per the report, the home will be a 15,000 square foot monstrosity with three stories, floor-to-ceiling windows, a bar, library, steam room, a man cave and a ridiculously huge pool that's gunning to have a view of the iconic Vegas strip.

The estate is also hoping to have a 5,422 square foot garage -- which, of course, is plenty of room for his beloved mini car.

A rendering of the place submitted to the city shows it'll have some Raiders' black and silver in the paint scheme too ... in addition to looking exactly like the team's Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center (as well as Allegiant Stadium).

Greg Rousseau has yet to play a down in the NFL ... but he's already winning in his rookie season -- 'cause he just surprised his mom with a new car, and she loved it!!

The Bills' first-round pick hit up Northtown Auto in the Buffalo area to gift his mother with the ride ... and the sweet gesture was all captured on video.

In the clip, obtained by TMZ Sports, you can see Rousseau told his mom he was going to the dealership to pick up some keys.

All of the sudden, though, they brought out a new set of wheels that the football player had picked out specifically for her!!

The footage shows Greg's mom was clearly pleased with the present ... 'cause she asked the pass rusher, "Are you for real?!"

Mom later got behind the wheel and was floored by all the Jeep's features ... and said of Greg, "He's such a nice person!"

Of course, Greg went the full nine yards with the car ... we're told it's a fully loaded 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, which can run for well over $40,000!!

And, if Greg's preseason (he logged two sacks in limited playing time in 3 games) is any indication of his future production in the field, seems likely more gifts will be on the way for Mom soon.

Ed Oliver was just saved from a VERY expensive catastrophe ... 'cause the NFL defensive lineman's chain fell off while swimming in Lake Erie over the weekend -- but, thankfully, a diver came through in the clutch and found it!!!

Oliver's neighbors shared the awesome story this week ... explaining they had been out boating Saturday when Oliver's ice accidentally fell to the bottom of the body of water.

"It popped right off his neck," Oliver's neighbors said.

Fortunately for Ed -- a 1st-round pick in 2019 -- his neighbors were able to get pro divers out to look for it ... and they got it back!

The folks at Discover Diving WNY were able to search the floor to recover it ... and 23-year-old Oliver was over the moon about it -- posing for a happy pic afterward!

The funniest part of it all?!? The diver who found the chain had to try it on for a sec ... snapping a pic in the water shortly after coming back up to the surface.

No word on how much the piece cost, but Oliver is making $4.8 million a year ... so odds are pretty good it wasn't cheap!

Simone Biles' romance with Jonathan Owens may need to go more long distance than usual this football season ... 'cause the Houston Texans have just cut the gymnast's boyfriend.

The Texans made the move in paring down their roster to 53 on Tuesday ... which is, of course, sad news considering how smitten Owens and Biles appeared to be in Houston.

You'll recall ... the two athletes began dating about a year ago, and have formed a great relationship while living together in Texas.

The couple has been spotted out in Houston often ... with Biles famously attending a bunch of Owens' Texans practices after she returned from the Tokyo Olympics earlier this month.

Owens is now a free agent ... and any team could sign him and potentially pull him away from Texas.

There is a chance, however, Owens could stick around the Texans' org ... he's eligible to be a part of the team's practice squad -- and it actually seems likely he'll end up there, given he had a role on the Texans' P.S. last season.

Either way, we're betting the couple's relationship will power through it all regardless ... 'cause the two have been inseparable since getting together in 2020.

In fact, Biles just celebrated the pair's 1-year anniversary earlier this month ... joking on social media, "so happy past 1 year to the best thing that’s ever happened to you: ME."

Good luck, J.O.!

Hurricane Ida has forced the Saints to move their season-opener against the Packers out of New Orleans ... with the NFL announcing the game has been officially relocated to Florida.

The league said on Wednesday that due to storm damage and the ongoing efforts to recover from it all in New Orleans ... the Saints' highly anticipated Sept. 12 Week 1 matchup will now be played at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville.

"The decision was made, in consultation with state and local officials and both clubs, in the interest of public safety," the NFL said, adding the game's kickoff time will remain at 4:25 PM ET.

It's unclear if any further Saints games will need to be moved.

The Saints announced earlier this week that the Superdome did not sustain any major damage as Ida pounded the city ... though the team's head coach, Sean Payton, did say he now expects the Saints to be away from New Orleans for about a month.

Eli Manning surprised the hell out of Michael Strahan on Wednesday -- jumping out of a box to inform the ex-NFL star his Giants jersey is being retired ... and the scene was AWESOME!!!

It all went down on the set of "Good Morning America" ... when Eli was rolled into the studio in a giant wooden box to break the news to Michael that no future NY player would ever wear his old #92 again.

Check out the video ... Strahan was shocked to see his former QB -- and he was even more surprised when his ex-teammates Justin Tuck and Jessie Armstead joined in too!

The trio explained to Strahan the honor ... informing the former pass rusher that his jersey retirement ceremony will happen on Nov. 28.

To make the announcement even sweeter, they told Strahan the game will be when the Giants play his old rival, the Philadelphia Eagles.

New York later released a statement on the honor, with Giants president John Mara saying, "He deserves to have his number retired as other Giants immortals have, including Mel Hein, Frank Gifford and Lawrence Taylor."

Mara added, "Michael's career was defined by his achievements, his consistency and his leadership. Very few defensive ends played the position as well as Michael."

Strahan -- a second-round pick in the 1993 NFL Draft -- was a BEAST during his 15-year NFL career ... logging 141.5 sacks -- the most in Giants history and the 6th-most ever in the league.

Strahan still holds the record for the most sacks in a single-season (22.5) ... and he also owns a Super Bowl ring -- one in which he earned by famously beating Tom Brady's undefeated Patriots.

"Michael Strahan was a Hall of Fame player and he is a Hall of Fame person," Giants chairman and executive vice president Steve Tisch said.

"Only the very best players get their jerseys retired and Michael is in that category in Giants history and NFL history, as well."

Patriots legend Deion Branch says Bill Belichick actually HELPED Cam Newton by cutting him Tuesday ... explaining to TMZ Sports the move will now allow the QB to find a starting job elsewhere.

Branch's logic is simple ... he says if Newton had stayed in New England, he would've warmed the bench all season behind Mac Jones.

Now, however, after releasing the former NFL MVP -- Branch says Belichick allowed the 32-year-old to go try to compete for a QB1 role in another city.

"Let's tip our hats off to coach Belichick and the move that he did make," Branch said ... "freeing Cam and allowing him to go and seek another team."

Branch believes there will be plenty of Newton suitors now that he's on the open market ... with the ex-Pats wideout telling us everyone from the Houston Texans to the Miami Dolphins could be interested in signing the 32-year-old.

"For sure he'll be picked up," Deion says.

Malik McDowell -- a 2nd round pick out of Michigan State in 2017 -- is gunning to make the most of his second chance at being an NFL player ... saying he's in the "best place" he's been in a long time.

Of course, 25-year-old McDowell has yet to play a down in a REAL NFL football game -- he suffered an injury in an ATV accident just weeks before his rookie training camp with the Seattle Seahawks ... and was arrested 5 times between 2017 and 2019.

He was released by the 'Hawks in March 2019 ... and was sentenced to 11 months in jail later that year. Needless to say, most people expected McDowell's career all but over.

But, McDowell has been busting his ass ever since his release -- he signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns in May ... and on Tuesday, he was named to the team's 53-man roster for the 2021 season.

Malik spoke about his journey back to the field ... saying his time behind bars helped put his priorities in order and motivate him to turn things around.

"I know what my life could be without football and the stuff I fell into without playing football," McDowell said Tuesday. "I just wanted to get more structure back in my life."

Malik says he's not going to make the Browns look bad for giving him another shot ... and he's going to give it his all.

"My career's at stake, my livelihood, taking care of my family, chance to take care of my family. Just to do what the everyday person can't do, go out there in front of thousands of fans and play a game and get paid lots of money to do it."

"That's a lot of people's dreams and I get to live my dream."

McDowell also gives a big shoutout to his biggest supporter -- his mother, Joya Crowe.

"When I ain't believe in myself, she was still believing in me and everyday she told me you gon' play football one day again, even when I didn't believe her 'cause I'm going through all my situations."

"She saw past everything I was going through and she know me the best. That's my real driving force. She was the one who pushed me the most."

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson is doing her part to help ensure Louisianians gets back on their feet after Hurricane Ida ... donating $1 MILLION to storm victims.

Benson and the Saints announced the charitable act on Monday -- saying they're praying for those impacted by the hurricane that has wreaked havoc on Louisiana since it made landfall over the weekend.

"As South Louisiana and the Gulf Coast begin to assess the significant damage inflicted by Hurricane Ida, please know our prayers are with all of those who have suffered from the impacts of this historical storm," Benson and the Saints said.

"We have great faith in the resilience and strength of our community and look forward to doing everything in our power to help lead in the recovery."

Benson and the Saints say the $1 million will go to their Gulf Coast Renewal Fund ... and they urged others to join in with donations as well.

"We will continue to be in close communication with governmental and community leaders to determine where aid and assistance can most effectively be directed," Benson said.

The Saints added that the Superdome suffered only "minor damage" in the storm ... and they're hopeful it won't impact any part of their upcoming regular season schedule.

"We know how much winning games can unite and inspire people in our region," the Saints said, "and we can't wait to take advantage of that responsibility and opportunity."

Cam Newton is a Patriot no more ... New England has released the veteran QB in a shocking move.

The Pats announced the cut on Tuesday ... paving the way for rookie Mac Jones to be the starter in New England going forward.

Newton hasn't exactly lit it up for the Pats in his time under center -- he threw for just 2,657 yards and 8 TDs along with 10 interceptions in 15 games last season.

And, his preseason work this summer wasn't exactly inspiring either.

Still, Cam inked a 1-year, $5.1 million contract this offseason to play for the Pats ... and all indications were he would begin the season as QB1 in New England.

As for what's next for the Pats now, it's clear Bill Belichick is ready to ride with Jones -- the former Alabama superstar who the team drafted with the #15 overall pick in the spring.

Jones had a very good preseason -- throwing no interceptions and completing 36 of his 52 pass attempts in three games.

It's unclear, meanwhile, if Newton will find much interest from NFL teams now that he's a free agent.

JuJu ... WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and influencer JuJu Smith-Schuster just joined the biggest craze on the internet -- the milk crate challenge -- days before the NFL season is about to kick off ... and we're concerned.

If you've been living under a rock, the crate challenge is when people try to climb unstable stacks of plastic bins ... balancing on as many as 7 at one time.

It's a seriously dangerous act -- some people have reported major injuries from trying it -- and even social media platform TikTok has banned the content due to safety concerns.

But, that hasn't stopped JuJu from getting in on the action ... with video surfacing Monday of the 24-year-old recently attempting the challenge.

Thankfully, JuJu was able to make it across the line of crates without a problem ... but the big issue is that there's a chance it could NOT have ended well.

Granted, it looks like there were a couple of guys ready to catch him if he fell ... but still, who knows what coulda happened.

BTW -- JuJu recently signed a 1-year, $8,000,000 deal with the Steelers ... and plays an important role in the team's offense.

He's come under fire in the past for antics like posting TikToks in the locker room and dancing on opposing teams' logos.

With Week 1 approaching, it sure seems like there are much safer ways to pass the time.