NY Giants

Russell Wilson could be the guy who replaces Eli Manning as QB of the NY Giants ... and it's all 'cause of Ciara -- so says Colin Cowherd.

The FS1 star reported on his show, "The Herd," that he's hearing from sources "in the entertainment agent world" that Russ' wife would absolutely prefer New York over Seattle.

And, with Wilson's Seahawks contract expiring after the 2019 season ... he says it all makes too much sense -- and thinks the deal could actually go down.

"[Ciara] would prefer to live in New York, and the Giants need a quarterback. And there's nobody in the draft they love."

Cowherd added, "A lot of things add up."

Cowherd says because Eli's career is all but over ... and since Wilson can essentially force his way out of Seattle after his deal ends -- he thinks Ciara could get her way.

Colin also thinks it'd be a winning move for Wilson on the field too -- saying the 30-year-old could become a much bigger star than he ever was in the Pacific Northwest.

Eli Manning deserves to be immortalized in bronze at his alma mater ... so says Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, who tells TMZ Sports the former-Ole Miss QB needs a campus statue!!!

Of course, Eli's big bro, Peyton, already has a monument built for him in Indianapolis ... and the Mannings as a fam have been recognized in a few different ways already at Ole Miss.

But, Wicker says Eli -- who's a legend with BOTH the Rebels and the NY Giants -- "absolutely" should have his own statue at the school.

"Eli Manning is a great athlete. Two Super Bowl rings. A good family man. A good humanitarian. And, he volunteers his time."

Think Wicker's just playing to his constituents?? Think again ... the senator actually attended Ole Miss with Archie himself!!!

Everything associated with the New England Patriots is getting another Super Bowl ring ... including Bill Belichick's famous boat!!!

ICYMI ... Bill's owned a little fishing vessel for years -- and it's always been named after the number of Super Bowl rings he's accumulated.

So ... yeah, the thing's undergone new paint jobs A LOT.

It didn't take long for Bill to update it once again after the Pats' win over the Rams ... 'cause 8 days after SB53, it was spotted on the docks with a new name -- "VIII Rings"!!!

Of course, Bill won two Super Bowls with the Giants as an assistant under Bill Parcells in 1987 and 1991 ... and he's now got SIX as head man of the Pats.

BTW ... The Hoody definitely knows how to get down on a boat ... remember when he took this epic nap on the water with his smokin' hot GF in 2017??

NY Giants co-owner Steve Tisch says the AAF ain't competition for the NFL ... in fact, Tisch tells TMZ Sports he thinks it'll only make his league even MORE popular!!!

We got the Giants honcho leaving Madeo shortly after the AAF kicked off its inaugural season Saturday ... and he tells us he FULLY supports the new football league.

And, why?? Steve believes it can put MORE money in his pockets ... and his league's -- 'cause it can only drive up the NFL's popularity.

"If it creates additional interest in the NFL -- which I think it will -- I think it proves Americans want to watch football 52 weeks a year."

Tisch also sees the AAF as a way for the NFL to have a minor league of sorts ... telling us he believes it'll provide a bigger player pool for the NFL to draw from.

Bottom line ... Steve -- who says he's ALREADY watched some of the action -- is one of the AAF's biggest fans.

"I hope it works!"

The fans seem to love the AAF too -- the debut games from the weekend reportedly had better ratings than nationally televised NBA games. And, EVERYBODY is talking about that monster hit on San Diego Fleet QB Mike Bercovici.

Ex-NFL star Tiki Barber made his Broadway debut in "Kinky Boots" this weekend -- dancing and singing in a pair of red thigh-highs ... and he slaaaaayyyyyyed.

The former New York Giants running back played Don the foreman in the Broadway play, which required him to flex his vocal range and hit a high note in one of the songs.

Look, he's no Celine Dion -- but he was pretty good ... and the crowd loved it. Dude even got his own bouquet of roses at the end of the performance.

Don't fret if you missed the show -- Tiki's run on Broadway goes until March.

And, get this -- the music and lyrics for the show were written by Cyndi Lauper!

Barber isn't the first NFL star to take his talents to the stage ... Eddie George has become a big-time actor and even starred in "Chicago" a few years back.

NY Giants backup QB Kyle Lauletta just pled guilty to obstruction of justice stemming from his wild October arrest where he allegedly almost ran over a cop.

Remember, officials in Weehawken, New Jersey say the 23-year-old was driving his 2017 Jaguar in a "dangerous manner" on the way to Giants practice when cops attempted to pull him over.

When an officer tried to stop him, the QB continued to drive like a maniac and almost hit the cop.

He was initially booked on several charges -- including 3rd degree eluding police, obstruction of justice, reckless driving and other lesser crimes.

But now, officials say Lauletta cut a deal with prosecutors in which he pled guilty to a disorderly persons offense of obstructing the administration of law at a motor vehicle stop ... and in exchange, the more serious charges will be dropped as part of a conditional dismissal.

In other words, if Lauletta stays out of trouble for 12 months, all of his legal problems go away.

If he screws up, the judge can reinstate all of the initial charges -- in which case he could face up to 6 months in jail.

In addition, Lauletta pled guilty to a few minor traffic violations.

As for the Giants, the team previously hit Lauletta with a fine.

Should the Giants draft Kyler Murray to replace Eli Manning??

Saquon Barkley ain't so sure about all that -- "that's above my pay grade," he says -- but the Giants superstar DOES think Kyler's got a huge NFL career ahead of him regardless.

"I got to personally play with him in The Opening in high school -- I played 7-on-7 with him. So, I know what he's about and I know how talented he is."

Kyler's made headlines the last few days while still pondering whether or not he wants to play in the NFL or in the MLB (where he was the Oakland As' first-round pick last summer).

But, Barkley clearly thinks the dude's got a future with the shield -- saying he's just as talented as other first-round prospects like Dwayne Haskins and Drew Lock.

"I think there's a lot of talented quarterbacks in the class and all those guys have a great future."

We also spoke with Barkley about Antonio Brown ... and he says it's a no-brainer the Giants should go after him at all costs.

"I think that's an easy answer -- anybody would want to play with him."

Sooo ... Kyler, Saquon, Odell and A.B. in NYC in 2019?!?!

New York Giant's running back, Saquon Barkley is spreading his good fortune -- literally -- by passing out hundred dollar bills like they were playing cards at a blackjack table.

Barkley, who's up for Pepsi's Rookie of the Year, was at Red Rabbit nightclub Friday night in New York City, and he cheerfully doled out $100 bills to folks waiting in line in the freezing cold to get inside.

Barkley is reportedly pulling in $31.2 million over 4 years. Not bad for a 21-year-old.

Post Malone is out here rapping Cowboys victories into existence -- and with a crazy win over the Giants, he celebrated in the best way possible ... making the other guy wear your team's gear.

The Texas native was at the Cowboys/Giants game Sunday in NY, where he was surrounded by Giants fans ... one of whom we're told he made a bet with. It was simple -- if my Cowboys win, ya gotta rock my Cowboys jacket. Well, they won all right ... in epic fashion.

With just about a minute left, Dak Prescott threw what you might call a Hail Mary down the field to Cole Beasley, who made an incredible catch in the end zone. At first, it looked like he was out of bounds and the pass was incomplete, but upon further review ... it was ruled a TD.

The Cowboys made a two-point conversion after that and went on to win it 36-35. Post, of course, was ecstatic ... and, of course, followed up on the bet by making the Giants fan put on his Dallas coat. In this clip, obtained by TMZ, you can see the guy was a good sport.

What's even crazier ... Post rapped about this exact same scenario happening in his new single, "Wow." ... almost down to a tee.

It's only been 13 games ... but Giants star rookie Saquon Barkley is ALREADY the best running back in the NFL -- so says Victor Cruz.

Of course, the ex-NY star is super biased ... dude still bleeds Giants blue -- but he tells us there's no doubt in his mind Saquon tops Ezekiel Elliott and Todd Gurley in the RB ranks.

"He's No. 1 in my opinion. He's done the most with less this year. So, he's a phenomenal player."

Cruz didn't stop there ... he says the Giants RB is HANDS DOWN the Rookie of the Year AND deserves a spot in the Pro Bowl.

Here's some real talk from Eric Dickerson ...

With Saquon Barkley getting super close to breaking some of his cherished NFL rookie rushing records, we asked E.D. if he's rooting for the NY Giants stud to take his #1 spot.

The answer was about as honest as it gets ...

"HELL NO!!!"

Don't get it twisted, Dickerson tells TMZ Sports he loves Barkley and thinks he's a great player -- but "You wanna keep them records!"

Saquon has already racked up 1,753 total yards from scrimmage -- creeping on E.D.'s rookie record, 2,212.

Barkley also has 12 games with 100 yards from scrimmage -- 1 game shy of tying Eric's rookie record (13).

But, what about the old saying, "Records are made to be broken?"

"People who don't have records say that," Dickerson replied.

"When you have records, you don't want 'em broken. When you get to my age, you want to hold on to them as long as you can!"

One record Barkley probably won't touch is his rookie rushing record -- 1,808. Saquon only has 1,124 at the moment with only 3 games left in the regular season.

Victor Cruz is going to bat for his former quarterback ... 'cause the ex-Giants WR says Jerry Rice is absolutely INSANE for saying Eli Manning isn't a Hall of Famer.

"Jerry Rice is outta his mind. You hear me??" Cruz tells TMZ Sports ... "I'll look right in the camera -- Jerry Rice, you're outta your mind, sir."

As we previously reported ... Jerry said he doesn't think Eli belongs in the Hall -- saying the NY quarterback just ain't good enough to get in.

Cruz has a serious bone to pick with that hot take ... saying Manning's two Super Bowl rings ALONE put him squarely among the NFL's legends.

"He's definitely a Hall of Famer. Are you kidding me?! What are you talking about, Jerry?? C'mon man, you know better than this!"

Think the Giants need to draft Eli Manning's replacement IMMEDIATELY this offseason??

Think again ... so says Michael Irvin -- who tells TMZ Sports New York should wait until 2020 to get their new QB.

"You need the top pick, not this year, but NEXT year," The Playmaker says.

Sooo ... why?? Two words -- Tua Tagovailoa.

Irvin thinks the Alabama QB -- not anybody in this upcoming draft -- is the key to finally replacing Eli and turning the Giants back around.

"If you get Tua, you've got something!"

Here's the grossest thing you'll see all day ... NY Giants WR Sterling Shepard straight-up pulled the nail off his big toe -- and documented it all on video.

The New York star hit the Giants locker room Monday ... and noticed his foot needed a little manicuring after beating the Buccaneers on Sunday.

So, Shepard reached down ... grabbed the nail on his left foot ... plucked it straight off -- AND DIDN'T EVEN FLINCH!!!

"Aw, yeah! It's time to come off! Yessir!"

Unclear when Shepard suffered the toe catastrophe that caused the gruesome scene ... but we're all hopeful he puts the camera down next time it happens.

Dan Rather ain't all that impressed by the Giants' win Monday night -- he thinks they're still awful ... but he's happy as hell for Eli Manning!!

The CBS News legend watched Eli turn back the clock on 'MNF' ... leading a game-winning TD drive over the 49ers late in the 4th quarter -- and dude couldn't have been more proud of the QB.

"I'll tell you what, whatever you think of the Giants -- and they are terrible -- I love Eli Manning," Rather tells TMZ Sports.

Dan says Eli reminds him a little bit of himself ... saying he too is an aging legend on the back 9 of his career -- and he understands exactly what the QB is going through.

"As an anchorman on the fade, on the way out, you say to yourself, 'I'm not as good as I once was. But, for once, I'm as good as I ever was.' That was Eli Manning last night against San Francisco."

Dan says he thinks the Giants should not only continue to roll with Eli this season -- he wants to see him under center NEXT season too.

As tough as it may be, Eli Manning NEVER wants to play for another team besides the New York Giants ... his dad Archie Manning tells TMZ Sports.

"I know he doesn't want to," Archie told us at LAX ... "Eli's theory is kinda, 'Go win a game.' So, that's kinda mine too. Hopefully, they can go win a game and win another game."

The Giants have been struggling this season -- and last season -- they're 4-20 in their last 24 games and even NFL legends like Terrell Owens have called for the org. to bench Eli and move on.

But, Archie's still optimistic -- "I think they can win some games and get going in a good direction."

We asked Archie if people should be pointing the finger at Eli ...

"A lot of people [are] on Eli and he's the quarterback and that's kinda the way it works."

And, how long does Archie think 37-year-old Eli will play in the NFL?

"Eli, I always said a quarterback north of 35 can play, if he's healthy, as long as his team's good. Last couple of years we haven't been that good, so hopefully, they can turn that around second half of the season."

Our guy also asked ... if the Giants can't turn things around, what's your advice to Eli?

"I'm sticking with Eli. Go win a game and don't look beyond that." He's hanging tough and we'll see what happens."

The Giants take on the 49ers on Monday night. Archie will definitely be watching.