Pittsburgh Steelers

Plaxico Burress is thanking his lucky stars an NFL team picked him up because he's using that freshly earned green to pay off a debt to Uncle Sam ... to the tune of $100,000.

A federal tax lien was filed against Plaxico and his wife last year, claiming the duo failed to pay income taxes for the years 2007 and 2009. All totaled, they owed $98,064.76.

Plaxico didn't sign with an NFL team until late in the season. But once he did, he was finally able to pay off the lien, which the IRS officially released on January 8.

As TMZ previously reported ... the no-longer-unemployed football star has been racking up the bills lately ... he still owes $159,000 from a car accident lawsuit and another $59k for alleged unpaid taxes to the State of NY.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Chris Rainey has just been fired from the team for allegedly attacking his girlfriend this morning in Florida, TMZ has learned.

Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert tells us, "Chris Rainey’s actions this morning were extremely disappointing. Under the circumstances and due to this conduct, Chris will no longer be a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers."

As we reported. Chris allegedly flew off the handle this morning in Gainesville when his girlfriend swiped his phone -- and slapped her in the face.

Chris has been charged with battery stemming from the incident. He's currently still in custody.

He's not some no-name bench warmer either -- Rainey scored two touchdowns this season for the Black and Gold.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Chris Rainey was arrested this morning in Florida -- after allegedly slapping his GF in the face during an argument over a cell phone.

According to the Gainesville Police, officers responded to a 911 call from witnesses who claimed they saw Rainey attack his girlfriend after she took his cell phone ... and tried to lock herself in Rainey's roommate's car.

According to the police report, witnesses said Rainey dragged his girlfriend out of the passenger seat and slapped her in the face in the process, causing both of them to fall to the ground.

Witnesses said Rainey's GF then took off again with the cell phone in her purse ... and Rainey continued the chase, eventually grabbing her purse ... causing them both to fall again.

Police say neither Rainey nor his GF appeared visibly injured after the fight.

3:34 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... since the arrest, Joey has paid back the debt to the Hard Rock, so the case will be dismissed.

A rep for Porter tells us, "It was a misunderstanding as Joey wasn't aware that the debt was outstanding. It has been paid. Issue resolved."

Former NFL superstar Joey Porter is a deadbeat ... who owes the Hard Rock Casino $70,000 in unpaid gambling debts ... this according to the State of Nevada.

TMZ obtained court documents filed by the State of Nevada ... which show Porter is accused of writing 8 checks to the Hard Rock casino between June 30, 2012 and July 1, 2012 .... in exchange for cash and/or gambling chips.

Problem is .... according to the complaint, when the casino tried to cash the checks ... Joey's bank refused the transaction, claiming Joey had put a "stop payment" on them.

The Hard Rock went to cops ... and eventually Porter was charged with check-bouncing with intent to defraud and theft -- both felonies.

The docs list all of the the checks Joey allegedly wrote during his time in the casino ... and the progression indicates he was having a terrible run at the tables ... capped off with one last desperate $20k attempt to get out of the red.

Check #1 -- $10,000
Check #2 -- $10,000
Check #3 -- $5,000
Check #4 -- $5,000
Check #5 -- $5,000
Check #6 -- $5,000
Check #7 -- $10,000
Check #8 -- $20,000

Joey Porter -- a former NFL defensive superstar -- was arrested last week after Las Vegas officials say he wrote a rubber check ... as in, it bounced.

The 35-year-old former Super Bowl champ is currently behind bars in Kern County, CA ... where he was arrested in a warrant out of Clark County, Nevada for writing a check without having sufficient funds.

According to the Bakersfield PD, Porter was initially pulled over for a routine traffic violation Friday night when the officer noticed the warrant and arrested him.

The details surrounding the alleged bad check situation are unclear.

Still, the allegation is shocking -- considering Porter made MILLIONS during his steller 13-year NFL career with the Steelers, Dolphins and Cardinals. In fact, he signed a $32 million deal in 2007 ... and a $24.5 million deal in 2010.

As TMZ previously reported, Porter was in Vegas last year ... where he was seen gambling with $30,000 in chips at a high stakes craps table.

Former NFL star Hines Ward doesn't need Maury Povich to tell him he's a father -- he already knows it and he's filed court papers to make it official ... TMZ has learned.

As TMZ first reported, a woman named Melanie Smith filed a complaint in Georgia to establish Ward as the father of her daughter Jordyn, born in January 2011.

But it was all just a formality. In his response, Ward says he submitted to a blood test shortly after the girl was born and the kid turned out to be his. Ward says Smith is entitled to receive child support from him, but says he's provided "substantial" support so far, despite there being no court order in place.

Ward says he and Smith are trying to hammer out an official agreement on support, custody (he wants joint legal and physical) and parenting time outside of the court. Ward says he has been able to spend a lot of time with his daughter so far and would like it to remain that way.

Former NFL star Hines Ward ... come on dooooooown ... it's time to play ARE YOU THE FATHER???

A woman named Melanie Smith filed a lawsuit in Georgia this month ... claiming the former Pittsburgh Steeler is the biological father of her 1-year-old daughter.

According to docs, Melanie wants Hines to admit he fathered the kid -- and if he refuses, she wants a judge to order a blood test in order to establish paternity.

The maybe baby mama is also asking Hines to start coughing up child support ... if it's determined the child is actually his.

A judge has yet to rule.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown can put his new $42-million-contract to good use and finally pay his baby mama all the money he owes her ... which is what a judge has ordered him to to.

In legal docs filed in Florida, Shameika Brailsford -- who had a child with Brown back in 2007 -- claimed the NFL star failed to cough up child support for the last eight months ... to the tune of $6,000. Despite Brown's big payday, his child support obligation is only $750 a month

After reviewing the case, a judge came back last month and sided with Shameika. Brown was ordered to fork over the cash. He was also ordered to follow the custody rules ... i.e. let Shameika see her kid.

As TMZ first reported, Brailsford claimed back in January that AB took their kid to live in Pittsburgh without her permission and was preventing her from making contact.

A permanent solution for custody has yet to be reached.

Hines Ward was the target in a diabolical extortion plot ... so say police who arrested a man for allegedly threatening to release evidence that Ward paid women for sex.

Cops in Pennsylvania arrested 26-year-old Josh Van Auker yesterday ... after he allegedly demanded $15,000 from the former Pittsburgh Steelers superstar in exchange for materials that he claims would prove Hines patronized prostitutes.

According to police, Van Auker claimed Ward used to bang his GF -- though it's unclear if she is one of the people he claims Ward paid to have sex with.

Cops say they arrested Van Auker in a sting operation -- in which he made the cash-for-evidence handoff with Ward's personal assistant ... who was working with detectives.

Pittsburgh Steelers legend Hines Ward had ONE concern during his DUI arrest last summer ... the media finding out about it -- this according to police dash cam footage obtained by TMZ.

During the tape, Ward asks one of the arresting officers, "This going to be all on the newspaper though?" The officer replies, "Only if you tell somebody."

DUI is no laughing matter -- but there is one funny moment, when Hines was sitting in the back of the squad car and the officer slammed on the brakes ... sending Ward's forehead into the plastic divider.

TMZ broke the story -- Ward was arrested in DeKalb County, Georgia last July after a police officer observed the football star failing to maintain lane in his Aston Martin ... and hitting a curb.

Hines Ward better stay out of trouble for the next 12 months ... 'cause the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver has been sentenced to a year of probation stemming from his 2011 DUI arrest.

TMZ broke the story ... Ward was arrested for DUI in DeKalb County, Georgia on July 9 ... after cops say he was driving his Aston Martin like a drunken maniac ... weaving in and out of his lane and hitting a curb.

Now, Ward has struck a plea deal with prosecutors ... in which he pled guilty to reckless driving and no contest to failure to stay in his lane (below) ... and in exchange, the DUI charge was dropped.

Ward was sentenced to 12 months probation, 80 hours of community service and ordered to submit to an alcohol evaluation and any treatment suggested by the evaluators.

He was also ordered to pay $2,000 in fines and court costs.

During the first quarter of the Lions game today, the announcer, Chris Myers was talking about a player who was on the Pittsburgh Steelers last season but now plays for Detroit. He said, "Going from two Super Bowls in Pittsburgh to the winless Detroit team -- that's like going from dating Beyonce to Whoopi Goldberg."

It took only one week -- but the ruthless Madden video game curse struck again last night.

After making one of the sickest interceptions you're going to see all year, 2010 Madden co-cover guy Troy Polamalu went down with a sprained MCL in his knee during the 2nd quarter of last night's Steelers-Titans game.

It's no coincidence ... no fluke ... he should've seen it coming.

Players who have graced the cover of the Madden video game box have been doomed since 2002 -- Marshall Faulk, Ray Lewis, Vince Young, Shaun Alexander ... and of course Michael Vick.

The photos appear to show several key members from the 2006 Super Bowl championship team -- including Joey Porter (front left), Ike Taylor, James Harrison, Max Starks, James Farrior, Brett Keisel and Najeh Davenport -- screwin' around with the high-power firearms while state troopers smiled in the background.

Ironically, a police spokesperson claims the players were there because the "Steelers camp" had requested a gun safety course.

Even the National Rifle Association won't defend this, telling the Philidelphia Daily News there were multiple "dumb and dangerous" safety violations. No kidding...

UPDATE: The Steelers just released the following statement:

"Steelers players are counseled at least annually on the importance of gun safety. We are not aware of any violations of law or NFL policies in regard to the visit to the State Police facilities three years ago. We recommend all of our players use extreme caution and good judgment if they choose to possess a firearm."

McNulty claims Roethlisberger assaulted her after she was called to his room to fix his TV in July 2008.

A woman claims Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lured her into a hotel room, then sexually assaulted her, according to a new lawsuit.

Andrea McNulty claims in her civil lawsuit filed in Washoe County, Nevada, this year's Super Bowl winner asked her to come to his hotel room in July, 2008 -- and then forced her to have sex with him.

McNulty -- an employee at the Harrah's Hotel in Lake Tahoe -- is suing for sexual assault and battery, false imprisonment and infliction of emotional distress.

Ben denies all of McNulty's allegations. Roethlisberger's lawyer told ProFootballTalk.com, "The timing of the lawsuit and the absence of a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation are the most compelling evidence of the absence of any criminal conduct."

Roethlisberger was in Nevada at the time of the alleged incident for a celebrity golf tournament.

Coincidentally, Big Ben was photographed in Nevada this weekend for a different celebrity golf tournament, in which he shot a few rounds with Michael Jordan (see photo below).