Pittsburgh Steelers

Before publishing ... we contacted Kordell's rep, who told us the woman in the photo was Kordell's baby mama, Tania Richardson.

Tania contacted us Friday, and said she is not the woman in the pic.

Calls back to Kordell's people have not been returned.

The night before Kordell Stewart filed for divorce from his wife Porsha Williams, he was hanging out with another woman -- his baby mama -- and TMZ has the pic.

Kordell -- a former NFL star who spent years with the Pittsburgh Steelers -- spent Thursday March 21 at Dave & Busters video game arcade restaurant in Marietta, Georgia with former flame Tania Richardson and their son Syre.

Sources close to Kordell tell TMZ ... Stewart was initially booked to appear at the restaurant as part of an event for a local radio station where he works ... but thought Syre would enjoy the place, so he called up Tania and invited them over.

It's unclear if Kordell and Tania talked about the NFL player's marriage ... but witnesses inside the joint tell us the two appeared to be having a serious conversation and Kordell looked stressed out.

We broke the story ... Kordell filed for divorce the very next day -- and Williams (who stars on "Real Housewives of Atlanta") claims she was blindsided by Stewart's actions.

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Porsha Williams can still reconcile with her estranged husband Kordell Stewart ... that is, if Porsha's willing to put in the work ... so says her co-star Kenya Moore.

Kenya was out in L.A. Tuesday when we asked if she was shocked by Kordell's divorce filing -- and she said she wasn't ... citing a huge red flag she noticed in Porsha and Kordell's relationship.

But she says it's not over 'til it's over, adding, "It seems they just need to maybe iron some things out in their relationship. Maybe they could still make it work."

Porsha Williams says she learned that her husband Kordell Stewart filed for divorce this week when she read it on a website ... and says she's "disappointed" by his actions.

Porsha -- who stars on "Real Housewives of Atlanta" -- released a statement through her rep saying she is "disappointed about her husband's recent filing for divorce."

The rep says Porsha had held off on filing for divorce papers herself ... because she was committed to the marriage. She says Kordell had promised to work on the marriage with her.

Instead, Porsha's rep claims, "[Kordell] misled her and she found out about the filing in the media."

The rep says, "Mrs. Stewart hopes to resolve these personal issues privately with the support of her family, friends and strong faith."

Kordell Stewart -- the former Pittsburgh Steelers star -- has filed for divorce from his reality star wife Porsha Williams ... TMZ has learned.

According to Fulton County Superior Court in Georgia, the 40-year-old NFL alum -- who went by the nickname "Slash" during his playing days -- filed for divorce on March 22.

Stewart and Williams were married on May 21, 2011 -- they have no children together. Stewart has a son from a previous relationship.

Williams currently stars on "Real Housewives of Atlanta."

The issue of children came up often on the reality show -- Porsha wanted to have kids AND a career in charity work ... but Kordell told her she had to choose.

2:10 PM PT -- Porsha says she was blindsided by Kordell's divorce filing, claiming she learned about it from a website.

7:49 AM PT -- According to the divorce docs, obtained by TMZ, Kordell says the marriage is "irretrievably broken" ... and claims the two are currently separated.

It seems Kordell also believes he shouldn't have to pay Porsha a single cent in spousal support ... claiming, "[She's] an able-bodied person, earning income and is capable of supporting herself."

Plaxico Burress finally has an NFL team, but now he might have trouble getting to practice ... his driver's license has been suspended ... after failing to cough up a 6-figure judgment to a car crash victim.

According to official records in Florida ... Plaxico -- who JUST signed a 1-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers this month -- will officially lose his driving privileges Monday.

Here's why ... as TMZ previously reported, a woman named Alise Smith sued Plaxico, claiming he caused a car crash that injured her. She won, and he was ordered to pay $125,000 in damages.

According to Alise, Plax never paid (he tried appealing) ... so her lawyer, James Dunn, fired off a letter to the FL DMV requesting that his license be suspended -- yeah they can do that -- and the DMV made it happen.

To get it back Plax must pay the judgment OR challenge the DMV's actions.

While their families own the NY Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers, sisters Kate Mara from "House of Cards" and Rooney Mara from "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" played nice at a premiere in NYC this week.

Question is ...

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.