San Francisco 49ers

TIME magazine says Colin Kaepernick is on the cover of their magazine 'cause the movement he sparked has gotten so huge ... and spread so far ... he was the obvious choice.

Colin Kaepernick says people have threatened to kill him for refusing to stand for the national anthem.

Kaepernick -- speaking to reporters on Tuesday at the 49ers facility -- revealed he has received numerous death threats over "a couple different avenues."

"If something like that were to happen, you've proved my point and it will be loud and clear for everyone why it happened and that would move this movement forward at a greater speed than what it is even now."

Kaep went on to say that the threats weren't totally unexpected ... "I don't want that to happen, but that's the realization of what could happen, and I knew there were other things that came along with this when I first stood up and spoke about it. That's not something I haven't thought about."

James Woods says Colin Kaepernick is a "dirtbag" -- and he's so pissed at the NFL for not punishing the QB over his national anthem protest he's boycotting the league ... FOR LIFE!!

Same ol' protest ... brand new hairdo!

Colin Kaepernick decided to put his 'fro on hold Monday night while the 49ers took on the Rams -- and broke out a brand new hairstyle ... cornrows!

CK's dome has gone through all sorts of changes since he came into the league -- he's like the black Tom Brady ... only without the Super Bowl rings.

Check out the pics ... keep the rows?? Or go back to the 'fro???

Ex-49ers tight end Bruce Miller has been hit with 7 felony charges for allegedly attacking a 70-year-old man and his son ... including assault with a deadly weapon -- a cane.

Officials say 29-year-old Miller was drunk when he went into the Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf hotel in San Francisco early Monday morning and tried to force his way into an occupied room.

The 70-year-old man and his 29-year-old son tried to explain to Miller that he was in the wrong room -- but Miller allegedly got violent and attacked both men ... knocking the elderly man unconscious and breaking bones in his face.

Miller was arrested -- and now the San Francisco District Attorney's office has announced the 7 felony charges and 1 misdemeanor filed again him, which include:

-- 1 count of felony assault with a deadly weapon (weapon alleged is a cane)

-- 1 count of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury

-- 1 count of inflicting injury on an elderly person

Colin Kaepernick jersey sales have EXPLODED ... and now he's puttin' his money where his mouth is, again ... by donating 100% of the proceeds he receives from the transactions.

Kaep -- whose #7 San Francisco 49ers jersey is currently the best selling jersey in the NFL -- hit up Instagram and vowed to give every dime of his share of the profit to people in need.

"I wasn't expecting my jersey sales to jump to number one because of this, but it shows the people's belief that we can achieve justice and equality for ALL!"

"The only way I can repay you for the support is to return the favor by donating all the proceeds I receive from my jersey sales back into the communities!"

This is the 2nd time this month Kaepernick has pledged to give away a huge chunk of change. Last week, he announced he'd give $1 MILLION to charity.

It's unclear exactly how much dough Kaep will give away ... but with the jerseys flying off the shelves, it's certain to be another big donation.

Ted Cruz railed on Colin Kaepernick and while he was at it BLASTED President Obama.

We caught up with the senator at Reagan National Airport and asked him about Kaepernick's stand to kneel.

Check out the vid ... Ted wasn't having it. He unloaded on the 49ers QB, calling him rich and spoiled. And in true Republican fashion ... he saved some smack for the prez.

#TedGonnaTed

Ex-49er fullback Bruce Miller isn't the type of person who'd punch an elderly man ... at least according to Miller's H.S. coach ... who says his former star is "a great kid."

Miller allegedly beat up a 70-year-old man in a San Francisco hotel room this weekend ... before being arrested for aggravated assault, elder abuse, threats and battery.

TMZ Sports spoke to Coach Mike O'Brien -- Smith's coach at Woodstock High School from '04-'05 -- about the heinous allegations against Miller.

O'Brien -- who keeps in touch with Miller and last talked to him a few weeks ago -- tells us, "He's a great kid. Comes from a good family. Cares about people. That's not the kid I know. It doesn't sound like something he'd do."

Coach O'Brien says his primary concern right now isn't Miller's football career (he was cut by the 49ers) ... it's his life.

The father of 49ers safety Eric Reid says he's proud of his son for protesting the National Anthem with Colin Kaepernick before Thursday night's game ... and hopes he keeps it up all season long.

"I taught him, if you start something, you finish it," Eric Reid Sr. tells TMZ Sports.

Reid Sr. says he had no idea his son was planning to take a knee with Kaep before the 49ers took on the Chargers in San Diego on "Salute the Military Night" ... but he was pleasantly surprised.

"I’m proud of my son for standing up for what he believes in. I didn’t know he planned to do this but he’s a strong man, and I’m proud of him."

"I stand with him. It’s not that he doesn’t love the country or respect the military, and police. He does. It’s about bringing awareness to the situation. He’s supporting what Kaep’s doing."

Ex-MLB star Curt Schilling says Colin Kaepernick is dead wrong for his National Anthem protest -- and says if they were teammates, they'd have A LOT MORE than a conversation about it.

Curt joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs tonight on FS1) -- and told us a stern conversation might not be enough to get his point across to the 49ers QB.

You gotta watch the whole interview Monday night -- especially when it comes to Schilling's thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement.

Donald Trump is channeling his inner-Richard Nixon when it comes to Colin Kaepernick -- when it comes to America, LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!

Trump called in KIRO in Seattle and was asked how he felt about the 49ers QB's National Anthem protest -- and in classic Trump fashion, he didn't hold back.

"I think it’s personally not a good thing," Trump said ... "I think it’s a terrible thing."

Shots. Fired.

Here's ex-NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew ripping into 49ers coach Chip Kelly -- explaining why he SUCKS as a coach in roughly 60 seconds.

MJD definitely has a strong point of view ... blaming Kelly's "gimmick offense" for destroying the Philadelphia Eagles.

He also has a strong message for 49ers fans -- as long as Chip's in charge, you're completely screwed.

"HELLO AND WELCOME TO LEVI'S STADIUM ... WHERE YOUR SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS .... are being sued by the former stadium announcer guy!"

Yeah, this is happening.

The guy who was the 49ers stadium announcer for 30 YEARS is suing the team -- claiming they fired his ass because he was too old ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The man behind the lawsuit is Bob Sarlatte -- who was hired for the gig back in 1984.

Sarlatte claims he was axed in 2014 -- 2 years after 49ers CEO Jed York began a "campaign to terminate the older senior employees within the 49ers organization."

In his suit, Sarlatte says York had admitted that he wanted to swap out the old fogies with cool young people because "they made a lot of money, they did a lot of cool things before they turned 40 years old, and they don't want to play golf six days a week."

He also claims management openly made disparaging remarks about old people in the office in an attempt to drive them out.

Sarlatte says he was 66 years old at the time he was fired -- and says to make matters worse, he was terminated over the phone.

You're about to hear Boyz II Men singer Shawn Stockman absolutely UNLOAD on Chip Kelly ... saying the new head man in San Fran basically sucks as an NFL coach and has to change if he wants to win.

Stockman was hanging out in Beverly Hills (they sold A LOT of records, people) when we asked the native Philadelphian -- who was wearing his Eagles hat -- his thoughts on coach Chip Kelly.

That's when Shawn informed us of 2 things ... he's actually a 49ers fan ... and he actually feels like his favorite team has inherited a curse ... and that curse is Chip Kelly.

Michael Sam's already made up his mind ... he wants to see Blaine Gabbert start for the 49ers next season -- over Colin Kaepernick.

Don't count Darren Sproles among the Chip Kelly haters -- the Eagles running back tells TMZ Sports he enjoyed his time with the coach ... and says the 49ers will too!

Kelly obviously has a lot of critics -- including former Eagles LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson ... who ripped Chip after they were shipped out of Philly.

But Sproles -- who just returned from the Pro Bowl -- vouched for the guy.