San Francisco 49ers

Call him Grow Montana ... because the NFL Hall of Famer is investing HEAVILY in the weed business.

62-year-old Joe Montana is one of the major investors of a company called Caliva -- a major legal marijuana operation out of San Jose, CA.

The company not only grows weed -- it also sells everything from joints to vape pens and even marijuana beverages.

Montana started a venture fund back in 2015 -- and when Caliva was seeking investors for a $75 million round of funding, Montana's company joined in.

Caliva CEO Dennis O'Malley issued a statement saying the company plans on opening retail stores in major cities in 2019.

He added, "What we’re trying to do is be the #1 brand in California ... We believe this is where global brands are made."

Richard Sherman tells TMZ Sports if Antonio Brown is REALLY wanting to join the Niners ... he doesn't think it'd be a mistake, saying his time in S.F. has been great so far.

A.B.'s on his way out of Pittsburgh after causing tons of drama this past season ... and Jerry Rice says the All-Pro wideout wants to play next for the 49ers, "really bad."

So, when we saw Sherm hitting up Catch in L.A. on Thursday night, we had to ask if he'd welcome the WR with open arms.

"Good luck to him," the defensive back told us -- and when asked if he had advice to Brown added, "Go wherever makes you happy."

Of course, Sherman signed with the 49ers last March after a legendary career with the Seattle Seahawks -- and, despite the 4-12 record, Sherman says he's enjoying his experience in San Fran.

Besides being a superstar on the field, Sherman is also advocating for lifetime health insurance coverage for NFL players ... so, we asked how that fight is going too.

Jerry Rice says he had a long talk with Antonio Brown about his NFL future -- and the guy REALLY wants to play for the San Francisco 49ers.

"He wants to come here really bad," Rice said on the "Joe, Lo & Dibs" show on 95.7 The Game.

"He's talking about running the hills with me, doing all that and just working out ... you know, just picking my brain."

Of course, A.B. is on his way outta Steel City after his recent antics led Steelers owner Art Rooney to say last week it's "hard to envision" the WR coming back in 2019.

But, Rice says the Niners NEED to step in and trade for the wideout -- guaranteeing Brown will behave -- and flourish -- if he's given the opportunity in S.F.

"I would be looking forward to just passing some of that knowledge on to him, and being around this guy, because I know he's a great individual."

"If it was left up to me, he would be here in a heartbeat."

Seems Jerry's got a pretty strong finger on A.B.'s pulse -- the two talk often ... and Brown even has a painting of Rice up in his home gym.

And, per Jerry, Antonio's a stand-up guy that would only make the Niners better.

"I don't know what happened in Pittsburgh. But, I know that if this guy comes here to San Francisco, he's going to do everything possible to help this team to win."

Tarik Cohen doesn't give a damn if he cost you money in your fantasy football league Sunday ... 'cause the Bears RB says everyone hating on him needs to SHUT THE HELL UP!!!

"Hey, Fantasy owners. Ya'll get the f*ck from under my comments. Talking about my weak performance. We got the dub. Bear down."

Cohen's been a nice surprise on the fantasy scene this year ... posting double-digit points in 9 out of 16 weeks -- which ain't bad for a guy most thought would be the Bears' backup RB.

But, the Chicago superstar laid a serious egg when fantasy players needed him most ... 'cause in championship week Sunday -- he totaled just 19 yards.

Doesn't seem Cohen cares at all ... Bears got the win over the 49ers and now have a shot at the No. 2 seed ... and Tarik hit the dance floor like a mad man afterward to celebrate!!!

Colin Kaepernick will return to an NFL field tonight ... because his friend and brother in protest, Eric Reid, is honoring Kaep by wearing cleats with the embattled QB's picture on 'em.

The Panthers take on the Saints on "Monday Night Football" and Carolina's DB gave fans a look at the "My Cause, My Cleats" spikes he'll wear, featuring a kneeling Kaep and members of the Black Panthers.

The image of Kaepernick is from a famous photo where Kaep and then-49ers teammate, Reid took a knee together during the 2016 season.

Reid included a caption on the image, explaining where his heart is, and why he felt the need to honor the guys involved.

"It’s a tribute to the history of protest, centered around the quote 'if not us, who? If not now, when?' meaning we all benefit and stand on the shoulders of those giants who decided their moment was best used for the sake of the people."

"And it’s always the right time to do what’s right. No different from you using your moment to take a knee. It also has the 10 point platform of Colin’s Know Your Rights Camp.”

Kaepernick himself has already weighed in on the footwear, saying, "My brother @E_Reid35 coming with the heat tonight!"

Kaep's been out of the league since 2016, and Reid's been one of his fiercest supporters, joining Colin not only in his kneeling protest, but in his collusion lawsuit against the league.

It's clear that support isn't gonna stop, and on one of the biggest platforms in sports he's making a statement.

Kiara Mia says there's no way in hell her date with Jimmy Garoppolo cursed the Niners QB ... but the porn star doesn't exactly mind the take, saying, "I'm flattered!"

Of course, Jimmy's season came to a catastrophic end just a few weeks after his famous night out with Kiara ... and some fans pegged her as the bad juju that caused his ACL tear.

But, Kiara says, for as much as she's honored that people think she has that kinda power -- she tells TMZ Sports it's just not possible.

"I'm impressed that people look at me as a God," Kiara says.

"Like, only God has the power to, like, control someone's journey in life. So, I'm flattered people think I have that much power in my life to control somebody's life!"

Kiara tells us she really hasn't been keeping up with Jimmy or his team -- we had to break the news to her that the Niners really suck -- but she says she's already moving on to a new squad.

"I'm Mexican and I'm from L.A., so I have to say the Raiders!"

Sooo ... Derek Carr, WYD???

George Kittle dabbed like a madman and danced his face off in the locker room Sunday ... and it's all 'cause the 49ers tight end went for 210 yards on the Broncos!!!

Kittle's been eating defenses alive this season ... already posting 1,103 yards on the year -- but he REALLY cooked Denver's D at Mile High.

Dude caught 7 balls for 210 yards and one touchdown in a win ... and teammate Marquise Goodwin got his postgame celebration on vid afterward -- and we're all grateful for it.

Kittle showed us his shoulder rolls ... then dabbed like an insane person -- and there was even a cameo from John Lynch!!

Yeah, pretty epic.

The bad news for George ... the Niners are just 3-10 even after the W and are still probably the worst team in the NFL.

The good news for Kittle ... have you seen his girlfriend?!

Nike has put their money behind Colin Kaepernick -- and now the man who founded the company tells TMZ Sports, he believes the QB should still be playing in the NFL.

We saw shoe legend, Phil Knight leaving Michael's restaurant in New York the other day and while he threw his support behind Colin -- he stopped short when we asked if he believed CK is being blackballed by the NFL.

"I don't know," Knight told us ... "I don't know."

80-year-old Knight still serves as Chairman Emeritus for the Swoosh -- the company that recently inked Kaepernick as the face of its "Just Do It" 30th Anniversary Campaign.

After the first Kaepernick ad dropped back in September, the brand reportedly saw a 31% boost in online sales ... so, ya gotta think Phil would be pumped about bringing Kaep back into the fold.

One more thing ... what kind of shoes does the $30 BILLION Nike founder rock out in public?

Phil says they're special "PK 80s" -- a special line of shoes created to honor Phil's 80th birthday. We're having a tough time finding the exact model and value of the shoes ... but we're working on it.

Richard Sherman is taking his role in the Fan Controlled Football League VERY seriously ... telling TMZ Sports he's GUARANTEEING win after win against his good friend, Marshawn Lynch.

Sherman and Lynch just signed on to be owners and captains in the FCFL ... a football league where the fans decide everything from the roster, the team name, logo and even the play-calling.

Although the 49ers star says he won't be suiting up for the FCFL after his playing days, he makes it clear he is out for blood when his team goes against Beast Mode's squad.

"It's gonna be really fun. Obviously, we're gonna have to beat his team over and over and over again," Sherman says. "I hope he doesn't get too upset at that."

There's a silver lining for Lynch, though ...

Reuben Foster and his ex-girlfriend had the cops called on them for a loud argument about a month before he was arrested for allegedly attacking her ... and police have released the footage.

The domestic dispute between Foster and Elissa Ennis occurred October 12 in Santa Clara, CA at an apartment complex. The NFL linebacker answered the door when cops showed up and told them the 2 were arguing ... and eventually Ennis came out to talk to them, too.

At one point, Foster's placed in handcuffs while they attempt to talk to Ennis.

She eventually told an officer, "Everything is not okay," and that she found things that upset her on Foster's phone. She also said she was on depression medication but didn't take her pills that day. She didn't answer whether the 2 were hitting each other.

Ultimately, neither Foster or Ennis were cited or arrested for the incident.

As you know, though ... Foster was arrested for domestic violence in Tampa last month after allegedly pushing Ennis in the chest and slapping her. He was cut by the 49ers the next day, but claimed by the Redskins just days later.

Ennis appeared on "Good Morning America" Thursday to tell her story, and claimed the Niners tried to discredit her.

The Redskins have claimed Reuben Foster just days after he was cut by the 49ers following a domestic violence arrest in Tampa Bay over the weekend ... the team announced.

As we previously reported, the superstar LB was allegedly involved in an altercation with a female at the Niners' hotel Saturday night ... in which a woman says Reuben took her phone and slapped her in the face.

When the woman spoke with police, she told them Foster had also pushed her in the chest and hit her with an open hand on the left side of her face. Cops say they noticed a scratch on her collarbone.

The 49ers cut Foster following the arrest ... with coach Kyle Shanahan saying, “Our number one rule is you got to protect the team and he’s put us in a bad light too much.”

Redskins Senior VP of Player Personnel Doug Williams said in a statement they're very aware of the severity of the accusations, but say Foster could be worth the risk regardless.

"We decided to investigate the situation with Reuben further by claiming his rights after candid conversations with a number of his ex-Alabama teammates and current Redskins players who were overwhelmingly supportive of us taking this chance."

Doug added, "Let me be clear, Reuben will have to go through numerous steps including the full legal process, an investigation and potential discipline from the NFL, as well as meetings with counselors associated with the team before he will ever have the opportunity to wear the Burgundy and Gold as a player."

"Nothing is promised to Reuben, but we are hopeful being around so many of his former teammates and friends will eventually provide him with the best possible environment to succeed both personally and professionally."

TMZ Sports has obtained the 911 call Reuben Foster's ex-GF made after he allegedly attacked her at the 49ers hotel on Saturday ... and she tells the operator, "He slapped me in my face."

The woman sounds like she's sobbing at the beginning of the call -- but pulls herself together to tell the operator, "My ex-boyfriend just took my phone [and broke it] ... slapped me in my face and threatened me."

She later repeated, "He took my phone and broke it and slapped me in my face."

The woman identifies the 49ers linebacker by name and says he left the room at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Tampa Bay right after the altercation -- but noted he was still on the property.

You can tell in the audio the woman is distraught but tells the 911 operator she does not require immediate medical attention.

Cops responded to the hotel and arrested Foster late that night. He was booked on a 1st degree misdemeanor domestic violence charge.

When the woman spoke with police, she told them Foster had also pushed her in the chest and slapped her with an open hand on the left side of her face. Cops say they noticed a scratch on her collarbone.

The 49ers cut Foster following the arrest.

As for the alleged victim, she also told police she's been in an on-again, off-again relationship with the 49ers linebacker for the past 3 years.

Reuben Foster has been cut by the San Francisco 49ers after being arrested in Tampa Bay for domestic violence.

Tampa police said Foster and a woman got into a verbal altercation Saturday at the team's hotel. Foster allegedly slapped her phone out of her hand, pushed her in the chest and slapped her with an open hand on the right side of her face. Tampa police said the alleged victim had been in a relationship with Foster for 3 years.

This isn't Fosters' first run-in with the law. He was previously accused of domestic violence, but the judge dropped the charges in May.

DeSean Jackson will wear Rodney King-themed cleats for the Bucs game Sunday ... featuring the words "Black Lives Matter" and a depiction of a police officer raising a baton.

For the next few weeks, the NFL is allowing players to raise awareness for causes they support using custom kicks as part of the league's "My Cause, My Cleats" program.

DeSean chose black-and-blue colored spikes for his cause ... a clear message he's trying to help end police brutality in America.

The cleats feature King's face ... the "Black Lives Matter" slogan ... Florence and Normandie street signs (a major point of the riots and where Reginald Denny was attacked) ... and a shadowy drawing of an officer raising his baton at 5 open hands.

What's interesting ... DeSean's set to debut the kicks against the 49ers -- the team Colin Kaepernick famously started his kneeling protests with to help raise awareness for social injustice in America.

Ex-49ers running back Jarryd Hayne -- who's also an international rugby star -- was arrested in Australia for aggravated sexual assault and now faces up to 20 years in prison.

Officials say the accuser is a 26-year-old woman who claimed she hooked up with Hayne on Sept. 30 in what started as a consensual sexual encounter. She claimed the two met online.

But, at some point during the incident, the woman claims Hayne's actions turned criminal and she suffered injuries as a result.

Cops investigated the matter and ultimately determined there was enough evidence to charge Hayne with a crime -- "aggravated sexual assault inflicting actual bodily harm."

Hayne turned himself in to police on Monday and was released on bail several hours later.

A spokeswoman for NSW Police issued a statement to local media outlets saying -- "Police are investigating following reports a woman was sexually assaulted by a 30-year-old man in late September."

"The investigation is being led by detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad."

Hayne is a massive star in Australia -- and famously left the rugby world in 2015 for a brief stint with the San Francisco 49ers. He flashed potential on the field but it ultimately didn't work out.

It's not the first time Hayne has been accused of a sex crime -- back in 2015, a woman in the United States claimed Hayne raped her after she had been drinking and passed out.

At $31.7 MILLION A YEAR ... Roger Goodell is actually UNDERPAID -- so says Dana White.

"That's the worst f***ing job in sports," White says of being the NFL's commish.

We got the UFC honcho out in NYC ... and asked about football's latest controversy -- a 49ers cheerleader taking a knee during the national anthem -- and that's when Dana said he's SUPER STOKED to not be in Goodell's shoes.

It's seemingly one headache to mitigate after another --- Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid, President Trump, and now, cheerleaders protesting -- and White seems so grateful that's not going down in the UFC.

"Worst job in sports," Dana says ... "They're not paying that guy enough money."

As for how Dana would handle it if it did happen in his league ... he says it wouldn't.

"We don't do the national anthem. So they can kneel all they want."

BTW ... Dana says he wishes NFL players would find a different way to protest, but added, "At the end of the day, it's a free country. You can do whatever you want."