TMZ Sports - Page 50

If Jake Plummer were on the clock in the NFL draft and needed a QB ... he tells TMZ Sports he'd go with Justin Herbert over Tua Tagovailoa -- and says it's actually an easy choice.

"I would steer away from any damaged goods," the former NFL QB says.

Tua has battled SEVERAL key injuries in his 3-year Bama career ... most notably suffering a dislocated hip last November -- and Plummer says those are just too many red flags for him.

"I would be leery about injuries he's sustained already," Jake says of Tua. "They're not like a broken hand, or a sprained wrist, or something pretty similar. He's working with hips and he's had some problems with his knees, I believe."

Plummer says Herbert, meanwhile, doesn't have nearly the same question marks ... and, in fact, he thinks the Oregon QB might be the better overall prospect regardless.

Jake tells us he's worked out with Herbert in Los Angeles this year ... and has even spent time with him at the College Football Hall of Fame -- and would have no issues drafting the 22-year-old in the top 10.

"He's also a big lump of clay," Plummer says. "And, the right coach, the right system could mold him into what I believe could be almost the future of the QB position."

As for Jake's advice for rookies heading into the NFL after this week's selection process ... he's telling them to enjoy the family time for now -- because the NFL is a straight-up whirlwind.

By the way, Plummer's developed an app with his Ready List Sports company that he believes could help NFL teams develop their rookies MUCH faster than previous years!!

Gianna Bryant and her Mamba Academy teammates will be memorialized in a big way Friday night ... the WNBA is set to make them honorary picks in the org's annual draft, according to Vanessa Bryant.

GiGi, Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester -- who all passed away in a helicopter crash with Kobe Bryant -- will get the honor at some point during the televised selection process.

Of course, it's a huge deal for the trio ... they all had WNBA aspirations before their tragic deaths in January -- and Vanessa praised the tribute on social media Friday.

The league's show -- which is slated to be entirely virtual this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic -- is set to kick off at 4 PM PT on ESPN.

The WNBA becomes the latest in a long line of organizations, celebs and athletes that have paid tribute to the victims following the devastating helicopter wreck.

Remember, the Lakers held an emotional remembrance ceremony before their game against the Trailblazers on Jan. 31 ... while players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis got tribute tattoos.

Meanwhile, UConn -- Gianna's dream school to hoop at -- also paid tribute to Kobe's daughter by laying out a No. 2 jersey before its game in late January.

Others, like NBA stud Lou Williams, had murals of Kobe and GiGi painted to pay respects following the tragedy.

Browns LB Tae Davis says he was absolutely crushed after his great aunt and uncle tested positive for coronavirus ... and tells TMZ Sports their battle inspired him to step up and give back in a huge way.

"At the time when I first heard of it, I was devastated," Davis tells us. "It was just like a blow to me. I just remember just kinda freezing up, not really saying anything and just my mind went racing."

Davis tells us his family members played a pivotal role in his journey to becoming an NFL player ... and following the news, he knew he had the resources to do whatever he can to help those in need.

We're told the 23-year-old donated 500 meals to Meals on Wheels with his grandmother in mind ... knowing there are so many elderly people in need of food during the global pandemic.

When we asked Davis how it felt to give back during the crisis, he points out his loving family kept him focused on helping out whenever he could ... especially after making it big time.

"Without them, they all played a part of me being here today. As a kid, I always felt that if I was ever to have some type of platform, I would try to give back and help out any way I could and this was just the perfect opportunity to reach out and just try to help," Davis says.

May 9. May 16. May 23.

UFC star Tyron Woodley says he's ALL THE WAY DOWN to fight 3 Saturdays in a row -- as long as it gets him the title fight he's been craving.

Remember, Woodley was supposed to fight Leon Edwards on March 21st -- but the fight was scrapped due to complications from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since then, Tyron says he's been busting his ass to stay in fight shape so he can get back into the octagon as soon as the UFC gets back in business.

Now, Woodley says he's so fired up about going back to work, he's daydreaming about ways get his welterweight championship belt back from Kamaru Usman ASAP ... even if it means fighting 3 weeks in a row.

Tyron spells the whole thing out on "The Hollywood Beatdown" -- saying he's already been in contact with the UFC to try and get on the May 9th card.

And with most sports shut down around the world, Tyron thinks the opportunity to get on a major UFC card would be HUGE.

If he pulls off "back to back to back" victories, Tyron says he would HAVE to be recognized as the UFC G.O.A.T.

UFC star Tony Ferguson has cut his weight all the way down to 155 lbs -- which would be GREAT ... if the fight wasn't postponed!!!

Remember, Tony was supposed to fight Justin Gaethje in the main event at UFC 249 this weekend for the interim lightweight title (155 pounds).

But the April 18 fight was called off and Dana White is now looking at rebooking the event for May 9th.

Despite all those facts, Tony Ferguson has decided to continue his pre-fight training AS IF the fight were to happen on Saturday ... weight cut and all.

T-Ferg even hit the scale Friday morning to prove how serious he is about his process -- and yeah, it's a perfect 155 lbs.

The issue, of course, is that Tony will likely have to repeat the weight cutting process again next month if the UFC gets the green light to hold the event ... and that's A LOT of stress to put on your body in a short amount of time.

That said, it's still super impressive and shows how badly Tony wants the fight.

Stay safe, stay hungry -- and hopefully, we'll get to see the title fight we've all been waiting for sometime soon!

Sorry perverts, Joe Buck has just shot down a $1 MILLION offer to narrate sex tapes ... but says, "I'm flattered."

Some backstory ... Buck and several other high profile sportscasters have been keeping their skills sharp by calling random non-sports videos for people stuck at home during the pandemic.

He's done everything from cooking to marble racing (and everything in between) in exchange for good cause donations to support worthy charities.

A few weeks ago, Buck also said he was getting some requests to add his voice to some adult videos ... but explained he wasn't ready to go down that road -- yet.

"Maybe later in life, but not now."

Now, one adult site is hoping $1 MILLION will change his mind -- with "ImLive" putting together a proposal for 6 weeks of work.

Basically, Buck would have to commentate 25 live cam shows per week through the end of May ... and in return, boom -- 7 figures.

And, get this ... the company says the audio work would all be for a good cause because it would help visually impaired people enjoy the site!!

But, bad news for the sex site ... Buck has considered the offer and says unlike the people in the videos, he won't take it.

"Depending on the site they could just be handing some of my money back to me," Buck joked.

"So I’ll hold out for a better offer and try to hold on to my day job. But I have to say I’m flattered."

Pro hockey player Akim Aliu is taking the high road with his old coach, Bill Peters ... saying the man deserves his new opportunity to work, despite the racist remarks he made more than 10 years ago.

Remember, Aliu opened up this past November and claimed Peters "dropped the N-bomb several times" toward him during his rookie year with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2008-09 season.

The NHL opened an investigation into the accusations and Peters quickly resigned from his then-gig with the Calgary Flames.

Now, Peters has found new work with the Kontinental Hockey League Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg ... a move that Aliu is surprisingly okay with.

"Only with the past behind us can we focus on the future," Aliu said in a statement.

"Hockey is for all. I believe in second chances for everyone, that we can all find forgiveness in our heart and that real positive change is coming if we continue to push forward together."

"I don’t resent a man for finding work," Aliu said. "But I will fight to make sure those same opportunities are available to everyone, on and off the ice, regardless of race or ethnicity."

It's a powerful statement from Aliu ... who's made it his goal to help minorities feel more welcome in the sport.

As for Peters, he said he's learned from his mistakes, saying, "I think as times goes on, we all grow and improve and become better versions of ourselves."

Two O'Neals are better than one ... just ask the LSU hoops program!

Shaq's 18-year-old daughter, Amirah O'Neal, announced she's headed to Baton Rouge to play basketball for the Tigers next season ... just months after her big bro, Shareef, committed to LSU.

"I am excited to say that I have decided to commit to being a student athlete at LSU along side my brother @shareefoneal," Amirah said on IG.

"I am Sooooo grateful to spend my next 4 years as a Tiger."

Of course, both O'Neals are following in their father's famous footsteps -- Shaq is an LSU legend who balled out in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center from '89 to '92 before lighting up the NBA.

As for Amirah (who's 6'3" tall) -- SHE'S LEGIT -- averaging 17.2 points per game during her high school career at Crossroads in Santa Monica.

She was also an Honorable Mention to the MaxPreps 2019 California All-State Girls Basketball Team.

Shareef -- who recently announced he was transferring to LSU after a short stint at UCLA -- he's VERY excited about Amirah's decision.

"THE BROTHER SISTER DUO," Shareef posted on social media ... "Congrats to my sister on committing to LSU."

The 6'9" Shareef was a top-ranked high school player before heading to UCLA in 2018  -- but his freshman season ended before it began after doctors discovered an irregularity with his heart.