TMZ Sports - Page 50

Richard Sherman says Cam Newton's new Patriots contract is both "ridiculous" and "disgusting" ... and he's now going after the NFL for allowing it to happen.

"How many former League MVPs have had to sign for the min?" Sherman wrote Sunday night. "(Asking for a friend.) just ridiculous."

The SF 49ers superstar added, "A transcendent talent and less talented QBs are getting 15/16m a year. Disgusting."

Cam not only had to wait MONTHS to sign with the Pats after the Panthers cut him in the spring ... but he reportedly had to ink a deal with New England that'll only pay him $7.5 million IF he hits all of his incentives.

Sherm thinks that's just crazy for a guy with Hall of Fame potential ... even if injuries haven't allowed the 31-year-old to produce as well on the field the past few seasons.

"Check that against every QB slated to be a starter this season," Sherman said of Cam's recent struggles. "Let me know how that goes."

For his part, Newton didn't seem displeased with his signing over the weekend ... even if the contract is over HALF of the $20-plus million he used to make per season in Carolina.

Special moment from Lil Wayne on Sunday night -- he perfumed his 2009 track, "Kobe Bryant" ... with new lyrics to honor Mamba and Gianna.

It all went down at the BET Awards -- where Wayne debuted a new music video for the song, performing in front of the screen with Kobe's name on it.

The original lyrics already painted Kobe as a legend:

"He the greatest on the court ...
And I'm the greatest on the verse.
Goin' for the 4th ring like it was his 1st...
Gotta get the gleam. Do it for Kareem ...
2-4 so nice. My flow is so mean."

But, in the wake of recent events, Weezy updated the track to acknowledge the passing of Kobe and Gianna.

"Two fingers for the Mambacita. I’m screamin’ 'Black Mamba matters.'"

He continued ... "Heart goes out to Vanessa and the whole Black Mamba family."

"G-O-A-T like Kobe Bean, rest in power and hope for peace.”

Vanessa acknowledged it on her IG page -- calling the performance a "beautiful tribute."

Kobe, Gianna and 7 others passed away in a helicopter crash on January 26. He was 41. She was only 13.

NBA superstar Ja Morant says he went too far by reposting an anti-police statement to his social media pages ... and now, he's apologizing for it -- saying, "I know there are good cops '12' out there."

If you missed it, somebody edited Morant's Memphis Grizzlies jersey so it spelled out "F**k 12" ... and Ja reshared it on Instagram with the caption, "nah fr tho."

Morant also posted it on Twitter, writing there, "want dat on my jersey fr."

But, Ja's endorsements of the image -- which came after reports claimed the NBA is considering allowing players to replace their jersey names with messages in their return to action next month -- was met with immediate backlash.

And, just hours after he reshared the pics, he took them down and issued a mea culpa.

"I want to first apologize for reposting something that didn't clearly and accurately convey what I wanted to share," Morant said.

"My post was intended to focus on the bad cops who get away with the murder of unarmed Black men and women, and those who continue to harass peaceful BLACK LIVES MATTER protestors."

Ja continued, "I know there are good cops '12' out there. I know some, and a few are family. I am thankful to the cops at Murray State who took care of me, and the cops who continue to watch over me with the Grizzlies."

"We NEED good cops to step up and make sure others cops are not abusing their power."

In the apology, Morant went on to call for justice for Breonna Taylor, and added, "There have been too many Black lives taken by police that could have been prevented."

"You may see me as just a basketball player and I may lose fans for taking a stand, but I won't stay silent."

It's been almost 4 months since Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 ... but his sense of smell is still MIA.

The Utah Jazz star was one of the first cases of coronavirus in pro sports when it was confirmed on March 11 ... leading to the shut down of the 2019-20 NBA season.

One of the common symptoms is loss of smell and taste -- and the 28-year-old Frenchman is telling L'Equipe he still isn't fully recovered in that sense.

"The taste has returned, but the smell is still not 100%," Gobert said in French.

"I can smell the smells, but not from afar. I spoke to specialists, who told me that it could take up to a year."

Remember, Gobert was the guy who famously joked around about COVID-19 ... jokingly touching a bunch of microphones and other recording devices at a press conference before he formally tested positive.

Afterward, Gobert's teammate, Donovan Mitchell, tested positive -- leading to a rift between the two.

Rod Woodson says it's the color of his jacket -- not his skin -- that's keeping him from getting a coaching gig in the NFL ... telling TMZ Sports he feels the league's head coaches don't want Hall of Famers on their staff.

"They want one alpha in the room," Woodson says. "And, I'm not a real alpha where I want somebody's job. I just want to -- I just love talking ball."

Woodson says he's been angling for a full-time assistant coaching role in the league for a while now ... but claims he's having issues getting hired due to his Hall of Fame resume.

The Pittsburgh Steelers legend -- who was inducted in Canton back in 2009 -- says it ain't just him, either ... claiming other Hall of Famers like Ed Reed are experiencing similar problems.

"I think it'll be more difficult for Hall of Famers to get in it and stay in it," Woodson says, "just for the fact that most of the coaches don't like that respect leaving that room or that area and going to somewhere else."

Rod tells us it ain't a work ethic issue either ... he claims he's willing to punch the clock from 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM!!

"Is that not enough grind?!" Woodson says.

FYI, Rod says to his knowledge, there's only one Hall of Famer coaching in the league right now -- and that's Mike Munchak, the Denver Broncos' O-line coach.

By the way, we also spoke with Rod about the 2020 Hall of Fame class' postponement ... and he's crushed that the guys have to wait one more year for their ceremonies.

Cam Newton is getting a new lease on football life -- for at least a season, anyway -- 'cause the New England Patriots have signed the veteran quarterback to a deal.

The ex-Carolina Panthers star -- who took his team to the Super Bowl in 2015 -- has agreed to a one-year contract with the team, which is said to be incentive-based ... so not a whole lot of money upfront. Definitely a ton of opportunity though for the former starter, especially if he performs well. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says the contract is worth up to $7.5 mil if he hits all his bonuses.

Cam will presumably get some decent playing time and the chance to become the first-string QB for the Pats -- seeing how they got a relatively new guy in Jarrett Stidham in that spot right now ... this, of course, after Tom left the team this past off-season to head to Tampa.

Long story short ... the top spot is kinda up for grabs in New England, and if Cam can prove he's capable of performing again at a high level, he may very well fill in as the team's new franchise quarterback. Granted, he's had an up and down trajectory since his SB year -- mostly due to injuries. That said, we've all seen what Cam can do when he's healthy ... the guy was the league's MVP in 2015.

The bright side ... the dude looks like he's been staying in great shape, as he's been posting a ton of workout videos lately after being released by the Panthers. Seems like he's ready to step in and play -- and it would appear Kraft, Belichick and co. agreed.

Mike Tyson was a goner if he thought he could walk the super-crowded Venice Beach boardwalk undetected ... because even with a mask, Iron Mike was an easy mark.

Mike was checkin' out shops along the famous boardwalk Saturday, and it seems everyone recognized him and most wanted -- of course -- a selfie.

Mike obliged, as most normies struck a fighting pose with fists clenched. Tyson played along.

Unclear why Mike was there ... no film crews in sight. It's probably just as simple as this ... it was a beautiful day in SoCal and perfect for a little sand and surf.

Draft a first-round QB but have Aaron Rodgers on your roster???

Brett Favre says he's got the perfect solution for that ... telling TMZ Sports the Packers should use top-pick Jordan Love like the Saints' Swiss Army knife, Taysom Hill!

The Green Bay legend opened up to us about the Pack's QB dilemma this year ... and he thinks the team should be in no rush to take Rodgers off the field for Love, despite spending the No. 26 pick on the Utah State star.

Instead, Favre says he's all for packages that put the two on the field together ... the same way Sean Payton uses Drew Brees and his backup QB in New Orleans.

"I think there's ways to incorporate it much like Taysom Hill with the Saints," Favre said. "Use him as a halfback, a halfback pass, but occasionally let him run it just to show that you'll do that. Something like that."

Unclear if Love is open to being a gadget player in his first year as pro ... but Favre says the rookie should have ZERO desires to play right away otherwise.

"Soak it all in and your time will come," Favre said of his advice for Jordan.

As for Rodgers' feelings on the pick now ... Brett says he believes No. 12 has no problems with Love, but is still kind of peeved the team didn't use the selection on a player who could help right away.

"My discussions with Aaron," Favre said, "I never got the sense that he was upset that they had signed a quarterback but more so didn't get immediate help. And, it just sends the wrong message."

"It's disrespectful to be honest with you. It really is."

Adrian Peterson says he's fed up with the way NFL owners and GMs refuse to pay running backs their value ... and now, he's telling TMZ Sports he hopes the game's youngsters can change things around.

Peterson famously hasn't had too many issues with contracts over his career ... he's made over $100 MIL in 13 seasons.

But, he's seen other tailbacks get the shaft when it comes time for new contracts ... and he tells us he's tired of seeing it.

"I think the change is going to come," Peterson says. "Me and Frank Gore continue to show guys, 'Hey, we are valuable. We can have 10, 14-year careers as well, so value us as well like you would value a quarterback, you know?'"

Of course, there are still plenty of running backs waiting for the tide to turn ... Zeke Elliott famously had to hold out of training camp to get his big contract, while Dalvin Cook is now threatening to do the same.

Derrick Henry, meanwhile, is being forced to play on the franchise tag ... while Alvin Kamara has yet to receive an extension despite playing on a very Saints-friendly deal his first 3 years in the league.

Peterson says he's hopeful all of that will change soon ... adding, "These young core of backs are really changing the game for the better."

It's been 3 years since Larry Sanders stepped foot on an NBA court ... but the 31-year-old says he's FAR from done -- telling TMZ Sports he wants another shot at getting back in the league.

Remember, Sanders had a solid career with the Milwaukee Bucks from 2010-2015 ... before failed drug tests and battles with mental health kept him out of work.

L.S. briefly had a comeback with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017 ... but reportedly struggled with keeping up with his responsibilities.

We spoke with Sanders about his career ... and he makes it clear he's not ready to hang up the sneaks yet.

"I think with things shifting a bit, me still young, I feel like I'm in the prime stage, I can definitely contribute."

"I would just love to contribute to a team and help them win and give my knowledge, give my defensive presence and just being able to play basketball."

"That's ideal for me. That sounds like heaven."

But, as for what Sanders has been up to OFF the court, he tells us he's working with a spray cannabis company called CLICK ... and says it's perfect for someone with his athletic lifestyle.

"It's super discrete, super cool and sleek and I just fell in love with it because for me, it's healthier."

Aroldis Chapman now has an insane ride to go with baseball's best fastball -- the MLB star just copped a ludicrous custom 6-wheeled Jeep ... that's covered in Kevlar coating!!!

TMZ Sports has learned the New York Yankees closer hit up South Florida Jeeps in Ft. Lauderdale about two months ago to get the custom whip made -- and it came out SICK!!!

Check out the pic of the ridiculous car ... we're told by shop honcho Joseph Ghattas it started out as a cut-in-half Jeep -- and it was all custom built by hand from there.

The ride has 600 horsepower, features blood-red interior from top to bottom ... and according to Ghattas, it's not only "unstuckable" while off-road, it vapor trails down highways as well!!

All told, Ghattas says the project took about 60 days to complete ... and cost Chapman right around $150,000 -- a small price to pay for a dude who just signed a 3-year, $48 MILLION contract with the NYY.

As for Chapman's reaction when he picked up the new whip this week ... Ghattas says he LOVED the creation -- saying, "He doesn't speak a whole lot of English, but 'f**king awesome' is pretty universal!"

Jabari Parker just told the world he'd contracted coronavirus -- and less than 3 days later, the guy doesn't appear to be in isolation ... but rather, he's playing tennis in public.

The Sacramento Kings star was spotted Saturday in Chicago's Longfellow Park, where he was rallying with a buddy on the other end of the net ... all smiles, and without a mask. Mind you, he'd just announced a few days earlier that he had test positive for COVID-19.

It's hard to say what we should make of these photos of him seemingly doing just fine in light of that. On the one hand, it's kind of a bad look -- but also, it might be perfectly understandable ... as we don't know the exact status of his recovery at the moment.

In his statement through the Kings, Jabari said he found out his diagnosis "several days ago," but didn't specify when or how long he's been quarantined in Chi-Town. You'd like to assume he's on the tail end of his 14-day isolation here, but we just don't know.

Another somewhat troubling sign -- sources tell us Jabari was recently seen out at a restaurant there in the Windy City. Again, unclear if he's all better now or still sick.

TMZ Sports has obtained pictures of the injuries a pool cleaner alleges she suffered when Ezekiel Elliott's dogs attacked her last March ... and they're gruesome.

The photos show a mangled forearm and a bruised thigh ... injuries she claims were all due to bites from the Dallas Cowboys star's Rottweiler and two bulldogs.

We broke the story, in a new lawsuit filed in Texas this week, a pool cleaner says she was "ambushed" by Elliott's dogs while entering the NFL player's Frisco backyard on March 11.

In the alleged attack, the woman claims Zeke's Rottweiler bit her forearm, while the two bulldogs lunged and bit her legs.

The woman says in the docs she was rushed to the emergency room after the incident ... and says she later required surgery on her forearm.

In the suit, the woman claims she's still suffering both emotionally and physically ... and is now suing Elliott for over $200k -- but less than $1 million.

"Our client has been out of work since the incident happened in March," the woman's attorneys at Gardner Haas in Dallas, Texas tells us, "and the attack has scarred her for life -- both physically and mentally."

"Our client attempted to resolve this matter out of court, providing a description of what happened and pictures of her injuries, but Elliott didn’t bother to respond."

For his part, Elliott's attorney tells us, "Ezekiel was in no way negligent in connection with the alleged incident and intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit."

Elliott is well known for his dogs ... his Rottweiler, Ace, is tattooed on his forearm -- and he's even previously showed off the trio of pups for the camera on a Twitch stream this month.

A witness who was at the Chipotle restaurant during the Darius Leonard incident tells TMZ Sports ... the NFL star did nothing wrong and insists Leonard was racially profiled.

The witness spoke to us on the condition of anonymity -- but we were able to confirm the person was at the South Carolina location at the time of Thursday's incident.

The witness says Leonard was peacefully enjoying his meal with his party and NEVER trash-talked the other patron -- who had complained to management about Leonard's group being aggressive and unruly.

We're told the Indianapolis Colts superstar appeared upset when the manager asked his group to leave -- but he never lost his cool.

In fact, we're told after leaving the restaurant, Leonard went back inside to explain to the manager why he believed the situation was unfair and racially motivated.

Our witness says Leonard was polite and respectful during the interaction with the manager.

Afterward, Leonard went to IG and called the dude out -- saying he's sick of being treated like a criminal simply because he's Black.

After Leonard went public, we're told the store commissioned an armed security guard to man the front door as a precautionary measure.

As we previously reported, Chipotle's CEO personally reached out to Leonard and promised a thorough investigation into the incident.

Welp, this is awesome.

Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey just copped himself a new piece of real estate ... waterfront property in Fort Lauderdale and it's huuuuuuuge.

The 3-story home is 7,000 square feet -- with 6 bedrooms, 7 full bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms (that's 9 total toilets for all you mathletes out there), game room, bar, pool, etc.

There's also an ELEVATOR in the house -- in case Pouncey doesn't feel like walking up the stairs.

The rooftop terrace is sick. The private dock is sick. The kitchen is sick. The closets are sick.

We like the house. A lot.

The Listing agents who represented the property were Peter Barkin and Mark Gilman of the Barkin-Gilman Group | Compass. The Buyer’s agent who represented Maurkice was Adam Burke of Grandiose Real Estate, Inc.

30-year-old Pouncey has reportedly made more than $66 mil during his 10-year NFL career.

UFC's Dan Hooker admits he was initially "hesitant" about fighting in Nevada over the weekend due to the looming COVID threat ... but says he trusts Dana White to keep everyone safe.

30-year-old Hooker -- the #5 ranked UFC lightweight -- hails from New Zealand ... where the COVID numbers are incredibly low.

In fact, New Zealand has essentially been unscathed by coronavirus ... with only 1,170 confirmed cases, and 22 deaths.

To compare, the U.S. has more than 2.5 million confirmed cases ... with 126,000 deaths.

Nevada alone has roughly 11 times the number of cases as all of NZ.

"We have no cases actually in New Zealand and then coming over here I was a little bit hesitant to know about the safety precautions," Hooker tells us.

So, Hooker had a serious decision to make when White offered him the chance to fight Dustin Poirier on June 27 to headline UFC Fight Night at the APEX center in Vegas.

Hooker says he was reluctant to fly right into the COVID hornet's nest ... but ultimately he swayed after learning about the UFC's intense screening process.

"I feel comfortable. I've been here for 3 days and soon as we arrived, we got tested. Getting tested again [Friday], we get temperature checks every morning and they got security at every single door making sure that people can't come and go," Hooker says.

"I'm very confident in the precautions that the UFC has in place."

Now, Hooker is focused on Poirier -- the #3 ranked UFC lightweight ... and a win could put Hooker in the mix for a title shot.

FYI, Hooker is on a tear at the moment ... winning 7 of his last 8 fights over guys like Gilbert Burns, Paul Felder and Al Iaquinta.