TMZ Sports - Page 50

ESPN will NOT suspend Katie Nolan after she called Donald Trump a "f**king stupid person" on VICELAND's "Desus & Mero" talk show on Wednesday ... a rep for the network tells TMZ Sports.

"We have looked into the totality of Nolan’s comments, they were inappropriate and we have addressed it with her," the rep said.

The diss came during a discussion about hand gestures associated with white supremacists ... with Katie saying Trump uses the thumbs-up emoji simply because he's "stupid."

She also appeared to use another offensive word to describe Trump, but that word was bleeped out of the broadcast.

Comedian Anthony Jeselnik is a HUGE Steelers fan ... so how does he feel about the ESPN report claiming Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft are beefing behind the scenes?

"I take great pleasure (in it)," Jeselnik told TMZ Sports.

But the former "Last Comic Standing" host ain't saying it's game over for New England.

In fact, he told us a little infighting is common with great teams like Michael Jordan's Bulls ... and he fully expects Brady and co. to keep kickin' ass.

Today's Gruden Grinder goes to JON GRUDEN'S AGENT -- who's reportedly landing a $100 MILLION contract for Chucky to coach the Raiders.

Just win, baby!!!!

The deal is reportedly $100 mil for 10 years, the longest coaching deal in NFL history according to Adam Schefter.

Gruden hasn't coached in the NFL since 2008 and has since worked as a color commentator and featured on-air personality for ESPN, where he's reportedly one of their highest paid employees.

Gruden famously won Super Bowl XXXVII with the Tampa Bay Bucs back in 2003 ... when he beat the Raiders.

Not even Tom Brady was spared from Rob Gronkowski's comedy crosshairs in his Showtime stand-up special ... with the Patriots tight end joking TB12 would be a Super Bowl loser without Gronk!

It's all in good fun ... but still pretty funny to hear Gronk take on Brady during his set in "Unsportsmanlike Comedy with Rob Gronkowski," which debuts Friday.

Among the highlights ... Gronk says he's never been to Tom's mansion, clowns Tom's diet and jokes about maybe playing until he's 40 one day, just like Tom.

LSU superstar running back Derrius Guice is going pro ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The 20-year-old college junior racked up 1,251 yards and 11 rushing TDs during the 2017 season -- and set the LSU single season yards-per-carry record in 2016 with 7.58 yards per carry.

Guice had given serious thought about returning to school for his senior year, but has ultimately decided to take his talents to the NFL.

Probably a good move, he's projected to be a 1st-round pick ... with some experts believing he'll get selected in the top 15.

Good luck!

He personally knows all 3 guys ... and now former Patriots tight end Jermaine Wiggins says reports of trouble between Brady, Belichick and Kraft should be met with "both middle fingers up."

Wiggins not only won Super Bowl XXXVI with the Pats -- but he still does sports radio in Boston and is very close with the Patriots organization.

Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft have united to call BS on an ESPN report that their relationship has been fractured ... calling the report "unsubstantiated."

In a joint statement, the 3 most powerful members of the Patriots organization said:

"For the past 18 years, the three of us have enjoyed a very good and productive working relationship. In recent days, there have been multiple media reports that have speculated theories that are unsubstantiated, highly exaggerated or flat out inaccurate."

"The three of us share a common goal. We look forward to the enormous challenge of competing in the postseason and the opportunity to work together in the future, just as we have for the past 18 years."

Laura Govan is not the "whore" you're looking for, Tamar Braxton ... this according to Laura, who seems to have a strong suspicion about who started the rumor Vincent Herbert got her knocked up.

First things first ... Laura wanted to make it clear she is NOT pregnant. When we got her at LAX Thursday she admitted she does know Tamar's estranged husband, but clarified she doesn't know him "that way."

Remember, Tamar claimed Vincent had gotten some "stupid broke ass whore" pregnant. Then Laura's ex, Gilbert Arenas, jumped into the mix and strongly insinuated Laura was said whore.

Wanna know how we know Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield's dating the new hot blonde chick he took to the Clippers game (AGAIN) last night???

Look at the way she's holding his stomach in their courtside couples pic. You know any two people who pose like that who aren't dating??? Exactly ...

So, here's the deal ... the woman is 27-year-old IG model Emily Wilkinson -- who also sat with Baker at the Clips game on Tuesday night. He cooked her breakfast the next morning and she posted the video on social media.

Fast-forward to Thursday ... there they were again. Totally dating, right?

There's more ... the future NFL quarterback met with Odell Beckham Jr. during the game and they seemed to get along pretty well. Future teammates?!?

Not bad for a Thursday night.

Todd Gurley had a big Thursday night -- hitting up the Clippers game and then Delilah (popular L.A. hotspot) ... just 2 days before the Rams take the field against the Falcons in the NFL playoffs.

TMZ Sports was at Delilah (a swanky restaurant and lounge) when we saw Gurley cruising in around 11:30 PM. He's such a big star in L.A., all he had to do was nod at the bouncer to get inside.

No word on when he left or if he even had a sip of alcohol (guessing he didn't) ... he may have just been stopping by to say hi to a friend.

Of course, the Rams play ATL in the Wild Card Round on Saturday -- and if Gurley, who's on fire right now, runs over the Falcons, no one will care about his night habits.

If they lose, however ...

Pats' owner Robert Kraft was chattin' with TMZ Sports and hanging with fans hours before ESPN published a report about alleged issues with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick ... but Kraft didn't seem worried.

In fact, he was smiling and letting a hotel valet take pics with his Super Bowl ring at Chateau Marmont on the Sunset Strip ... and endorsing Steph Curry and Diddy as future NFL owners.

Of course, over in Bristol, ESPN was finalizing a report alleging a fractured relationship between Brady, Belichick and Kraft ... and questioning if the legendary dynasty has reached "the beginning of the end."

As for the report, ESPN essentially says the 3 are having major disagreements over Tom Brady's personal trainer, Belichick's coaching style and the future of the Patriots franchise.

Kraft obviously knew the report was coming ... but didn't seem fazed one bit.

Jesse Williams is better at playing doctor than he is at soccer, because he could barely keep up in a pickup game with a bunch of Brazilian kids half his size.

The "Grey's Anatomy" star is down in Rio and Thursday he decided to hit up a favela to try his feet at the beautiful game. It was awesome ... for the locals. You gotta see the moves the little guys dropped on Jesse ... putting the ball between his legs at least twice. Nutmeg!

He eventually had to go shirtless as he worked up a sweat ... so, there's something for Jesse's fans!

No shame in losing to these kids, though. For all we know, he was playing the next Neymar.

Terrell Owens' old quarterback says it's about damn time he gets his gold jacket ... saying the controversial receiver is more than deserving to get in the Hall of Fame this year.

TMZ Sports spoke with Jeff Garcia -- who played 5 seasons with T.O. on the 49ers -- and while it wasn't always smooth sailin' between the guys, Garcia says the off-field drama should NOT keep Owens out of Canton.

"With what he was able to accomplish statistically, being a top 5, top 2 guy in many categories. Stop beating around it, the guy deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Put him in the Hall of Fame."

Critics have labeled T.O. as a QB killer and bad teammate ... and that's been the knock against him making the Hall. So, Garcia having his back is a big deal.

Owens -- who didn't get enough votes the last 2 years -- finds out if 3rd time's a charm on February 3 ... the day before the Super Bowl.

Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open ... saying she's not quite ready to compete on a tournament level after recently giving birth.

Serena posted the message to her Snapchat Thursday, saying ... "After performing in my first match after giving birth I realized that although I am super close I'm not where I personally want to be."

She adds ... "My coach and team always said 'Only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way.'" Serena defeated her sister, Venus, in the Australian Open last year.

The new mom competed in a tennis match just last month -- her first since giving birth to a baby girl in September. It was an exhibition match against Latvian player Jelena Ostapenko at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

As for the Australian Open ... she says she looks forward to coming back and competing another time.

Cris Cyborg says she's 100% down to annihilate Amanda Nunes when the time is right ... but tells TMZ Sports it ain't gonna happen anytime soon.

Earlier today, UFC honcho Dana White said Amanda is itching to scrap with Cris ... adding that it's "the fight to make."

But when we spoke with Cyborg, she pumped the brakes on the super fight -- "I want beat her, I want kick her ass, but I need to focus on my division."

Cyborg (the champ at 145 lbs.) told us she wants to fight the "best girls" who've been climbing the ladder at featherweight ... and Amanda (the champ at 135 lbs.) has been fighting at bantamweight her entire UFC career.

So, Nunes can get it ... but not right now.

Cyborg also told us whether or not she forgives the photog who called her a "dude," and if she's satisfied with the UFC's punishment.

Jean-Claude Van Damme was an emotional wreck after accidentally kicking UFC star Cody Garbrandt in the mouth during an MMA training session ... so says Urijah Faber, who was there!

It all went down back in November -- when JCVD flew up to NorCal to give some leg striking lessons to the fighters at Team Alpha Male.

Faber says Van Damme accidentally kicked Cody in the teeth -- and Cody was PISSED. Van Damme "dropped down and got real emotional" and desperately tried to apologize to the former champ.

Faber explains how the two guys eventually smoothed things over -- and the whole interview will be featured Thursday night on the "TMZ Sports" TV show on FS1.

Don't miss it!