TMZ Sports - Page 50

Trump hated it ... but, Colin Kaepernick had nothing but love for Kenny Stills and other NFL players who demonstrated during the national anthem on Thursday night.

Stills -- along with his Miami Dolphins teammate, Albert Wilson -- took a knee before their preseason game against the Bucs on Thursday night. Kaep was watching and approved.

"My brother [Kenny Stills] continued his protest of systemic oppression tonight by taking a knee," Kaep wrote.

"Albert Wilson joined him in protest. Stay strong brothers!"

Kaep added this note about Stills -- "[He] was awarded the Miami Dolphins’ community service awards the last two years. He participates in a number of youth organizations and was a team captain last year."

Baker Mayfield only threw 20 passes Thursday night ... but that's all Mark Wahlberg needed to see, saying, "Cleveland got another star!"

Mark's been Baker's biggest fan -- the dude bet actual money on the Browns to win six games this season -- and he had his "I told you so" moment watching Mayfield's highlights Friday morning.

"My boy Baker Mayfield," Mark says.

"First preseason game, 11-for-20, 212 yards, two touchdowns, getting after it No. 6! Come on! Cleveland got another star! Let's go."

Mark ain't speaking in hyperbole ... NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger called Baker's first game one of the greatest debuts he's ever seen.

Kurt Warner says he would 100% support any teammate who chose to kneel during the national anthem ... telling TMZ Sports it's important to get behind guys who want to make societal change.

Important to note: Warner says he himself would never kneel during the anthem.

We got Warner at LAX and asked him his thoughts on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott taking heat after saying he doesn't think kneeling during the anthem is appropriate.

That's when Warner jumped into the issue, saying no matter what he'd do personally, he'd NEVER try to stifle teammates who wanted to engage in protest.

"I would support my teammates that, if they believed something was the right stand to make I have no problem with that."

Warner says that, while he'd stand to respect members of the military (including his wife), he gets that the protest isn't about disrespecting the armed forces, and hopes other people get that too.

Kelvin Benjamin just brushed off Cam Newton like a defensive back ... leaving Cam hanging on a high five and exchanging heated words with the QB -- and it's all on video.

Remember ... the Bills wideout blasted Cam in the media this week -- essentially blaming Newton for all of his struggles in Carolina the past few years.

“It was a bad fit from the get-go," Kelvin told The Athletic. "If you would’ve put me with any other quarterback, let’s be real, you know what I’m saying?"

Cam appeared to try to squash the beef in the leadup to Carolina's preseason game with the Bills ... but when Newton walked up to the wideout, things took a turn.

Newton tries to shake Kelvin's hand ... but Benjamin turns it down. When Panthers LB Thomas Davis intervenes -- Cam brushes him off so the two can have a heart-to-heart.

The altercation goes on for a while ... before it's clear the two can't see eye to eye and Cam bolts for the locker room.

At least Tekashi69 had one court victory on Thursday ... 'cause the rapper faced off with Victor Oladipo's violent dunk in a basketball session ... and technically, he kinda won.

Fresh off a court appearance for his child sex case -- in which prosecutors recommended 1 to 3 years behind bars -- the "FEFE" spitter went right back to talking trash on social media ... with the NBA star being his newest target.

"Victor Oladipo is trash. I’m defensive player of the year," Tekashi said.

Of course, Oladipo is the opposite of trash. Dude won Most Improved Player in the NBA this season.

Who needs fighting lessons from Muhammad Ali when you've got martial arts legend Michael Jai White?

Michael -- an actor who owns 8 black belts -- wants to teach YOU to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. His instructional video is going viral, so we HAD to discover Michael's secrets to kicking ass and taking names.

We also wanted to know ... would Michael beat Wesley Snipes in a fight? Turns out, there's way too much brotherly love between them for a potential showdown.

NBA guard Nik Stauskas just took the biggest shot of his life ... and SCORED -- 'cause his smokin' hot girlfriend said yes to marriage!!

The new Trail Blazers stud just met Alexandra Brynn last August ... but things heated up quickly -- with Nik popping the question Wednesday in front of EVERYONE at Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square.

And, yeah ... the ring is definitely NBA sized.

"Words can’t even describe the feeling I had waking up this morning knowing I’d be waking up next to you every day for the rest of my life," Nik said on his IG page.

"I always knew when I got down on one knee you would say yes, but to actually have it happen last night was a dream come true!"

Congrats!!

Anthony Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn says the probability that a fight happens with Deontay Wilder is pretty good -- like 100% good -- telling TMZ Sports it WILL HAPPEN no matter what.

Joshua vs. Wilder is the biggest fight in boxing bar none, but so far the two sides haven't been able to agree on terms to get the guys in the ring.

Hearn -- who was in Chicago promoting DAZN's October 6 card -- is telling the boxing public to be patient, basically giving his word that next year is the year.

"100% provided both guys keep winning. That's the fight. That's the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. No amount of money can ever buy that."

Like Hearn said, both men have rumbles coming up -- Wilder in December and Joshua in September -- and if things go like they've been going, it looks like we all get our show.

Ray Rice is putting the NFL on notice ... 'cause dude just popped up shirtless in Jamaica -- and he looks like he could abs-olutely still give a team some carries this season!!

Remember ... Ray's been outta the league since he was suspended indefinitely in 2014 for striking his then-fiance (now wife) Janay Rice in a casino elevator.

But, the ex-Ravens superstar has said repeatedly he wants another chance to play ... and by the looks of things -- the 31-year-old's certainly still in shape to do it.

If anyone thought LeBron James was going on the California Diet to get all skinny now that he's a Laker, YOU'RE WRONG, 'cause here's a pic that proves his muscles are still of the Ohio corn-fed variety.

Here's LeBron shooting around with his teammates in purple & gold practice gear, and the dude looks MASSIVE.

Along with Bron, Brandon Ingram and some team trainers were also in the building watching King James work. It's the first time we've seen Bron in his Lakers practice gear since he signed his contract.

With all the big Hollywood deals he's been making lately -- along with launching a school in Ohio -- it's good to see him making time for some hoop.

Everyone knows LeBron's a workout warrior, and with the way people have been coming at him lately, it might be a good idea to break out the guns and show he's ummm ... different.

If you wonder how he does it ... check out the INSANE video below.

The NFL Network is responding to Heath Evans -- who claims he should NOT have lost his job for sending sexual pics to a wardrobe lady because she sent sexy pictures back.

But, the NFL Network ain't buyin' what Heath's sellin' -- essentially saying the fact it was mutual doesn't mean it wasn't "misconduct" in the first place.

"Heath’s employment was terminated as a result of his own misconduct – which he freely admitted to on Twitter today," network spokesperson Alex Riethmiller tells TMZ Sports.

"Before severing its relationship with Heath, the NFL carefully considered all of the circumstances, including the information that Heath provided. In the end, the NFL concluded that his conduct was not acceptable in our workplace and we stand by our decision to terminate his employment."

Heath Evans is adamant he did NOT sexually harass a wardrobe specialist at NFL Network -- claiming they exchanged MUTUAL sexual text messages ... but he was fired anyway.

Evans was named in a 2017 lawsuit filed by Jami Cantor who claims she was sexually terrorized by several ex-NFL stars working at the Network ... including Marshall Faulk, Warren Sapp, Donovan McNabb and others.

In her suit, Cantor claimed Evans sent her nude pics on at least 2 occasions -- but now, Evans says it was definitely a 2-way street.

"My accuser and I had exchanged mutual flirtations that included her sending me and me sending her pictures of a sexual nature," Evans wrote in a statement.

"I regret having engaged in the picture exchange. Nothing ever came of the mutual flirtations and we remained friends during and after her employment ended at the network."

Evans says he has text messages that prove his story.

But, despite his apparent evidence, Evans says the NFL Network pressured him to sign a non-disclosure agreement about the case ... which would bar him from telling his side of the story publicly.

Evans says he refused -- so the NFL Network fired him on July 27. Now, he's sounding off on social media.

Still, Evans says he has no hard feelings towards Cantor -- "While I certainly wish she hadn't falsely included me in the series of allegations she made, I understand better than most that people who have been mistreated and hurt, often hurt other people."

Boxing star Gervonta "Tank" Davis says he wants an MMA fight with UFC champ T.J. Dillashaw -- and now T.J.'s responding ... "Bring It!"

Tank has been talking about getting into the Octagon for a while -- previously telling TMZ Sports he truly believes he has the talent, athleticism and skill to compete in MMA.

And, after he watched T.J. beat up Cody Garbrandt at UFC 227 over the weekend, he tweeted out a challenge to the bantamweight champ.

"I wanna fight the dude that fought Cody yesterday."

Well, T.J. saw the tweet and shot back with a little trash talk of his own -- "Bring it! I heard they were handing out belts after [Vasyl Lomachenko] left your division."

Obviously, if this fight were to come together it would take some time -- but Davis says he's serious about it.

Jerry Jones is praising the hell out of his QB, Dak Prescott, for the way he's handling the drama surrounding the national anthem controversy ... telling TMZ Sports, "I'm so proud of him."

Jerry was leaving Mr Chow in Beverly Hills on Wednesday night when we asked if he expected Dak to get a lot of blowback for supporting Jerry's "My players will stand" position on the anthem.

"I'm so proud of him, just proud of him the way he leads the team ... for not letting it mess with their practices."

We also asked JJ how he felt about Ice Cube standing up for Dak's right to voice his opinion -- and Jerry showed love for Cube as well ... saying, "I'm a fan of Ice Cube!"

Johnny Manziel is admitting his first CFL start was a train wreck ... but says he's taking it on the chin and moving on to the next opportunity.

Johnny's Montreal Alouettes got rocked on Friday night in a 50-11 route -- with Manziel throwing 4 interceptions and completing just 11 passes in his first pro game since 2015.

"It's humbling to come back after a couple years off and that's your first game and that's the result you get," Manziel said on his "Comeback SZN" podcast with Barstool Sports.

"It's not what anybody envisioned, it's not what anybody imagined."

But, Manziel says it's all part of the process ... and he's worked too damn hard to let it ruin his comeback that easily.

"I'm not in this for a quick fix, or a quick turnaround. We'll put in the work and we'll get to where we need to be at. I really feel that way."

LeBron James is clearly unmoved by the criticism of his new I Promise school in Ohio -- at least judging by his shirt.

After Bron announced the opening of the district school in Akron, reports came out showing James is not covering the full operating costs of the school ... only around 25%. The rest is covered by taxpayers.

Don't get it twisted, Bron's coming out of pocket roughly $2 MILLION per year (amazing), but the school will reportedly cost around $8 mil per year to run.

Some critics went in on LeBron for putting such a heavy burden on the school district -- others praised LeBron for his generosity and commitment to education.

Despite the drama, LeBron went out in Hollywood Wednesday night wearing an "I Promise" shirt -- showing his full support for his passion project.