TMZ Sports - Page 2

All TMZ Sports had to do was mention Caleb Downs' name to get Michael Irvin fired up -- the Hall of Famer tells us the Cowboys knocked their first-round draft pick outta the park ... and he's gonna help Dallas win a Super Bowl this year!!!

We caught up with No. 88 at LAX fresh off Day 1 of the NFL draft ... and our camera guy only got two words out before Irvin unloaded a passionate rant on the Ohio State standout.

"We're happy about that," Irvin said Friday. "Boy a bad boy, now. That's a bad dude. He is a game changer. He is one of the few right now in the game that plays like that dude Kyle Hamilton from the Ravens. That's the kinda safety -- plays all over the field and makes a difference all over the place. So I'm happy about it."'

Stefon Diggs' male sexual assault accuser, Christopher Blake Griffith, is asking a judge to force the NFL star to turn over his security footage from the night in question ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Christopher claims Stefon has failed to hand over information related to his finances, security footage, and various other items that he claims he's entitled to get in connection with the case.

Specifically, Christopher asked that Stefon turn over information and materials concerning security systems, surveillance footage, and access logs for the athlete's home in Maryland between May 20, 2023 to May 22, 2023.

Christopher claims Stefon said he would look into the matter but has yet to update him. He claims Stefon was aware Christopher filed a police report and says if security footage from the day in question was not saved, it could raise "serious questions of spoliation."

Antonio Brown owes Shuki Diamonds more than $1 million, but the famed jeweler says he isn't seeking any cash -- he just wants his "diamond fingers" back!

TMZ Sports chopped it up with Shuki this week ... on the heels of the jeweler revealing he could potentially be in line to receive a massive payout from the sale of one of AB's mansions in Florida.

"I love Antonio Brown. I've always said he's a beautiful person. The only thing I want is the world-famous, historical, diamond original finger. The million-dollar ice finger," Shuki says. "I just want my finger back."

Shuki's been trying to get the jewels back for years, and in 2024, he went to court ... ultimately getting a judge to rule Brown owed him $1,095,000 for the two rings, which he borrowed in 2022, but never returned.

"I don't need money. I got all the money in the world. I am the world-famous diamond artist for celebrities only, million dollars and above for 20 years," Shuki says.

"Money is not an issue. I just want my original, historical, flawless, one-million-dollar diamond fingers. That's it."

Unfortunately for Shuki, he may have to settle for the cash ... or at least some of it.

The former football star filed for bankruptcy in 2024, and his Florida home is being liquidated ... with the proceeds going to AB's creditors.

Shuki, in a last-ditch effort to get back his prized rings, had a message for Antonio.

Fernando Mendoza didn't only sit atop the NFL Draft Thursday night ... he was also the most popular athlete when it came to merch sales!

Mendoza, 22, was scooped up by the Silver and Black with the first overall pick, and fans didn't waste any time in buying his jersey in droves!

In fact, our Fanatics sources tell us Fernando was not only the most popular player among the rookies, nor the wider NFL ... his threads sold at a greater clip than any athlete in all American sports, period.

More than Travis Kelce. More than LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani, and Patrick Mahomes. Mendoza reigned supreme.

Thanks in large part to all the jerseys he sold, the Las Vegas Raiders were the top-selling team, beating out all the other NFL franchises.

Mendoza also got his first trading card courtesy of Topps. The iconic brand was on hand to instantly -- we're talking inside 90 seconds -- snap photos and create cards for the first round draftees.

Those cards will be available for purchase over the next 2+ days.

In Fernando's case, that meant sending a photographer to his home, where he celebrated the joyous occasion with his family and friends.

Mendoza even signed his card (so did the other players!), inscribing it ... "My 1st NFL Auto"

The photographer who snapped the pics of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini lookin' all cozy in Arizona was NOT a private investigator hired by a scorned spouse, despite the internet rumor.

In the wake of the Page Six photos, a theory has emerged online ... with fans speculating that Jen Vrabel, wife of the Patriots head coach, or Kevin Goldschmidt, the NFL insider's husband, recruited a P.I. to catch Vrabel and Russini in the act.

As juicy as that'd be, it just ain't the truth.

Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor -- widely considered the greatest defensive football player in NFL history -- was hospitalized in New Jersey after experiencing a medical emergency, TMZ Sports has learned.

The New York Giants legend's status is unclear at this time -- we will provide more information as soon as we get it.

We confirmed Taylor, 67, arrived at the emergency room and was shortly transferred to a different section of the facility.

Ex-University of Michigan head football coach Sherrone Moore's former mistress and assistant, Paige Shiver, just dropped a bombshell about their relationship -- she claims she was pregnant with his baby.

Shiver shared the shocking news during an interview with ABC News that partly aired on "Good Morning America" Friday morning. She tearfully said she wanted to keep the baby, but her docs told her it wouldn't be safe to carry the child due to her Pompe Disease, a progressive disorder that weakens muscles and causes respiratory and heart issues.

Shiver also spoke about the manipulation tactics Moore allegedly used during their relationship, explaining ... "[He] had complete control over me, over my emotions, over my career, and he knew that, and he used it against me."

Mike Vrabel put on a happy face for the newest member of the New England Patriots ... telling the team's first-round draft pick he's "doing great" on Thursday -- even though he's in the middle of a massive scandal with Dianna Russini.

The Pats shared footage from inside their draft room as they called offensive tackle Caleb Lomu to relay the life-changing news ... and the former Utah Ute was over the moon.

When the org's Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf passed the phone to coach, he introduced himself and asked how Lomu was doing.

Tim Tebow just shared some heartbreaking family news ... revealing his father, Bob, has passed away at 78 years old after a battle with Parkinson's.

The former Heisman Trophy recipient delivered a touching tribute to his dad on Friday ... saying, "Heaven ushered in a hero of the faith last night as my Dad was welcomed home!"

While Tebow acknowledged his friends, family and fans will say "sorry for your loss," he has a different perspective ... as Bob was a "hero of the faith" who is now "home."

Bret Michaels is a rock star -- and rock stars do awesome s*** -- but Friday night may be the pinnacle in career achievement for the lead man ... who's about to tick something big off his bucket list!

"This is so awesome. I'm here at the stadium, I grew up in Pittsburgh. This is a bucket list dream comes true for me. I'm a sports fanatic, a music fanatic. I said it's mixing everything I love, family, friends, music, sports, right here," the Poison front man told Babcock from Acrisure Stadium, previously Heinz Field, about Friday's gig at the NFL Draft, where he'll perform with Wiz Khalifa.

"Music and sports and my family having my back has really not only inspired me in life, but saved my life on many occasions. It goes so deep, and the NFL has been so incredible to work with. Wiz Khalifa, myself, Friday, 5:15 PM, kicking off the Friday night draft with nothing but a good time."

Since 2015, the NFL has moved the draft around ... after 50 years at Radio City in New York City, and Bret is pumped it's coming to the Steel City, where he was born and raised.

"This is a good day in my life."

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel says he hasn't lived up to his own standards amid his tawdry scandal involving former Athletic journalist Dianna Russini.

In a press conference Thursday before the start of the NFL Draft, Vrabel avoided Russini relationship specifics but admitted his "previous actions don't meet the standard that I hold myself to."

Vrabel also said he's become a distraction to his family, his players, the Patriots organization and their fans, adding ... "My family needs me this weekend and that's where I'll be."

The Las Vegas Raiders officially have their franchise quarterback, selecting Fernando Mendoza, the gunslinging Heisman Trophy winner, with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Let's keep it a buck ... everyone knew Vegas was going to pick the former star Indiana QB -- it was the worst-kept secret in the NFL -- but now it's officially official.

Mendoza, 22, is coming off an incredible season at Indiana, where he not only led the Hoosiers to a national title but also had immense personal success, winning the coveted Heisman.

Mike Vrabel got over his Titans unemployment by hitting a casino with none other than Dianna Russini ... and he seemed pretty happy, even though Tennessee kicked him to the curb just weeks prior to this photo.

TMZ Sports has obtained a pic of the current Patriots head coach and former Athletic insider at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi shortly before midnight on January 31, 2024. They were both married at the time.

Why Biloxi?? It might have had to do with the 2024 Senior Bowl held in Mobile, Alabama on Feb. 3 ... about an hour drive away.

A witness tells us they snapped the pic when they recognized Vrabel ... and assumed at the time that the woman by his side was his wife based on their body language. They didn't realize until the recent bombshell news that the lady was actually Russini.

Sherrone Moore's former assistant is breaking her silence after the coach's stunning downfall ... claiming he had "complete control" over her during their secret affair and used that power to keep her trapped.

Paige Shiver sat down with ABC News in an interview set to air Friday during "Good Morning America" and didn't hold back ... saying Moore manipulated her emotionally and professionally throughout their relationship.

"Here's a man that had complete control over me, over my emotions, over my career -- and he knew that, and he used it, he used it against me," Shiver said.

Atlanta Falcons player James Pearce Jr. is dodging a trial in his Rickea Jackson case after agreeing to enter an intervention program.

Pearce -- who was hit with felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing police, and resisting arrest, as well as misdemeanor stalking, after a Feb. 7 domestic dispute -- will take part in the program for six months under strict guidelines.

As part of the agreement, Pearce will not be allowed to make contact with or be near the WNBA star ... and must take part in therapy sessions.

Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini's Arizona hangout raised plenty of eyebrows ... but turns out, that was just a rerun.

Newly released photos from March 2020, obtained by Page Six, show the now Patriots head coach and the former NFL reporter looking very cozy -- and at one point kissing -- at a dimly lit SoHo bar in NYC ... and yeah, this doesn’t scream quick drink between colleagues.

The two are posted up side by side under red lights, leaning in close and locked into conversation. They're handsy ... at one point holding hands while Vrabel also has his hand on Russini's thigh and holding her arm. Not exactly subtle.