Merril Hoge says a doctor's bad call didn't just end his NFL career ... it nearly ended his life ... and he can't help but think about his own NFL health scare when looking at the Jalen Hurts controversy.
The former Steelers running back and ESPN personality joined "TMZ Live" Tuesday to weigh in on the controversy surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles and their star QB, who was ruled out for the season due to blood clots.
Merril, who retired from the NFL in 1994, says he got some terrible medical advice when he was playing ... revealed just how badly things went wrong when he suffered a concussion on Monday Night Football with the Chicago Bears.
He says a team doctor cleared him to play just five days after the injury ... without ever examining him in person. Instead, he claims the doctor asked him one question over the phone: "How do you feel?"
The woman who drove her pickup truck onto a youth soccer field in Kansas, leaving two people dead and 10 others injured, spent hours with police after the deadly incident ... giving them a recorded statement and answering questions before walking free ... TMZ has learned.
Andrew Ford, a spokesperson for Wichita PD, tells TMZ ... the female motorist was detained and interviewed by investigators for several hours after she allegedly plowed into a bunch of people with her truck during a Saturday afternoon game at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
Ford says investigators asked questions about what happened and the woman answered them. He also says the woman was cooperative and gave a recorded statement before she was released.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is looking less like a WWE legend and more like a guy who feeds pigeons in the park ... and it's all for his latest movie.
The Hollywood heavyweight was spotted filming "Lizard Music" in New York City ... looking practically unrecognizable with wispy gray hair, a bushy mustache, and a floppy hat.
The Rock was rocking a beige coat, colorful tie and baggy pants as he strolled around with young costar Theo Clark Leber ... who was carrying an enormous green stuffed lizard.
Former NBA standout Al Harrington says "shut up and dribble" belongs in the past ... and he's got a pretty good reason for getting involved in politics these days.
Charlie has boots on the ground in Texas, and he caught up with Harrington at Republican senatorial candidate Ken Paxton's rally in Fort Worth ... where Harrington told us he's getting more involved in politics, particularly because of his business interests in the cannabis industry.
Harrington, who has been invested in cannabis since 2011 and lives in Texas, says he's trying to understand where the industry is headed amid looming restrictions ... and wanted to hear what Paxton, Texas' current attorney general, had to say.
Jay-Z -- the key decision-maker on who performs each year at the Super Bowl -- has reportedly made his choice for this year's big game, and it's none other than himself!
According to Puck News ... the rap mogul thought about who would take the stage for weeks at the biggest sports event, and then ultimately decided that he would be the perfect pick.
Multiple sources tell the media outlet that Jay choosing Jay was a "more compelling" idea than picking Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber, both of whom were believed to be frontrunners for Super Bowl LXI.This year's Super Bowl will take place at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 14, 2027.
Despite the report, there has been no official announcement on the Super Bowl. TMZ has reached out to Roc Nation, but no word back. Sources previously told TMZ Jay-Z was considering himself at least a month ago.
In 2019, Jay's Roc Nation reportedly secured a $5 million-a-year deal to produce the halftime show performance -- and the company re-upped the deal in 2024 for another 5 years.
The WNBA is drawing a line in the sand -- kind of ... because while the league insists that Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White can't play in the league because they're men, the WNBA still hasn't defined what a woman is.
Here's the deal ... WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbertwrote a letter to Republican lawmakers on October 16, saying the two former NBA players can't play in the WNBA because they're "both men."
However, Engelbert -- who is resigning from her position at the end of the year -- didn't define what a woman is ... instead simply saying Enes and Royce don't qualify.
Former Super Bowl champion Cordarrelle Patterson allegedly grabbed his wife by her hair and her arm during a domestic dispute ... leaving her bruised and fearing for her safety, TMZ has learned.
According to an arrest warrant obtained by TMZ, cops say they responded to a Tennessee home on October 17 after receiving a report of a domestic disturbance.
According to the warrant, Patterson's wife told officers the former NFL star physically assaulted her shortly before she called 911, grabbing her hair and left upper arm.
Jalen Hurts is getting an apology from a former NFL player who questioned his blood clot diagnosis ... and now the guy admits he was way out of bounds.
Former NFL fullback and current NFL Network analyst Michael Robinson issued a public apology Monday night after catching heat for suggesting the Eagles star quarterback might be using his health issues to escape blame for Philadelphia's disappointing season.
Robinson wrote on social media ... "I want to sincerely apologize to Jalen Hurts, his family, the Philadelphia Eagles organization and fan base for my comments last Thursday."
The lead detective in the O.J. Simpson murder case is throwing cold water on a new bombshell claim that O.J. had help covering his tracks ... and he's not mincing words.
Retired LAPD detective Tom Lange joined us on "TMZ Live" Monday, and we asked how much stock he puts in the theory that Joseph "Joey" Ippolito helped O.J. dispose of evidence after the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.
His answer? "Pretty close to zero."
Tom admits the allegations make for an interesting story, but he says there's one glaring problem -- there's no actual evidence.
6-year-old Cole Adrien died Saturday when a soccer mom in Kansas drove her pickup truck across a soccer field at a youth sports complex, and now his father is speaking out ... and remembering his son.
Cole's father, Chris Adrian, told the New York Times the family is heartbroken over his tragic death.
Chris told the outlet in a text message Sunday, "Cole was an incredible kid and could put a smile on anyone’s face."
Former NFL star Shawne Merriman has been ordered to pay up in a wrongful death lawsuit involving a Playboy employee who died of an overdose ... TMZ has learned.
According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, a Los Angeles judge entered a $4 million judgment against the former Chargers linebacker and three other defendants earlier this month over the 2017 death of Kimberly Fattorini.
The ruling comes after a jury found Merriman and the other defendants liable last year ... awarding Kimberly's parents, DeAnn and Ferdinand Fattorini, millions in damages.
A mafioso/drug dealer/convicted criminal/prison escapee may have helped O.J. Simpson get rid of physical evidence linking him to the murders ofRon Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, including the knife, but Harvey Levin says he was NOT an accomplice to the murders.
Harvey, who was the investigative reporter for the CBS affiliate in Los Angeles back in 1994, covered the O.J. saga from start to finish.
He says the New York Times report that Joey Ippolito is the guy who got rid of the evidence may well be true, but any involvement he may have had was after the fact. Harvey explains in detail in the YouTube video above.
8:08 AM PT --Jalen Hurts agent released a statement ... "This is extremely serious. A pulmonary embolism is what killed my dad very suddenly and unexpectedly. All beginning with a clot that began in his leg, broke off, and went to his lung. The only warning sign we had in hindsight was his complaint of some mild pain in his leg the night before we lost him."
NFL star Jalen Hurts is out for the season because he has multiple blood clots ... including in his lungs.
ESPN's Adam Schefter announced Monday that doctors found blood clots in the Philadelphia Eagles star's lungs.
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Jalen's rep said he needs to take blood thinners to handle the matter and cannot participate in physical activity.
Over the weekend, Jalen was put on injured reserve after doctors found a superficial blood clot in his calf … and after finding more blood clots in his lungs, Jalen has been ruled out for the season to handle the medical issues.
The Air Force has identified the service member who plunged to his death during a pregame demonstration at a college football game in Texas ... revealing he was a decorated 15-year veteran.
Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson was the airman who fell from the Alamodome rafters in San Antonio on Saturday, according to a statement from Nellis Air Force Base.
Patterson was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, at Joint Base San Antonio, where he served as a Tactical Air Control Party instructor.
The woman who plowed her pickup truck into a youth soccer game in Kansas, killing 2 people and injuring 10 others, has been released from custody ... and she hasn't been charged with a crime.
Wichita police say the 34-year-old driver was released after investigators interviewed more than 30 witnesses and consulted with prosecutors ... though the investigation is far from over.
Cops are now awaiting toxicology results and a mechanical examination of the truck ... as they work to determine what caused Saturday's horrifying crash at the Stryker Sports Complex.
Taylor Swift is putting in some serious overtime ... going from the stage in Los Angeles to the stands in Kansas City in less than 24 hours.
The pop superstar showed up at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday to cheer on hubby Travis Kelce as the Chiefs take on the Los Angeles Chargers ... proving a late night in Hollywood wasn't going to keep her from game day.
This is the Chiefs 3rd home game of the season ... and the new Mrs. Kelce hasn't missed a single one.
