TMZ Sports - Page 50

Well, Michael Sam ... here's what you're up against.

Former NFL coach-turned-ESPN analyst Herm Edwards went on the air last night and declared that Sam's sexual orientation is considered "baggage" and coaches will have to decide if they want it in their locker rooms.

"He's a player that has issues," Edwards said referring to Sam's sexual orientation ... "Off the field issues."

He continued, "The thing you talk about in your organization with the G.M. and obivously the owner is, 'Can we handle this guy?' Can we handle the media that's gonna come along with this situation?"

Former 1st round NFL draft pick Keith McCants was arrested for drugs in Alabama this weekend, TMZ Sports has learned.

The 45-year--old -- who played for the Tampa Bay Bucs, Houston Oilers and AZ Cardinals from '90 to '95 -- was popped for possession of a controlled substance in Mobile on Sunday morning.

It's AT LEAST the 12th time McCants has been busted for drugs since 2002 -- including cocaine arrests in 2011 and 2010.

Keith's life has been in a tailspin for years ... just a few years ago, he appeared on the 2012 ESPN "30 for 30" documentary "Broke" and talked about how he squandered his immense fortune on houses, cars and boats.

Seattle Seahawks stud Malcolm Smith tells TMZ Sports he won't be taking home the brand new Chevy truck he won for being MVP of Super Bowl XLVIII ... nah, he's giving it to his MOM instead!!

How cool is that?

And it gets better -- mom wants to PIMP OUT her her ride!!!

Smith was leaving P.F. Chang's in L.A. on Sunday along with his MVP celebrity stylist Vick Michel when he told us all about his plans for the $50k vehicle ... "[Mom] says she wants to put black rims on it."

As for Malcolm, don't feel too bad about his driving situation -- he already has a Chevy Tahoe in his garage.

Terrell Owens and his bride had a whole TWO WEEKS of newlywed bliss -- but now she wants out! What went wrong with the ex-postal worker? Hint: it rhymes with schmoney.

The first openly gay NFL draft prospect is already getting major support from an NFL owner -- NY Giants honcho Steve Tisch, who tells TMZ Sports he "hopes" teams don't let Michael Sam's sexual orientation dissuade them from drafting such a stellar athlete.

The University of Missouri defensive end -- who was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year -- just completed his senior season and is very likely to be taken in the upcoming NFL Draft.

While Tisch wouldn't reveal if Sam is on his team's draft board, he did tell us ... "Michael Sam is a gifted athlete and a courageous man."

There was NO REASON for cops to call in the SWAT team to apprehend Thiago Silva ... the "trigger-happy" police simply overreacted ... so says the UFC fighter's lawyer.

TMZ Sports spoke with attorney Scott Saul ... who tells us he was present when the SWAT team surrounded Silva's South Florida home.

Saul says ... cops went "overboard" because he's a UFC fighter.

Saul says the situation could have been handled as a routine arrest situation -- and the fact they called in an army of cops only escalated it.

"There was no allegation of harm against anyone," Saul says ... "But they treated it like a terrorist threat."

As we previously reported, Silva was initially arrested for attempted murder -- but the judge later reduced the charge because Silva never actually fired a shot or laid a finger on anyone during the incident.

Silva is currently being held without bond.

Magic Johnson is going to SAVE the WNBA ... or at least the L.A. Sparks ... so says Mark Cuban who tells us if there's anyone who bring the team back from financial ruin, it's their new celebrity owner.

Shocking, considering the Sparks are BROKE ASS BROKE -- they haven't made a profit in years and were expected to lose another MILLION DOLLARS this season.

But that was before Magic and his ownership group stepped in ... and now Cuban (who knows a little something about investments) says it's the perfect move.

TMZ Sports: Do you think Magic can turn the Sparks into a success?
Cuban: "Yes yes yes. I love it. It will be great. Plus with his Dodgers ownership he will have a promotional platform."

Fun Fact -- the Sparks actually led the league in attendance over the past two seasons.

Missouri Tigers superstar Michael Sam -- one of the best college football players in the country -- has revealed he's gay ... and the timing comes just months before he will enter the NFL Draft.

Sam -- the SEC Defensive Player of the Year -- made the announcement publicly on Sunday ... saying, "I am an openly, proud gay man."

If (and when) he's drafted, Sam will be the first openly gay man on an NFL roster in the history of the league.

"I understand how big this is. It's a big deal. No one has done this before. And it's kind of a nervous process, but I know what I want to be ... I want to be a football player in the NFL."

24-year-old Sam said he already confided in a few friends ... and realized people knew while he was at the Senior Bowl. Sam says he dated another male athlete at Missouri, but not a member of the football team.

Sam says he finally came out to his teammates last year ... and they couldn't have been more supportive.

DON'T YOU EVER TALK ABOUT RICHARD SHERMAN'S ANKLE ... 'cause less than one week after injuring it in the Super Bowl, the Seahawks star was partying hard on it during a rager in Vegas!!!

Sherman -- along with fellow Legion of Boomer Kam Chancellor -- hit up the Chateau nightclub in Sin City Saturday night ... and cut loose, despite suffering a high ankle sprain during the Feb. 2nd victory.

Seemed like Sherman was feeling "no pain" that night -- we're guessing the gang of hot chicks following him around that night makes a man forget about a freak joint injury.

Meanwhile, Peyton Manning is still sad somewhere ..

With his marriage in shambles, Terrell Owens is getting some sage advice from his friend, former NFL teammate and experienced divorcee ... Chad Johnson.

We broke the story ... T.O.'s wife Rachel Snider has left the former NFL superstar, just 2 weeks after they tied the knot in a secret ceremony in Newhall, CA.

Now, Johnson tells TMZ Sports ... the whole thing is "an unfortunate situation for my big brother but this too shall pass."

Johnson continues, "All he needs is FIFA [the video game], which helped me get through such a difficult time."

Of course, Chad is referring to his split from Evelyn Lozada back in 2012 -- they were only married for 6 weeks when she filed for divorce.

Question: How do you fix the hapless Cleveland Cavaliers?
Answer: Porn star gang bang.

At least, that's the solution hardcore adult actress Ava Devine offered up in NYC the other day ... in fact, she's such a big Cavs fan, she's willing to take one (or 5) for the team.

"If [the Cav's] make the playoffs ... I will bang them all and bring a girlfriend," Devine said.

She also wanted us to know, "I can handle them all by myself."

Nothing takes the sting out of a brutal playoff loss like week on the beach on the beach ... so says Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry, who tells us he went straight to the tropics after KC's devastating 1st round defeat to the Colts.

"I threw a tantrum for about a week then went to Hawaii with my loved ones," Berry says.

We're told the 25-year-old Pro Bowler took roughly 15 family members on the trip to help him get over the bitter end to the 2013 season.

But what really put him in a good mood is when he found out his little brothers (who happen to be twins) accepted football scholarships to the University of Tennessee ... where he and his father played their college ball.

"It's one of those feeling that's hard to translate into words. Just seeing the twins grow up into the young men they are makes the whole family proud."

The guy who owns the jiu-jitsu studio where Thiago Silva allegedly whipped out a gun and threatened to shoot a bunch of people has shut his doors ... but only for a couple days ... in the wake of the insane events that occurred this week.

According to the police report, not only did the UFC star pull up to the studio and threaten to kill his wife and her alleged new boyfriend ... he also threatened to shoot everyone inside the studio.

Which is why the people who run the place decided to shut it down for a few days ... posting a sign on the door Saturday to let patrons know they'd resume business on Monday.

Thiago Silva is officially OFF THE BILL for "UFC 171" in March ... after allegedly threatening to kill his wife ... and he's been replaced by a Ukranian bad ass, TMZ Sports has learned.

After declaring Silva will never fight in the UFC ever again, Dana White tells TMZ Sports ... 21-year-old phenom Nikita Krylov will fill Silva's spot and fight Ovince St. Preux at UFC 171 in Dallas.

We're told Krylov -- a former heavyweight -- will drop down to the light heavyweight division for the fight.

White is stoked about the matchup, especially after the way Krylov -- who calls himself the Al Capone of MMA -- knocked out Walt Harris with a head kick just :25 seconds into the fight at "UFC on FOX 10."

Magic Johnson's son EJ is BLOWING UP as a reality star on "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills" ... and the NBA legend tells TMZ Sports he couldn't be PROUDER!!!

In fact, Magic says he thinks the shameless E! reality show will springboard EJ into a TV superstar -- and predicts it won't be long before the kid has his own show.

Magic really couldn't be a more supportive parent -- especially after the way he had EJ's back when his son revealed he's gay.

There's more .. Magic also talks about recently buying the L.A. Sparks and also takes another shot at the Lakers. Check out the clip.

Starring in "Cool Runnings" makes you an unofficial Jamaican FOR LIFE ... at least according to American actor Leon Robinson ... who tells TMZ Sports he's rooting for Team JA's bobsledders to crush Team USA in Sochi.

Leon played Derice Bannock in the beloved movie, and explained "it'd be a once in a lifetime opportunity for them to win the gold," adding ... "how often would they get that chance?"

He's got a point ... Jamaica's bobsled has only made it to ONE other Olympics after their legendary debut in the 1988 Games.

Leon says he goes down to Jam Rock every year ... and claims the island's tourism board calls him "Jamaica's best friend" -- due to all the visitors who come and spend money on bobsled-related gear.

No joke ... there's a freakin' Bobsled Cafe down there.

But even Leon admits it's a long shot for the Jamaicans to top USA this year.

Maybe not ... if they bust out THE chant in Sochi. That would be awesome ...