TMZ Sports - Page 50

Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Rams players are already in playoff form -- squaring off in a sidelines-clearing brawl that included Dez Bryant taking what he calls a "cheap shot" to the face.

The husband of UFC Octagon girl Brittney Palmer just got a HUGE break ... he won't be prosecuted for allegedly brutalizing her so badly he was arrested for attempted murder.

Aaron Zalewski allegedly choked Brittney within an inch of her life after an argument over a cell phone. She says he overheard her talking to a casting agent who called her "babe" and he went berserk.

Law enforcement sources tell us, Aaron Zalewski will not be charged with a crime. The L.A. City Attorney will hold an informal meeting with the two. If he owns what he did and shows contrition, he won't be prosecuted. The City Attorney could force him into anger management in return for dropping the case.

One string will stay attached ... if he does it again before the statute of limitations runs out, the City Attorney would have the right to file charges.

Richard Jefferson likely dropped some of his new Cleveland Cavaliers dough on a craps table in Las Vegas, where he was hanging with his ex-teammate Luke Walton -- and hauling in the chips.

Vegas sources tell TMZ Sports the former U of A Wildcats were doing some serious high rolling at Aria last weekend ... wagering anywhere between $600 and $1,000 on each roll. We're told Luke walked away with about $20k in winnings, and Richard did even better.

Talk about a great guys' weekend -- we got video of the duo boarding a Southwest flight for Vegas, and they told us the real reason for the trip ... their fantasy football draft.

Jefferson's got a good shot at his first NBA championship after signing with LeBron and the Cavs -- and, of course, Walton just won his 3rd title (as a Golden State asst. coach). But sounds like all the weekend smack talk was about their FF championship.

Rihanna needs to check herself -- and her smartphone -- 'cause she damn well has Matt Barnes' digits ... at least according to Matt's old teammate.

Glen "Big Baby" Davis jumped to Matt's defense today in the dispute over just how much of an item RiRi and MB are, or were ... before Matt told us they were "just past the crush stage."

Davis was on ESPN's "His & Hers" and told Jemele Hill and Michael Smith .... "He REALLY knows her." Now, did he mean that in the biblical sense? Check out the clip.

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio is losing ground in the polls -- and this video won't help ... not with the diehard football fans.

Rubio was tossing the pigskin with some kids in Iowa -- where every other candidate is hanging this week -- and let's just say he needs to work on his spiral ... or get Odell Beckham Jr. as his running mate.

He made it near impossible for the poor kid going out for the pass -- although, in Rubio's defense ... it did hit him in the hands. Awkwardly.

Start sizing up Ronda Rousey for tights and a cape -- maybe even a utility belt -- 'cause she's got a serious future as an ass-kicking Hollywood hero ... according to comic book expert Kevin Smith.

Kevin told us Ronda's ready-made for one of those superhero flicks that tend to crush the box office every summer. Let's face it, she's already got an unmatched superpower -- ever seen anyone get out of that armbar.

Michael Jordan testified in federal court that he considers it bad business to do any advertising deals for less than 8-figures!

Oh, how the Baltimore Ravens have changed -- defensive tackle Brandon Williams' pregame pump up would bring tears to the eyes of Ray Lewis and Alfonso Ribeiro ... for very different reasons.

As our friends at BSO pointed out -- Williams did his best Carlton dance to show his excitement for the upcoming game against the Eagles. Look, we know a 335 pound lineman can celebrate anyway he wants ... but we can't see Lewis letting Brandon psych up the squad with this act.

That WOULD be unusual.

Steve Tisch has seen the Patriots cheerleaders dripping in brand new Super Bowl diamonds, and he's not impressed ... at least not financially speaking.

The co-owner of the G-Men was doing lunch at Il Pastaio in L.A. ... where we keyed him in on the pics TMZ Sports posted of the rival Pats and their cheer squad continuing to celebrate SB XLIX.

Of course, the Giants are one of 6 NFL teams that do NOT have cheerleaders -- and when you see this vid of Tisch's reaction to the new Patriots bling ... you'll understand why that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Important note: the following mathematical theory only applies to teams with a penchant for winning Super Bowls ... like the Giants and the Patriots.

Julianne Hough is excitedly announcing she's freshly engaged to Washington Capitals star Brooks Laich -- but, oddly, she's not giving up the goods!

The "Dancing With the Stars" judge has been dating Laich -- a center with the Caps -- since 2013. She announced their engagement on Instagram by posting a pic that does NOT show Brooks' face or the ring ... the only 2 things every woman wants to see.

She said, "We are overwhelmed with joy and excitement to share with you our recent engagement! #fiancé #love"

That's sweet and all, but here's what you really want to see -- Brooks' face. Judge away, ladies.

The daughter of Rowdy Roddy Piper got a glimpse of a side of her father she never knew ... sadly, it came at his memorial.

Falon Toombs was at the the Comedy Store Monday night to pay tribute to the legendary wrestler.

She told our photog ... hearing Piper's wrestling pals share stories were all new to her because he never shared that stuff with her, since she was too young during his wrestling heyday.

Diamond Dallas Page was one of the wrestlers in attendance and he shared a story with us about the first time he worked with Piper.

Darrelle Revis is giving the "ALL CLEAR" on fights between Jets players ... one week after his QB Geno Smith got sucker punched by backup linebacker IK Enemkpali.

We stepped onto Revis Island -- on the island of Manhattan -- after he made a coffee run, and asked if the dust had settled in Gang Green's locker room.

DR did his best to calm the nerves of Jets fans everywhere, but he had less luck calming down a persistent autograph seeker.

Chris Webber believes the feds got it wrong when they shot down an attempt by NCAA players to unionize because he says the organization's currently being run like a slavery-era plantation.

We asked Chris about the National Labor Relations Board rejecting the union bid from Northwestern football players ... and he remembered some words of wisdom he picked up from NBA legend Bill Russell.

WNBA superstar Tamika Catchings happened to be at LAX too ... although she was less talkative about the ruling -- which essentially blocks college athletes from being compensated on top of their scholarships.

"Straight Outta Compton" nailed the music and the attitude of N.W.A. -- but totally whiffed on baseball accuracy ... courtesy of Eazy-E's baseball cap.

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley's arena football team is getting blasted by its own QB ... who says the L.A. Kiss kicked him out of his home just because he suffered an injury during a game.

Washington Wizard Jared Dudley just pulled a 180 on Kobe Bryant -- calling him a LOCK for Team USA ... even though he recently said free agent superstars were avoiding Kobe like the plague.

Dudley was leaving Greystone in WeHo when we asked if the Mamba should rep USA in the Olympics next year ... with younger players like Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kenneth Faried. Some critics feel Kobe's getting a little long in the tooth.

Check out the clip, 'cause Jared sounds like the head cheerleader for Kobe -- which is interesting since just 3 months ago he said Kobe's ball-hogging and attitude was killing the Lakers' attempts to recruit new blood. Now he's calling him a "legend."

Hmmm ... maybe someone's looking to score an invite to Kobe's 37th birthday next week.