TMZ Sports - Page 50

Michael Irvin tells TMZ Sports he's straight-up perplexed by Dez Bryant's plan to wait until the season has begun to sign with a team ... saying the receiver NEEDS a squad ASAP!!

Remember ... Dez was hot and heavy with the Browns earlier this month -- but he turned down their offer and then said he's going to wait until "a lil bit later in the year" to find a roster.

Count Michael in the camp that thinks that's a silly decision ... 'cause he tells us his no. 1 piece of advice to Dez would be to get on a team NOW.

"I do know who's representing him, and I'm just a little bit confused with the direction that they are trying to go here," Michael says.

"I would tell him to find a team and get on a team. Find a team. Get on a team. Get back to belonging somewhere. Right now, you're like a vagabond where you don't have a team and you're wondering."

FYI ... Irvin says he has NO DOUBT Dez can return to All-Pro form -- he just needs to go somewhere as soon as possible so he can show that Week 1.

By the way ... Michael also tells us he loves the fit Teddy Bridgewater found when he was traded from the Jets to the Saints on Wednesday, saying T.B. can be the future after Drew Brees.

Floyd Mayweather got lucky he didn't run into Oscar De La Hoya a couple years earlier, 'cause if he had, he'd have gotten his ass KNOCKED OUT ... so says Oscar himself.

The two men fought in 2007, when Oscar was 34 and Floyd was 30, and the fight ended in a hotly contested split decision ... although most thought Mayweather was the clear winner.

When we spoke with "Sugar" Shane Mosely -- who fought both guys -- he told us Oscar was clearly the better fighter in his prime and would have beaten Floyd if they fought a few years earlier.

So, when we saw Oscar in L.A. promoting the Canelo vs. GGG fight, we had to ask how he felt about Mosely's claim.

"It's no secret that I fought Floyd when I was over the hill, past my prime." ODLH said ... "If I was about 28 or 29 years old, I would have knocked that ass out easy."

The fight is widely considered the event that made Mayweather an international star ... Floyd was never the B side again after beating De La Hoya, going on to set box office records as a fighter.

Fresh off snatchin' James Vick's soul, Justin Gaethje's got a wish list of 3 of the baddest MF'ers in the UFC -- Conor McGregor, Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Gaethje joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (weeknights on FS1) just days after his devastating 87 second KO victory ... and he ain't lookin' to wait long before stepping back in the Octagon.

"Now, I needed this so bad. We're right back in the mix," Gaethje says ... "I'll even fight the loser of Khabib and Conor. Hell, I'm in."

Gaethje also says he's got work for Tony Ferguson -- who's fighting on the Conor-Khabib UFC 229 card in October.

"If something happens with Anthony Pettis. He stubs his toe, rolls an ankle. I'm in. I'll fight October 6th verse [Ferguson]. That's for damn sure."

"He's coming off a leg injury. I'll go in there and chop it off the rest of the way."

NBA star J.R. Smith has turned himself into police in New York -- and has been charged with a crime -- stemming from a July incident where he allegedly threw a cell phone, TMZ Sports has learned.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Smith was being investigated for allegedly stealing a cell phone from a person outside of The Park -- a hot spot in Chelsea. Officials believe Smith threw the phone into a nearby construction zone, damaging the item.

Now, we've learned Smith appeared at an NYPD station in Chelsea early Friday morning where he was charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief and issued a desk appearance ticket to appear in court at a later date.

We spoke with Smith's attorney, Alex Spiro, who tells us, "This is nonsense, and we aren't responding to nonsense. He was issued a ticket."

Brett Favre tells TMZ Sports if there's one player in the NFL who deserves the biggest deal in league history -- it's Aaron Rodgers ... 'cause Favre says he's already one of the greatest to ever play!!

"I think when it's all said and done, he's a top 5 player, all time -- regardless of position," Favre says. "Quite frankly, he could be there right now."

And, get this -- remember all those reports of tension between Brett and Aaron back in the day? Favre tells us the two are actually FRIENDS, and Rodgers even came to visit him in Mississippi this summer.

"We were actually talking about how much of this contract he was going to give to me," Favre joked.

In reality, Rodgers was there to pick Favre's brain for a "Life of Aaron Rodgers" project he was doing ... and that's when Brett shoveled some serious compliments on the Packer QB.

"He made a comment while he was here, 'Hey, I'm just trying to fill your shoes,'" Favre says.

"I said, 'I appreciate that, but you've kind of paved your own way and continue to pave it.'"

As for Brett ... he's still traveling the world and getting recognized by fans -- EVEN IN IRELAND!!

Camille Kostek is channeling her inner Tammy Wynette ... 'cause she's standing by her man in a BIG way, firing back at Jalen Ramsey, who she says is less of a man than Gronk in both talent and hotness!

Ramsey -- a star cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars -- went after Gronk in a scorched-earth attack on a bunch of NFL stars ... saying the Pats tight end is "not that good" and struggles when defended by a true corner.

We got Kostek out -- she's incredibly attractive, which has nothing to do with this post -- and when we asked her for a rebuttal to Ramsey's trash talk, she wasn't shy at all.

"Rob's sexier than you, and he's a better football player," the S.I. Swimsuit Edition model told us.

Kostek also says she can't WAIT to watch her man dominate Ramsey in person -- telling us she'll be at the game when the Pats take on the Jaguars on Sept. 16.

Getcha popcorn ready!!!

Mike Perry is hoping for a second shot at a first impression with Jon Jones ... 'cause the UFC fighter was HIGH AS BALLS when the two met earlier this month -- and he says Jon kinda hated him for it.

The hilarious tale all went down after Mike landed in Albuquerque to train at Jackson Wink MMA Academy ... when Perry decided eating a weed brownie before meeting one of the best ever would be a good idea.

"I had this f*cking brownie, and I was dead when Jon came through," Mike says.

"I didn't know it was going to be like that! So, Jon's like a little disappointed in me, because our first meeting the other day I was high as hell on some brownie!!"

Mike says he tried to mend the fences ... and he thinks he might have salvaged it -- 'cause he says Jon's agreed to grapple with him.

Tyron Woodley says he's a man of the people -- and wants to help his fans to make a little money ... so he's got some gambling advice for his upcoming fight against Darren Till.

Woodley vs. Till is the main event at UFC 228 in Dallas on Sept. 8 -- and when we saw Tyron out in L.A. on Thursday, he gave our photog some tips on how to make a few bucks.

Long story short ... Tyron says he's winning the fight -- but he's helping us narrow down the round.

Imagine a 6'6", 275-pound Super Bowl champ running around on a broomstick.

Thanks to Martellus Bennett, we now know exactly what that looks like ... and it's all in the name of QUIDDITCH!!!

The ex-NFL star teamed up with the Los Angeles Gambits to play the 'Harry Potter' sport for his new show, "Mostly Football," with Yahoo Sports and Complex (airing on September 6 at 4pm PT/7pm ET).

The show features the former NFL tight end trying his hand at various non-football sports including sumo wrestling while covering football with his own personal twist. It's good stuff.

TMZ Sports has a first look at the quidditch action ... and not only did Martellus get super into it, he might've forgotten he's not playing football anymore, 'cause he straight-up wrecked a dude while making a play.

Ice up, son!

And, for all you muggles out there who don't know how quidditch works ...

Brett Hundley wasn't sad at all about being traded from Green Bay ... in fact, dude was jacked up about the move to the Seahawks -- his dad tells TMZ Sports.

"He was just at a point where he was ready to start anew somewhere else," Brett Hundley Sr. says.

"I mean he was very, very excited."

Don't get it twisted ... Brett -- who was traded Wednesday -- says the QB loved his time with the Packers and learned a lot from Aaron Rodgers -- but he tells us playing behind Russell Wilson will be awesome.

"I'm sure Russell's going to welcome him with open arms," Brett Sr. says.

"And Brett's going in with the mindset that, 'Hey, I'm just going to be here, compete and do everything that I can to help this organization and franchise.'"

It's a hugely significant ruling ... an arbitrator just threw out the NFL's motion to dismiss Colin Kaepernick's collusion lawsuit, and that now paves the way for a full-blown trial in which NFL owners will have to testify under oath.

The NFL had filed legal docs alleging Kaepernick's legal argument -- that NFL owners conspired to keep him out of the league -- was baseless and without evidence. The arbitrator disagreed, concluding there was sufficient evidence present in the former QB's legal docs to allow his case to go forward.

Part of the evidence the arbitrator considered -- several NFL owners have been deposed in the case including Dallas Cowboys honcho Jerry Jones, Texans owner Bob McNair and Ravens Steve Bisciotti.

Now Kaepernick's lawyers, Mark Geragos and Ben Meiselas, will have an opportunity for a trial and put the owners under oath. The end game -- proving they talked, conspired and colluded to keep Colin off the field. If that is proven, the entire NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement could be in jeopardy.

If there's one blonde bombshell you fantasize about getting in the ring with, may we present to you Barbie Blank.

The former WWE superstar is a total knockout!

Barbie -- who used to wrestle under the name Kelly Kelly -- left the dollhouse for a beach day in Venice ... and you've GOT to check out her sexy shots in a white-hot bikini. It burns so good!

Barbie plays in the sand, splashes in the water and shows off her assets.

And ... this Barbie is REAL!!!

After leaving WWE, Barbie became one of the main cast members on "WAGS" -- since she married ex-NHL star Sheldon Souray. The two separated last October.

3:30PM PT -- Diaz released a statement addressing the case ...

"I'm grateful this case is finally over, I want to thank my team and my lawyer Ross Goodman for the excellent work. But most importantly, I want to thank the fans who stuck by me throughout this process. I'm happy to put this chapter of my life behind me and I'm looking forward to focusing on my return."

Nick Diaz is officially off the hook in his felony domestic violence case ... at least, according to the UFC star's attorney.

As we previously reported ... Diaz was arrested back in May after a woman claimed he slammed her to the ground and choked her in a Las Vegas home.

When cops arrived, officers say the woman had injuries -- she was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Diaz was facing 3 felony domestic violence charges and a misdemeanor -- serious business.

But now, Diaz's attorney Ross Goodman has told ESPN ... prosecutors have thrown out the case and Nick is in the clear.

"[Nick is] grateful the District Attorney's office was fair and thoughtful in reviewing this case based on the evidence," Goodman said to ESPN.

"Truth delayed is better than no truth at all and I trust that the ultimate dismissal of all charges with prejudice will be viewed as total vindication for Nick and clears his name from being associated with such horrific but false allegations."

We spoke with Nick after the incident -- and he joked that he was framed.

Larry Fitzgerald just gave an emotional speech in front of John McCain's friends and family at his memorial service ... detailing his unique friendship with the late senator.

The Arizona Cardinals superstar -- who grew close to McCain since he joined the NFL in 2004 -- says it was an unlikely pairing ... but that's what made it so special.

"Many people might wonder what a young, African-American kid from Minnesota and a highly-decorated Vietnam War hero-turned-United States senator might have in common ... Well, I thought of a few," Fitzgertald said in front of the huge crowd at North Phoenix Baptist Church on Thursday.

"I'm Black ... he was white. I'm young ... he wasn't so young."

"He lived with physical limitations brought on by war ... I'm a professional athlete."

"He ran for president ... I run out of bounds."

He was the epitome of toughness ... and I do everything I can to avoid contact."

"I have flowing locks and well ... he didn't"

Fitzgerald explains the odd pairing isn't really all that odd if you got to know McCain over the years ... "That's just who he is."

Ohio State might have lost Urban Meyer for 3 games amid the Zach Smith scandal ... but it ain't losing its top recruit -- 'cause Garrett Wilson tells TMZ Sports he's still all-in with the Buckeyes.

Wilson -- a 5-star receiver from Texas whose main OSU recruiter was Smith -- says after all the dust has settled on the drama in Columbus ... he still feels solid with his pledge.

"It was hard to hear, you know?" Wilson tells us about the serious situation at Ohio State.

"I wanted to let it all play out and now that it's all played out and I'm going to have my coach back, I feel comfortable with everything."

It's huge news for OSU because Wilson is an absolute monster on the field -- considered one of the top WRs to ever commit to the school.

Dude hauled in 96 receptions for 1,764 yards and 26 TDs as a junior last season.

He was recruited by just about every major program in the country, including Texas, Alabama and Florida State.

Garrett says he keeps in steady contact with interim coach Ryan Day daily ... and says OSU knows he's so locked in now, the conversations have shifted from the scandal to just football.

As for Zach Smith ... Garrett tells us the domestic violence allegations against the coach were "hard to hear," but Wilson did reach out to the coach to offer his support.

Peyton Manning says he really DIDN'T want to fire footballs at kids' faces during his famous 2007 "Saturday Night Live" skit -- but changed his mind when a parent begged him to peg his kid.

The sketch is pretty famous -- Peyton was spoofing his United Way ads by teaching kids how to get tattoos, steal cars and play real, hardcore park football.

But, a key part of the skit featured Peyton nailing kids in the face with footballs -- HARD -- and the QB says he was so nervous about tagging the youngsters, he almost quit the bit.

Peyton told the story at the 2018 Indianapolis Colts kickoff lunch on Wednesday -- saying he didn't feel comfortable with the scene at the time and told producers he wanted to shut it down.

But, right before they called it off, one of the parents of the child actors approached Peyton and the director and said, "I want him to hit my kid in the face!"

So, Peyton -- being a people pleaser -- said, "I will do it. I will knock your kid out."

And the rest is history ... hilarious, hilarious history.