TMZ Sports - Page 50

Dolphins legend Bob Griese says he still pops champagne every time the last undefeated NFL team racks up its first L ... and he'll do it again this year, even if the last 0 standing belongs to Miami.

Remember, Griese was the star QB during that legendary 1972 Dolphins season -- when they ran the table and won the Super Bowl ... the ONLY team to make it through the regular season and playoffs without a loss.

Griese notes that the Patriots got close back in 2007 -- but couldn't close the deal in the Super Bowl ... losing to Eli Manning's New York Giants in one of the greatest upsets ever.

Right now, the Dolphins are 3-0 and playing Tom Brady this weekend -- so, does Bob think his squad has what it takes to make history again?

"No."

"They can play well," Bob told us at the Buoniconti Fund’s 33rd annual Great Sports Legends Dinner Monday night ... "but they can't do the unexpected."

"I think everybody's gonna get beat."

How's Arizona Cardinals quarterback Sam Bradford handling being demoted in place of rookie QB Josh Rosen?

Really well ... at least, according to Josh.

Bradford got the hook Sunday after falling behind to the Bears ... in another lackluster start for the former #1 overall pick.

Rosen was thrown into the game with just minutes remaining -- and while he couldn't pull off a Baker Mayfield and lead his squad to a come-from-behind victory, he's officially been named the starter moving forward.

But there's no bitterness or hostility -- so says Rosen -- who thanked 30-year-old Bradford for being supportive at practice on Monday.

"Since day 1, Sam has had my back and helped me become the best quarterback I could be. I cannot thank him enough for showing me how to be a professional in every sense of the word."

"He is a leader, mentor, and great person. He and Mike Glennon couldn’t have been more supportive at a time that I thought might be a bit tense or awkward today."

"I couldn’t be more thrilled to be in a QB room with two of the most selfless people I’ve ever been around as I start my career as a quarterback in the NFL. For that I say thank you."

"With that being said, let’s get the valley rockin’ AZ!!!!"

Next up ... Seattle.

DeMarcus Ware jumped over a grown ass human on "Dancing with the Stars" -- and it was awesome!!!!

The ex-Denver Broncos superstar -- who won a Super Bowl with the team back in 2016 -- hit the ballroom Monday night in a sweet bedazzled #94 blazer and crushed it with his partner, Lindsay Arnold.

But, let's get back to the jump ... Ware is a 6'4", 260-pound man. He's also 36 years old and retired 2 years ago.

So, RESPECT THE HOPS!!!

The big question ... how did Ware and Arnold do??

The judges liked the cha cha routine to Flo Rida's "Sweet Sensation" -- and scored the pair a solid "23" ... tying with heavy favorite Tinashe and Brandon Armstrong with the best score of the night.

The competition is stiff this season -- Ware's up against stars like Olympic legend Mary Lou Retton, model Alexis Ren and former 'Harry Potter' actress Evanna Lynch (she played Luna Lovegood).

FYI -- Ware's teammate Von Miller was also on the show in 2016 (he was eliminated in week 7).

There's only one explanation to D-Ware's dance moves -- he had to have learned from Tony Romo.

Joe Theismann says the NFL should straight-up just take the pads off QBs now ... 'cause the league's new roughing-the-passer penalty "has reached the point of absurdity."

The ex-Redskins quarterback watched guys like Clay Matthews get flagged for simply tackling QBs all day Sunday ... and he was LIVID.

So much so -- Joe tells TMZ Sports the next step for the NFL will be to just eliminate QB hits from the game altogether.

"This is my question to the NFL, 'What is the defensive player supposed to do?' Would somebody please explain it to him?" Theismann says.

Remember ... Theismann's career was ended by a violent hit to the QB -- and even he can't believe some of the flags he's seen through three weeks so far.

"You wanted an offensive game, I understand that," he tells us.

"But now you've reached the point of absurdity."

Still ... even with all the flags protecting QBs -- Joe had a hard time watching passers not slide ... telling us that's why Jimmy Garoppolo's season is over after just 3 games.

By the way ... Joe says Jimmy should be ready to go for the 2019 season -- if he follows some of the tips Joe learned during his lengthy rehab process.

Tommy Lasorda just turned 91 years young this weekend ... and now he's letting TMZ Sports in on his secret to living to almost a century old!!

We spoke with the Dodgers legend while he was out celebrating the big 9-1 at Rao's in Hollywood on Saturday ... and asked him the key to out-living the average American by 13 years.

FYI -- the U.S. life expectancy is 78. AKA, not great compared to other developed countries.

Jesse Williams drew some major criticism after promoting his new Emmett Till film with memes that incorporated Nike's new campaign with Colin Kaepernick ... and it was so harsh, he pulled the pics.

News broke Monday that Jesse was tapped to direct a new film about Emmett's mother, Mamie Till. The film follows Mamie's fight for justice after her 14-year-old son was murdered in the South for allegedly whistling at a white woman. Jesse promoted the project by posting the pics below ...

The bunch of photos featured both Emmett, Mamie and others involved in the outcry following his death with Nike's new Kaep-led tagline, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything." He also teased his new flick with "TiLL Coming Soon."

A lot of people were not amused by Jesse trying to conflate the two subjects, and he was quickly hit with a wave of backlash. Jesse then removed all but one meme he'd posted ... the one of Emmett's uncle pointing out the white men who killed him in court.

Jesse has been hailed as a modern day civil rights hero and was even given the Humanitarian Award by BET two years ago ... where he delivered a powerful speech about police brutality in America.

Gordon Hayward just confirmed what you already knew ... he WAS kinda disappointed when pink balloons popped outta his baby gender reveal box earlier this summer.

You'll remember ... the Celtics star -- a father already to 2 girls -- went instantly viral in July when he couldn't hide his ... excitement ... over adding baby girl No. 3 to the fam.

"Is daddy happy?!" His wife, Robyn, asked as the pink balloons flew up.

"Daddy's always happy," Gordon says, booting one of the balloons.

Well ... Gordon hit the barbershop for a vid with YouTuber BluMaan and explained he is and always has been, in fact, trying like hell to add a baby boy to the family.

"Desperately trying to get a boy in there," Hayward says.

Just one problem now ... Hayward tells BluMaan he's gotta decide whether gambling for a FOURTH time is worth it.

"Three girls is a lot to deal with," he says.

Sorry, Khalil Mack ... Mike Ditka thinks you got a great shot at an NFC North title -- but he's telling TMZ Sports it's time to slow the roll on the '85 comparisons.

ICYMI ... Chicago beat up Arizona on Sunday and is one Aaron Rodgers-led miracle away from being 3-0 -- leading some to call this Chicago's best squad since 1985.

But Ditka -- who coached that historic Super Bowl team 33 years ago -- says let's all calm down with that talk.

"I don't know if the talent level on this defense is near what it was on our defense," Iron Mike tells us.

Don't get it twisted ... Ditka's still in love with this team -- saying they do at least hustle and pursue like Mike Singletary and William Perry used to.

LeBron James says his move to join the Lakers was strictly a basketball decision -- and had NOTHING to do with his budding Hollywood career.

... so, you believe him?

King James just spoke with reporters at Lakers Media Day where he was decked out in his full #23 Purple and Gold uniform.

During the Q&A session with reporters, he was asked if he ultimately picked the Lakers over other (better) teams so he could be closer to Warner Bros Studio ... where he has a major development deal.

Remember, LeBron has movies coming out -- "Space Jam 2" and a new "House Party" flick -- and is working on other TV shows and a "Shut Up and Dribble" documentary narrated by Jemele Hill.

But, Bron says he's a ballplayer first -- and joined the Lakers because he felt it was the right fit for him on the court ... even though they sucked last season.

Is it cold in here ... or is Enes Kanter just thinking about the playoffs??

The NY Knicks star and LeBron James' nemesis was asked about the team's postseason goals at media day on Monday ... and the dude might've overshared juuuust a bit.

"I like it a lot, man. Because I've been to playoffs before, and then that should be everybody's goal," Kanter says. "It's the playoffs. When I think about playoffs, my nipples get hard."

Kanter immediately apologized for the TMI comment ... but it's too late. It's out there and we can't un-hear it.

"I'm sorry, that's the thing. It's the playoffs. That's what we play for."

Andre Reed LOVES Josh Allen -- telling TMZ Sports he's fired up over the Buffalo Bills QB's victory over the Vikings ... and thinks this could be the start of something special.

It's high praise for the rookie -- since Reed isn't just a legend in Buffalo, he's an NFL Hall of Famer, one of the best to ever do it.

Reed told us he was super impressed with Allen's play during the 27-6 win over Minnesota ... especially since the Bills were 17-point underdogs going into the game.

So, how can Allen keep the momentum going next week against Green Bay and prove the massive upset wasn't just a fluke?

If you're wondering why Kawhi Leonard is trending on Twitter today ... it's because his laugh is freaking some people out.

The NBA star was officially introduced by the Toronto Raptors at media day on Monday -- when the usually serious dude broke out in laughter.

First, people aren't used to seeing Kawhi laugh ... so there's that.

Second, it was a little weird and now people are comparing him to a robot.

In a shocking move to absolutely zero people, Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson has finally given the keys to his offense to Baker Mayfield ... officially.

"I informed the group this morning that we're going to start Baker Mayfield and Tyrod will be the backup if healthy," Hue told reporters at his morning press conference.

"He's earned it, by the way he's played," Jackson noted.

"Now the other added pressure of being out there first is there. But I think he can handle it. He's demonstrated that."

Tyrod Taylor will be the backup ... once he's medically cleared to return to action after the apparent concussion he suffered on Thursday night.

Mayfield absolutely tore up the NY Jets during his NFL debut -- filling in for Taylor with 2 minutes left in the 2nd half. He led the Browns to a come-from-behind victory with more than 200 passing yards ... and even caught a 2-point conversion.

Next up ... Oakland.

Move over, Whitney Houston ... 7-year-old Malea Emma just DOMINATED the National Anthem at the L.A. Galaxy game over the weekend!!!

Okay, maybe she's not at Whitney levels yet -- but she's on track!!!

Emma took the mic and belted out 1 minute and 48 seconds of PURE MAGIC while International soccer superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic smiled and nodded with great approval.

In fact, Zlatan loved it so much he tweeted after the game, "MVP of the game!"

By the way, Emma had to win a contest in order to sing at Sunday's game. The team challenged singers to post a video to social media using the hashtag "#GalaxySocial" to show off their chops.

Emma won by a landslide and, when she showed up to the stadium -- she made the most of her moment.

How done are John Cena and Nikki Bella??

"We don't [talk anymore]," Nikki says.

Yeah, that's done.

"He's doing him and I'm doing me," Nikki told ET at the iHeart Music Festival over the weekend.

Remember, John proposed to Nikki at WrestleMania 33 back in 2017 after years of dating -- but Nikki called it off in April. Cena tried like hell to get her back -- even making public pleas on national television -- but he couldn't pull off the comeback.

Now ... Nikki says she's 100% single -- but isn't ready for another man yet.

"I am single, but I'm not ready for mingling yet," Nikki said. "You know? I don't know."

Nikki says she's focusing on finding personal happiness before she jumps back in the dating pool ... and her sister is all for it.

"You gotta find yourself first," Brie Bella said.

One of the sticking points with Cena is the fact Nikki wanted kids -- and he didn't.

After she dumped him, John changed his tune and said he'd be open to it now ... but Nikki wasn't buyin' it.

Tennis superstar Andy Murray received a huge honor for his contributions to tennis in China ... and celebrated by shattering it into a million pieces!!

The former No. 1-ranked player in the world got a dope commemorative plate before competing in the Shenzhen Open on Monday ... and accidentally DROPPED IT in front of everybody while posing for pics.

Murray was clearly super embarrassed -- you can hear the entire crowd gasp while he apologizes over and over for the fumble. We're sure they accepted the apology.

It's not necessarily a great omen for the 31-year-old -- who is now currently ranked 311 in the world -- before taking the court on Tuesday ... but it's still not the worst Andy Murray/China incident we've seen ...