TMZ Sports - Page 50

L.A. Rams wide receiver Robert Woods had a GREAT night on Thursday -- until he got home ... and saw his home had been broken into while he was playing the Vikings, TMZ Sports has learned.

Woods caught 5 passes for 101 yards and a TD in the Rams victory over Minnesota at the Coliseum in L.A. Clearly, somebody knew he would be out of the house (the game was nationally televised) and burglarized Robert's San Fernando Valley pad.

We're told when Woods returned to his home after the game, he called police -- but since no alarm was set, it's unclear exactly when the burglary took place. It appears the intruder entered through a back window. Sources say cops and Woods are trying to put together a list of what was taken.

The situation appears to be similar to Yasiel Puig -- who also lives in the Valley. His home was hit while he was playing a game at Dodger Stadium earlier this month.

Woods is from Los Angeles -- he went to high school in Gardena and played college ball at USC.

Story developing ...

Mat Latos -- an ex-MLB pitcher who made $28 mil in the bigs -- has been ordered to stay away from his ex-girlfriend after allegedly slashing her tires and threatening to kill her.

TMZ Sports has obtained court docs which show Mat's ex-girlfriend went to authorities in Florida to report several incidents in which she claims Mat physically and emotionally abused her ... dating back to 2017.

According to court docs, the woman claims the first incident occurred back in Sept. '17 -- when Mat got angry and flipped over a bed while she was still on it.

"He tackled me to the floor, picked me up and slammed me on the couch where he got on top of me pressing his forearm on my throat."

The woman claims Latos then backed her into a wall and told her, "I'll f**king kill you."

"He then spit on me, put water in his mouth and spit more."

She claims the abuse continued in January 2018 -- when Latos locked her in her closet.

In April 2018, the woman claims Latos slashed her tires with a knife. She reported that incident to police.

In August 2018, the woman claims Latos got violent again -- but this time she hit back, elbowing him in the jaw. She claims a witness will back up her account.

The woman claims she's in fear for her life -- especially since Latos owns "multiple guns."

A judge granted a restraining order on August 28 requiring Latos to keep at least 500 feet from the woman at all times -- and it's been extended until October when the case is due back in court.

We reached out to Latos for comment. So far, no word back.

30-year-old Latos was a stud during his 9 seasons in the Big Leagues -- striking out more than 1,000 batters while playing for the Reds, Padres, Blue Jays and other teams.

Everson Griffen says he's "focused on resolving personal issues" after being hospitalized for a mental health evaluation this week ... but has vowed to return to the field.

As we previously reported ... the Minnesota Vikings star was involved in a series of bizarre incidents -- including at the team hotel on Saturday -- which ended in the All-Pro being transported to a hospital for a mental health exam.

At the time, team staffers feared he could hurt himself or others.

Griffen broke his silence Thursday on social media ... apologizing for the incident and promising to address his issues.

This past week's events have raised many questions and I want to apologize to everyone who was impacted," Griffen says. "I am currently focused on resolving personal issues with which I have been dealing for a long time."

"Once I have had time to address those issues, I hope to share my story with everyone."

"I am extremely grateful for the support I have received from my family, the Vikings organization, my teammates and our tremendous fan base."

Griffen also apologized for missing the team's Thursday Night Football match-up with the Rams ... but Vikes head coach Mike Zimmer made it clear he wants to make sure Griffen is okay getting back on the field.

The unsung hero in the Eric Reid signing is the NEW owner of the Carolina Panthers who's changing team culture in a BIG way ... so says Panthers legend Jon Beason.

Remember, the OLD owner Jerry Richardson was forced out after an investigation revealed a pattern of sexual harassment and racist behavior.

But, that was the old guard, according to Beason -- the new owner is proving he's ready to turn the page from all that crap.

"I think it starts from the top down," Beason says ... "New owner David Tepper comes in and he's self-made. He knows that if you're going to win especially with football being a team game, it's about being inclusive."

Beason knows A LOT about Panthers culture -- he was a stud linebacker in Carolina for years and covers them as a member of the media.

Tepper bought the team back in May for $2 BILLION ... and many think if he hadn't -- and Richardson had stuck around -- the signing would have never happened.

Count Beason in as one of those people.

As for Reid ... Beason says he would have LOVED to play with a guy who was willing to sacrifice so much like Eric did.

"I would want to go to war, in terms of football, with that guy."

Jon also tells us the fans who are upset over the move will get over it quickly ... once they realize how good the safety is.

2:55 PM PT -- Ohio State has deleted all traces of its "Silence" campaign -- which was supposed to promote this weekend's game against Penn State ... after a MASSIVE backlash.

The University campaign featured a football player making a hushing gesture -- with the caption, "Silence the white noise."

But, as high-profile people like Ryan Leaf pointed out ... the timing and message are HORRIBLE considering the major scandal the University was just involved in.

As we previously reported, OSU suspended Urban Meyer for 3 games for not properly handling alleged domestic violence incidents involving OSU assistant football coach Zach Smith.

Smith's ex-wife claimed Meyer knew about the abuse and covered it up ... so, the whole "Silence" campaign was probably not the best idea.

A school rep issued a statement to Cleveland.com after pulling the "Silence" campaign saying, "The message has been interpreted in ways we absolutely did not intend, and we have removed it from our channels."

"We understand why people were critical."

Oops.

Ryan Leaf is blasting Ohio State for its new football campaign centered around the word "Silence" -- saying it's stupid and "tone deaf" in the wake of the Urban Meyer scandal.

The Buckeyes released a promotional poster for their upcoming game with Penn State featuring WR Austin Mack making a hushing gesture -- along with the caption, "Silence the white noise."

Enter Leaf ... who has a big problem with the timing and message of the promotion.

"I know this is a marketing poster for a football game, but the lack of perspective and it being as tone deaf as it is, really says a lot about what the [Urban Meyer] saga continues to reveal about [Ohio State]," Leaf tweeted.

Leaf -- who played football at Washington State -- is referring to the OSU scandal where Courtney Smith claimed Meyer knew her husband (an OSU coach) had been abusing her ... but swept it under the rug.

Meyer denied any wrongdoing -- but he did admit to mishandling the situation. And, when asked if he had knowledge of the situation at BIG10 Media Day, Meyer lied to reporters.

Urban was suspended 3 games as a result of an investigation -- and he returns to the sidelines against Penn State.

So, yeah ... Leaf makes a pretty solid point.

And not to mention, Penn State had their own problems with SILENCE.

Tyron Woodley says Nick Diaz must be out of his DAMN MIND if he really wants a piece of The Chosen One ... telling TMZ Sports he'd destroy Nick if he really wants to get in the Octagon.

Remember, Nick fired some shots at Tyron on Wednesday night ... calling him a boring fighter and vowing to bust him up if they can get a fight on the books.

So, we reached out to Tyron ... who had some thoughts.

"Get your weak ass outta here," Woodley said ... "You could have fought me a long time ago."

In fact, T-Wood -- who's in ATL shooting a movie -- proceeded to clown Nick and Nate Diaz with a little help from his UFC pal, Kenny Florian.

And, Kenny does a GREAT Nate Diaz impression!!

But, ya gotta watch when Tyron breaks down Nick's fight style ... COMEDY!

"How can he beat me? He's gonna try to beat me by taking punches to the face? He can't stop me from taking him down. He'll never submit me. He gonna slap me to death? Nah, I'm good."

Suck at football but still wanna own your own Heisman Trophy?? Better have NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS laying around.

The 1937 trophy -- won by Yale's Clint Frank -- is hitting the Heritage Auctions block ... and experts tell us it's expected to go for over $400,000.

The 25-pound award was only the third one ever given out ... but Frank's family is ready to part ways with it -- for the right price.

Clint was a beast back in the day ... playing BOTH halfback and safety for the Bulldogs -- but decided to forego an NFL career for a job in advertising (seriously).

The trophy is only one of just a handful of Heisman's that have ever hit the auction block -- O.J. Simpson's sold back in 1999 -- which explains the huge price tag.

Bidding is slated to end on Oct. 18.

Kobe Bryant sprang into action Thursday after witnessing a car crash in Newport Beach -- helping out one of the drivers after a Tesla got hit outside his local Starbucks.

The retired NBA superstar was driving through the area in his blacked-out Range Rover when he saw a car run a red light and slam into the Tesla. Kobe stopped to make sure the driver was okay.

A rep for Bryant tells us ... the Tesla driver told Kobe his phone was damaged in the wreck, so the Lakers legend offered to take pics on his cell instead.

You can see Kobe snapping away in pics obtained by TMZ Sports.

The good news ... we're told no one suffered any serious injuries in the crash. Cops responded to check in on the situation but no arrests were made.

Remember, Kobe's buddy Shaquille O'Neal did a similar thing back in April -- hopping out of his ride to tend to a crash he witnessed in L.A.

See, these guys have more in common than ya thought ...

9:55 AM PT -- Kanye just explained to the group he's redesigned the MAGA hat ... changing the brim and the shape of the front of it. He also says he's put "positive energy" in the hat.

Can you support both Donald Trump and Colin Kaepernick at the same time?

Kanye West believes you can ...

The rapper rolled over to the offices of The Fader on Thursday in Trump's "Make America Great Again" hat ... while wearing a sweatshirt with Kaep's name spelled out across the chest.

Is he making a point about how he can see both sides? Is he just out of clean laundry?

Remember, Trump famously referred to Colin as a "son of a bitch" and called for NFL owners to fire all players who didn't stand for the national anthem.

But, Ye applauded Nike for signing Kaep to a deal recently -- saying, "I stand for giving everyone a voice."

He added, "Adidas giving me a voice and Nike giving Colin voice on a big business level makes the world a more advanced place."

Colin Kaepernick says he's THRILLED his pal, Eric Reid, is back in the NFL -- but claims the safety shoulda been signed WAY earlier.

"Congratulations to my brother [Eric Reid], an all pro safety who should have been signed the first day of free agency, who has signed a football contract," Kaep posted.

"He has was the FIRST person to kneel alongside me. Eric is a social justice warrior, continues to support his wife, two beautiful daughters and communities in need."

Kaep and Reid were teammates on the 49ers and have been good friends for a WHILE.

In fact, when the guys found themselves jobless after the kneeling demonstrations -- they hired the same lawyers to sue the NFL for collusion ... claiming they'd been blackballed.

As for Kaep's claim Reid shoulda been signed sooner, he's right -- Reid's just 26 years old, has a Pro Bowl on his resume AND had 67 tackles and 2 picks last season.

Reid's new teammate, Torrey Smith, also commented -- saying, "I’m excited. It shouldn’t have taken this long, a person with his talent."

"We all understand the reason why."

Eric Reid -- who filed a collusion grievance against the NFL -- has just signed a 1-year contract with the Carolina Panthers, the team announced.

Reid was widely considered one of the best free agent safeties on the market -- but he believed he was being blackballed, like Colin Kaepernick, for taking a knee during the national anthem at NFL games.

Eric and Colin were teammates on the 49ers. They're still good friends and are using the same lawyers -- Mark Geragos and Ben Meiselas -- to go after the NFL for collusion.

Reid is a former Pro Bowl safety who racked up 67 tackles and 2 interceptions last season -- and many believe he should have easily gotten a roster spot in 2018 based on his talent.

Reid, 6'1" and 215 pounds, played the first five seasons of his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers after being selected by the team in the first round (18th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft.

“Eric has been a starting safety in the NFL and has played at a high level throughout his career," Panthers GM Marty Hurney said.

"After we put (safety) Da’Norris Searcy on injured reserve, Ron (Rivera) and I discussed our options, and Eric was at the top of our list. He is a physical safety with good ball skills and play-making ability."

Reid is already at the team facility.

Story developing ...

Dallas Cowboys fans everywhere rejoice ... Tony Romo is healthy enough to play quarterback in the NFL again!!!!!!!!!

Sooo ... when's the comeback date?!?!

Well ... maybe never.

Romo stoked the rumor mill Wednesday when he said his back, collarbone and everything else he broke in his playing days are good enough for him to get back on the field.

"I played much more hurt back in probably '13 and '14 then I would be now," Romo told the Ben & Skin Show.

"Yeah, I mean, I'm healthy enough. That wouldn't be the issue at all I don't think. That would be the least of my thoughts when it came to a decision like that, obviously."

But, is Tony actually considering it?!?! Romo wouldn't say, poo-pooing the question by saying, "You guys are silly."

Romo's been killin' it in the CBS broadcast booth ... and he's got big-time golf dreams now too. Football seems to be firmly in his past.

So, sorry, Dallas. Looks like you're stuck with Dak.

Nelly doesn't hate the Rams for leaving St. Louis -- he's still rooting for 'em ... assuring TMZ Sports they're just "on loan" to L.A. for the time being.

Yeah, don't hold your breath ...

The Rams are killin' it right now -- they're 3-0 and Jared Goff and Todd Gurley are playing out of their minds.

So, when we saw the STL rapper at Mastro's in Bev Hills on Wednesday night -- we had to ask if he's still backing his boys in blue and white.

That's when Nelly reminded us where his team REALLY belongs.

"They're on loaner out here," Nelly said ... "They're on loaner out here. They're on LOANER out here, man!"

We got it. Loaner. Out here.

By the way, back when the Rams announced the move in 2016, Nelly told us he thinks the team should change the team colors and leave the blue and gold to STL.

The team actually has plans to do that -- but league rules slowed down the process. Expect new threads by 2020.

Nick Diaz with the fire takes it outside Warwick nightclub in Hollywood Wednesday night -- saying Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov are "not that good" and he'd crush 'em both.

The older Diaz brother was out clubbin' Wednesday night when we asked if he was bitter at the USADA-imposed punishment that kept him out of fighting for years for missing drug tests.

"There wasn't nobody to fight anyways for me," Diaz says ... "Ain't nobody out there. Everybody out there ain't sh*t right now."

He's eligible to fight now -- so we asked if he's planning to return to the Octagon anytime soon. Diaz replied, "I'll beat all those guys. All those motherf*ckers."

Even UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley?

"I'll whoop his ass too. He's too boring."

But, after the trash talk, it seemed he defended Woodley -- saying, "I don't even know why he fights those guys. They don't pay him enough money."

Which brings us to Conor vs. Khabib.

"I'll beat both of them. Both they asses ... THEY'RE NOT THAT GOOD!"

When in France, right?

Michael Jordan proved he's too classy to drink beer with the normies at major sporting events -- instead, he sips from his own bottle of fancy wine.

MJ was in the VIP suites at the Paris Saint-Germain vs. Reims game in Paris on Wednesday -- where he watched Neymar dominate in a 4-1 victory at Parc des Princes stadium.

He also apparently brought in his own bottle of red. Guessing they waived the corkage fee.

Jordan was treated like the legend he is during the game -- since PSG recently teamed up with Jordan Brand for a collaborative range of threads. The team prez even presented MJ with his own custom #23 jersey.

Jordan took in the game with his pal, Ahmad Rashad -- no word if he let the ex-football player dip into his wine.

No word on what brand Jordan was drinking -- but the guy's a billionaire so you know he ain't sippin' the cheap stuff.

Jim Brown is happily enjoying his crow today ... 'cause the Browns legend tells TMZ Sports he was so wrong about Baker Mayfield -- he actually thinks Cleveland's got a shot at the playoffs now!!

You'll remember ... Jim was one of the least pleased people in Cleveland when his ex-squad chose Baker over Saquon Barkley with the top pick in the NFL draft.

But, after watching Baker's 21-17 comeback performance against the Jets last week ... he's all in on the selection now ... even apologizing to John Dorsey and co.!!!

"They didn't go with what everybody said, including myself," Jim tells us.

"They went with what they thought was correct, and I really appreciate being able to say to them, 'I guess you were right.'"