TMZ Sports - Page 50

Awful news for Reggie Bush -- the ex-USC superstar will NOT be getting his 2005 Heisman trophy back ... despite the NCAA's new rules allowing athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness.

Remember, the NCAA made a monumental policy change last month ... finally giving players the opportunity to rake in dough via endorsement deals and sponsorships.

Bush -- who gave up his 2005 Heisman in 2010 after receiving improper benefits -- called out the NCAA and Heisman Trust after the new rules were announced ... saying both organizations were ignoring his pleas to have his Heisman returned.

The NCAA finally addressed the situation on Wednesday ... saying Bush's case is not covered by their new order -- therefore, he will not get his trophy back.

"Although college athletes can now receive benefits from their names, images and likenesses through activities like endorsements and appearances, NCAA rules still do not permit pay-for-play type arrangements," an NCAA spokesperson said.

"The NCAA infractions process exists to promote fairness in college sports. The rules that govern fair play are voted on, agreed to and expected to be upheld by all NCAA member schools."

Bush is considered one of the best college football players ever -- from 2003 to 2005, he logged 3,169 rushing yards, 1,301 receiving yards, and 38 overall touchdowns.

He also won the 2004 BCS Championship ... a victory that was vacated as a result of Bush's punishment.

Aaron Rodgers is FINALLY opening up about his issues with the Packers ... saying all of the drama this offseason was simply because he wanted more power in the org.

Rodgers broke it all down Wednesday in a lengthy meeting with reporters ... explaining he felt he earned the right to have more say with team decisions, but claimed Packers execs saw it differently.

The 37-year-old says back in February, he approached management about having more input in personnel decisions, free agency recruiting and even picking players in the draft.

Rodgers says he also sought more security with his contract ... hoping to avoid becoming a "lame-duck quarterback" in 2021.

The league's MVP, though, told media members the Packers just didn't give him what he wanted ... and that's when all the drama started.

Rodgers said at one point during his time away from the team as the beef stewed ... he actually contemplated retirement.

Aaron and the Packers clearly reached some sort of agreement over the last few weeks, however, and the QB told reporters Wednesday he was happy to be back playing for Green Bay this season.

But, Rodgers made it clear there's no guarantee he'll be under center for the Pack in 2022 ... saying it's all a wait-and-see game.

Check out Rodgers' full interview with media members below ... it sure sounds like this will be the last ride for the QB in Green Bay.

As for Wednesday's workout, Rodgers looked great in his first practice back with the team ... heaving passes and running drills without issue.

Kyrie Irving is absolutely eviscerating his newest Nike signature sneaker ... calling the kicks "trash" and claiming he has nothing to do with the upcoming release.

The Brooklyn Nets superstar -- who signed with Nike in 2011 -- reportedly makes over $10 million a year as a Swoosh athlete ... and has dropped seven super-popular Kyrie shoes since 2014.

But, Irving is distancing himself from the latest shoe after pics of his "Kyrie 8" leaked on Instagram ... saying, "I have nothing to do with the design or marketing of the upcoming #Kyrie8, IMO these are trash!"

"I have Absolutely nothing to do with them!"

Kyrie says there's no hope of working with Nike to make any last-minute changes before the shoe drops later this year ... apologizing to all his fans who love his brand.

We can't think of any other time an athlete has completely bashed their own shoe -- even Kobe Bryant didn't go this hard on his abomination of the Adidas Kobe 2.

Look, the Kyrie 8 shoes aren't completely hideous, but they definitely give off "dad at the local YMCA" vibes more than an "I'm an NBA superstar" kinda feel. So, we get what Irving's beef is.

A sexual misconduct investigation is NOT keeping Deshaun Watson away from the Texans practice field ... the star QB worked out with his Houston team Wednesday, seemingly unbothered by it all.

Cameras captured the 25-year-old hitting Texans practice in full workout gear ... throwing passes, participating in drills and running around without any issues whatsoever.

It's unclear, though, what the Texans' plan for Watson is going forward ... the team's general manager, Nick Caserio, dodged questions about the QB's status before he hit the field Wednesday.

Caserio declined to say how much Watson would do, if he was the team's starter, if he'd be traded, or how a criminal investigation into Watson plays into all of the above.

"From our perspective," the Houston exec said, "it's a day-to-day endeavor."

The NFL said Tuesday it's placing "no restrictions" on Watson yet ... even though more than 20 female massage therapists have accused him of crossing the line during what were supposed to be routine rubdown sessions.

Twenty-two women have sued the quarterback ... and Watson's attorney says 10 women have filed criminal complaints against Deshaun as well.

Both police and the NFL say they're investigating it all.

Watson has denied the allegations ... and his reps have said any sexual encounters he had with female masseuses were entirely consensual.

Simone Biles will not be defending her gold medal in the all-around final at the Tokyo Games -- the Olympics superstar has backed out of the competition to continue to focus on her mental health.

24-year-old Biles -- who withdrew from the team finals on Tuesday -- underwent further medical evaluation following the event ... and it was determined it was best she sat out Thursday's finals, USA Gymnastics said in a statement.

Biles was the heavy favorite to win the event ... which would have secured the 5th gold medal of her career.

It may not be the end of Biles' Olympic run, however -- there's still a chance she returns to compete in the individual events next week ... but the team says it all depends on the results of her daily evaluations.

"We wholeheartedly support Simone's decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being," USAG said. "Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many."

Biles absolutely crushed the competition at the 2016 Rio Games ... posting a 62.366 score, with teammate Aly Raisman taking silver with a 60.607.

The New York Jets will honor Gregg Knapp with helmet decals this season ... after the former assistant coach tragically died following a bike crash earlier this month.

The Jets made the announcement Wednesday -- revealing every one of their players' helmets will feature "GK" stickers on the back.

"You'll always be with us, Coach Knapp," the Jets said in the announcement.

As we previously reported, Knapp -- who was just hired to be the Jets' passing game coordinator this offseason -- was struck by a car while riding his bicycle in San Ramon, CA. on July 17 and was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries.

The 58-year-old later died on July 22 ... with his family saying, "Today at 11:32 am PST, Greg Knapp (aka Knapper) was called back home to Heaven, where he will be reunited with his Dad."

His death rocked coaches and players across the league, including Jets' rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, who said after the tragedy, "Man this is hard. Huge impact on my life in only a few months."

"Love you Coach Knapper."

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan -- who was coached by Knapp from 2018 to 2020 -- was also heartbroken ... saying, "He was one of the most positive, consistent and caring coaches I have ever been around"

"I’m so thankful for the time we were able to spend together."

Knapp had coached in the NFL since 1995 ... and won a Super Bowl ring as an assistant with the Denver Broncos in 2016.

A Patrick Mahomes rookie card just sold for over $4 MILLION ... and the price tag was so staggering, even the NFL star himself couldn't believe it!!!

PWCC Marketplace announced the sale Wednesday ... saying the deal officially makes the piece the most expensive football card ever.

And, Mahomes was blown away by it all ... tweeting of the item, "My goodness."

As for why the card is so coveted ... it's an ULTRA rare 2017 Panini National Treasures piece that features Mahomes' signature and a cutout of an NFL shield patch from one of his Chiefs jerseys.

It's the only card of its kind to ever be created (AKA a 1-of-1) ... and it was also given an 8.5 grade, which means it's in damn-near perfect condition.

The $4.3 million price tag easily topped the previous football card record of $3.1 million that an autographed Tom Brady rookie card fetched in the spring.

As for the buyer of the Mahomes piece, it's been revealed LJ's Card Shop in Ohio scored the card ... and a store spokesperson said they're fired up over the purchase.

“We are continually hunting for unique cards that add to our collection in a meaningful way," the spokesperson said. "The 2017 National Treasures NFL Shield Patrick Mahomes Rookie is truly a piece of art."

McKayla Maroney says the "body glitches" that Simone Biles is currently experiencing could end the gymnastics legend's career ... explaining "a lot of gymnasts actually quit because of these mental blocks."

The 2012 Olympic gold medalist spelled it all out in a powerful video on her social media page Tuesday ... saying she's been in Biles' shoes before, and it's not fun at all.

"I've had a lot of experience with these mental blocks," Maroney said. "They are miserable. They are a gymnast's worst nightmare and they can end your career."

Maroney says during one of her experiences with the body yips ... she actually got seriously hurt, falling off a balance beam and ending up in a pool of tears with a concussion.

Maroney explained the blocks are caused by stress, depression and pressure ... but added they can come out of nowhere for even the best gymnasts too.

"Like, you can't even understand them," Maroney said. "Like, 'Why is this happening to me? I don't know why my body is doing something different.'"

The 25-year-old then went on to praise Biles for having the mental strength to pull out of Tokyo Olympic events over the issues.

"She was smart to protect her body and her mind," Maroney said. "Because it's more important. It just is."

Many other Olympians -- both current and past -- feel the same way as McKayla ... Michael Phelps also threw his support behind Biles on Tuesday.

"We’re human beings, nobody is perfect," the swimming legend said. "It's OK to not be OK. It's OK to go through ups and downs and emotional roller coasters."

"I felt like I was carrying, as Simone said, the weight of the world on my shoulders. It's a tough situation."

Added swimming star Katie Ledecky ... "I really hope that she continues to do what’s best for her and that the people around her, her coaches, her teammates, continue to support her."

Skateboarding superstar Nyjah Huston says he understands the pressure Simone Biles is going through at the Olympics ... telling TMZ Sports people need to realize athletes are human, not emotionless robots.

Biles shockingly withdrew from the gymnastics team finals on Tuesday ... citing her struggles with mental health affecting her performance.

Huston -- who just landed on U.S. soil after competing for Team USA at the Tokyo Games this week -- can relate to the expectations of being the best in a sport ... and tells us it's never easy to have to live up to crazy expectations.

"We’re human you know," Huston said at LAX. "It happens sometimes and dealing with being number one and dealing with all that pressure and nervousness, it’s a real thing. It’s a real thing.

"I feel like sometimes people see us as like robots and out there expecting to win every time. But, in reality, that’s not how it is, and it’s not that easy."

26-year-old Huston -- who placed 7th in the men's street skateboarding event -- adds he wishes he could have finished higher in his first Olympics ... but leaves the door open on competing in 2024.

"Obviously, I wish I could have done better, landed a couple more tricks, but still an honor to be out there representing the USA."

Simone Biles made the right decision pulling out of Olympic competition, 'cause mental health's more important than winning, so says U.S. gymnastics legend Dominique Dawes.

"This young generation of athletes, they are trusting their inner voice and they’re speaking out and they’re saying, 'I am unhealthy,' or 'I’m feeling unhealthier, this environment is unhealthy for me,'" Dawes tells TMZ Sports.

The 3-time Olympian (1 gold, 3 bronze medals) continued ... "And, they’re making decisions based off of their overall long-term health. I think that is the wisest thing that this young 24-year-old could do."

Biles -- a 4x gold medalist -- ignited a firestorm of debate when she bowed out of the medal round of team gymnastics competition ... after saying she was dealing with immense stress in Tokyo.

Dominique says anyone who isn't buying the existence of pressure is flat-out wrong ... 'cause she literally lived it before competing in the Summer Games in Atlanta.

"You know, I feel for her and I feel for her teammates as well. I can definitely relate to the level of pressure that she was feeling. That’s what I felt going into the 1996 Olympic Games."

Dominque ended up winning a gold medal in the team competition ... but it was extremely difficult.

"I felt [pressure] and prior to marching out in the Olympics at the Georgia Dome, I had a little bit of a mental breakdown myself. I remember crying, I remember being overwhelmed and that’s something I went through a lot during my career."

But, Dawes says these games are different because of COVID. No friends and family means no support system for Biles -- who is scheduled to compete in the individual competition on Thursday.

Question is, will she feel well enough to perform? Dawes ... and almost everybody else sure hopes so.

"Hopefully if Simone is up for it and she’s capable mentally, physically, emotionally to get back there for all-around finals, you know, we’ll be there to cheer her on."

The NBA's play-in tournament is back for another year ... and ya know who probably ain't happy about that??? LeBron James.

Of course, the additional games were first tested out in the Disney World bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic ... and after a pretty successful run, the league brought 'em back for the 2021 season.

The tourney widens the number of postseason teams from 16 to 20 by featuring the 7th through 10th seeds of each conference, instead of the top 8 seeds automatically moving on to the playoffs.

While fans may have been in favor of the extra games, the King wasn't too pleased ... previously saying back in May, "Whoever came up with that s*** needs to be fired."

Some folks believe LeBron's comments might have been more about his own team's position than the actual tourney -- thanks to the league’s new changes, the Lakers’ post-season chances required a few extra games.

The 2020 play-in brought some of the most memorable matchups of the playoffs. LeBron’s series went through his rival Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors ... and who doesn't wanna see that???

This year’s play-in tournament is scheduled from April 12-15 of 2022.

The NFL says Deshaun Watson is currently free to practice, workout and even play with the Houston Texans ... this despite the QB facing numerous allegations of sexual misconduct.

The league made the announcement Tuesday ... saying in a statement there are currently "no restrictions" being placed on Watson even though more than 20 female massage therapists have accused him of crossing the line during what were supposed to be routine rubdown sessions.

"At this time," NFL officials said, "there are no restrictions on Watson's participation in club activities."

As we previously reported, police and the NFL are currently investigating Watson ... after multiple women claim he got inappropriate with them on several occasions over the past few years.

Twenty-two women in total have filed civil lawsuits against Watson ... and the QB's attorney said Monday that 10 accusers have filed criminal complaints against the quarterback as well.

Most NFL pundits believed the allegations would be enough to land the 25-year-old star on some sort of paid leave -- similar to the way the MLB is handling the Trevor Bauer accusations -- but, clearly, that's not the case.

"As we continue to gather additional information and monitor law enforcement developments," the NFL said, "we will make appropriate decisions consistent with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the Personal Conduct Policy."

The NFL added its probe into Watson is still "ongoing and active."

For Watson's part, he's insisted he committed no wrongdoing ... while his reps have said anything that went down between the quarterback and masseuses was entirely consensual.

NASCAR superstar Joey Logano revealed his unborn baby's gender in the most racecar driver way EVER -- by having his toddler son do a burnout in front of his house!!!

The 31-year-old and his wife, Brittany, got super creative with their announcement this month ... strapping some chalk to their 3-year-old's toy car's wheels and then letting him punch the throttle!!

The video is seriously epic ... Joey's kid executed the stunt perfectly -- and everyone lost their mind when pink smoke came from the tires!

The baby is #3 for Logano, and it's his first girl ... and in Joey's footage of the event, you can tell it seems that's what the family wanted.

Logano's son said he preferred a sister -- and the fam's reaction to the pink smoke showed they certainly weren't disappointed at the result either.

The best part of the clip ... in celebration of the announcement, Joey got his kid to then spin donuts in the little toy car!!!

Rick Dennison will remain with the Vikings despite his COVID vaccine refusal ... though the team has announced he's been reassigned to a different role in the org.

The longtime NFL assistant coach had reportedly parted ways with Minnesota last week due to his decision to not get the shots.

Per NFL rules this season, if a coach isn't vaccinated -- he or she cannot have direct contact with players in meeting rooms and on the field, and therefore simply cannot effectively do the job of being an assistant coach.

ESPN had reported Friday that meant Dennison -- who was the team's offensive line coach -- was OUT.

But, the Vikings said Tuesday they've found a compromise with the coach ... moving him to a new senior offensive advisor role.

The team confirmed Phil Rauscher will step into Dennison's old offensive line coach spot.

"I'm not going to talk about Rick Dennison's medical situation," Vikings general manager Rick Spielman told reporters Tuesday. "I just know that Rick Dennison is an important part of this staff."

Spielman added the team is "excited" to still have Dennison on board ... though he declined to comment on what the 63-year-old's new role actually entails.

"The only people who are not vaccinated are just a**holes."

Charles Barkley is taking a strong stance on the COVID-19 vaccine ... saying the NBA -- as well as all other pro sports leagues -- should make it a requirement in order to compete.

As we previously reported, the NFL announced a policy that will penalize teams with potential fines and forfeited games if an unvaccinated player causes a coronavirus outbreak ... guidelines that had superstar DeAndre Hopkins tweeting about contemplating retirement.

The 58-year-old Hall of Famer says the virus is too serious to give people an option.

"Can you imagine if one of these guys that are not vaccinated, if they get one of these players’ kids, wives, girlfriends, moms and dads sick and they die over some unnecessary conspiracy bull****?," Barkley said, according to CNBC. "I think that would be tragic."

Chuck says players need to treat their careers like those with regular day jobs ... and there will be things they don't always want to do, but have to.

"There’s s*** you can’t do at work and there’s s*** that you have to do at work," Barkley added.

New England definitely ain't gonna like these apples ...

Matt Damon -- one of the biggest die-hard Boston-area sports fans EVER -- just admitted he'd root against the Patriots in a Super Bowl!!

The Academy Award-winning actor made the shocking revelation on The Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday ... saying if it came down to Tom Brady's Buccaneers vs. the Pats in this year's Big Game, he's team TB12 all day!!

"Listen," Damon said. "I love that guy."

Damon -- who is from Cambridge, Mass. -- has been a Pats fan since forever ... but it's clear his relationship with Tom outweighs all of that.

"Go Bucs," Damon said on the show.

It's gotta hurt the Patriots ... but, hey, they do get to square off against Tom in the regular season in Foxborough in October.