TMZ Sports - Page 50

Ex-NFL star Fred Taylor is parting ways with the show he helped blow up ... telling TMZ Sports he's split with Brandon Marshall's popular "I AM ATHLETE" show to launch his own podcast with fellow former football players Ryan Clark and Channing Crowder.

We talked to the 45-year-old former Pro Bowler before his new show, "The Pivot Podcast" launches Tuesday (with first guest Chad Ochocinco) about splitting with Marshall and what listeners will get with the new gig.

"Everybody gonna pivot in life at some point whether it's business, relationships, family, whatever it might be man," Taylor says.

The former RB went on to say ... "I believe us as black men, as businessmen in our own right, I think we dropped the ball in a sense because we didn't have the business completely buttoned up."

"We were out having fun man, just making magic, conversations, everyday locker room stuff, experiences. In the midst of all that, we didn't buckle up the business so when it came time to do the business part, you know there was some push back, some other stuff It just didn't add up."

Of course, "I AM ATHLETE" blew up last year ... and the show regularly features A-list guests. On YouTube alone, the channel has raked in around 66 million views.

Taylor and Crowder were both featured prominently on IAA. Former longtime Steelers DB Clark wasn't ... but is a regular on ESPN.

So, where's that leave Fred's friendship with Brandon? He tells us although they aren't working together, they're still buddies.

"I wish we could've really pushed forward with IAA. Brandon is gonna keep pushing forward and I support that. That's what I texted him when we talked about going different ways. I made sure, look, 'I support everything you do with House of Athletes, I AM ATHLETE.'"

"We still brothers man. Ain't no beef, ain't no animosity, ain't no sideway stuff. It's just his business and his vision didn't necessarily align with what everybody else expected or wanted and that's business."

Taylor -- who rushed for nearly 12,000 yards throughout his great career -- says the new show will be much like IAA ... have fun, keep it real.

"Trending topics, we're gonna hit those. Obviously sports, just life man.  Just wanna be organic and feel good. We're gonna keep it real like we was doing on the other show."

"We wanna have good energy, positive energy. It's gonna be some laugh, gonna be some crazy moments. It's gonna be everything."

The Washington Football Team will announce its new identity next month ... but there's one name that's already off the table -- RedWolves.

WFT prez Jason Wright broke the news to fans early Tuesday morning ... saying the fan-favorite "RedWolves" and more simple "Wolves" branding won't work due to trademark issues.

"One of the most awesome and powerful aspects of this process has been getting to hear and understand your preferences directly, and we know that many of you loved one or both of these names," Wright said in a statement.

The 39-year-old added the organization made a huge emphasis to focus on fan opinions, but other teams had already beaten them to the punch.

"Understanding the weight and importance of our team name, and excitement around other name options -- both internally and within our fan base -- we didn't want to risk going down a route that could be dotted with legal hurdles," Wright added.

"The prospect of years of litigation wasn't something that we wanted you, our fans, to have to bear as you begin to embrace a new brand."

Antonio Brown clearly isn't trying to keep a low profile following his breakup with the Bucs ... 'cause just 1 day after his shirtless meltdown at MetLife Stadium, he got front-row tickets to the Nets game.

Broadcast cameras caught the troubled wideout sitting courtside at Barclays Center for Monday's Nets vs. Grizzlies tilt ... and the dude didn't look torn up at all despite losing his job roughly 24 hours earlier.

Brown was rockin' a COVID mask, tracksuit and sunglasses ... and was seen chatting it up with people around his seat as if nothing had happened with him the day before in the Jets vs. Buccaneers game.

Brown Instagrammed from his chair while at the game -- writing in a selfie video, "It's a new day hit up KD [Kevin Durant]" -- and he was even later spotted at dinner in NYC smiling and in good spirits.

Of course, the images aren't too surprising -- Brown has stayed in the public eye just about every minute since Tampa Bay kicked him off the team for quitting mid-game Sunday.

Brown has posted on social media constantly, dropped a rap song, and cruised around the streets of NY with celeb driver Danny Chalet.

Cody Simpson's sister is beyond lucky to be alive after breaking her neck while diving into a pool, and as if that wasn't bad enough ... she tested positive for covid-19.

Alli Simpson was immediately taken to an Australian hospital in an ambulance on New Year's Eve... after diving head-first into a shallow swimming pool, and hitting her head on the floor. She ended up having 2 severe fractures in her neck.

The 23-year old opened up about the scary event ... posting photos from the ambulance and Gold Coast University Hospital -- outside Brisbane. She says, "I am extremely lucky to be alive and/or not quadriplegic as it JUST missed my spinal chord..⁣"

Though she didn't have to get any immediate surgery, she will have to live in a neck brace for 4 straight months ... all day, every day.

She admitted this was not the best start to the year for her, but she was mainly optimistic and shared her gratitude... "to say the least - I have a new lease on life & will be forever grateful that it was not worse!!⁣"

She thanked her family, friends and the medical staff for their support ... and left some encouraging words for us all going into 2022 ... "hoping the start to your year has been a whole lot better than mine!! stay safe this year fam & DON’T DIVE INTO ANYTHING WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW IT’S DEPTH!!! 🤍🤍🤍 "

Novak Djokovic will defend his Australian Open title after all -- the Serbian tennis star just announced he will compete at the Grand Slam event after being granted a medical exemption from the COVID vaccine mandate.

"I've spent fantastic quality time with my loved ones over the break and today I'm heading Down Under with an exemption permission," Djokovic said on Instagram on Tuesday morning.

"Let's go 2022."

Djokovic's status for the tourney in Melbourne had previously been in question, as he was uncertain if he would participate due to concerns over Australia's quarantine rules and the event's vaccine mandate.

But, the Australian Open said Tuesday that officials conducted two reviews of Djokovic's application for a medical exemption and granted it -- paving the way for the star's return to the Aussie courts.

"Djokovic applied for a medical exemption which was granted following a rigorous review process involving two separate independent panels of medical experts,'' Australian Open officials said.

Added tournament director Craig Tiley, "Fair and independent protocols were established for assessing medical exemption applications that will enable us to ensure Australian Open 2022 is safe and enjoyable for everyone."

Novak -- the No. 1-ranked men's tennis player in the world -- is currently tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with 20 grand slam titles ... and has won the last three Australian Open titles.

Tristan Thompson is officially a dad of three -- revealing he's the father of a baby boy recently born to a woman from Houston after getting the results from a paternity test -- and apologizing to his former girlfriend and mother of his child, Khloe Kardashian, in the process.

The NBA star posted Monday, saying, "I take full responsibility for my actions. Now that paternity has been established, I look forward to amicably raising our son. I sincerely apologize to everyone I've hurt or disappointed throughout this ordeal both publicly and privately."

He then turns his attention to Khloe, with who he has daughter True, saying, "You don't deserve the heartache and humiliation I have caused you. You don't deserve the way I have treated you over the years. My actions have certainly not lined up with the way I view you."

He continues, "I have the utmost respect and love for you. Regardless of what you may think. Again, I am so incredibly sorry." Khloe and Tristan split in the summer.

It's an about-face for Tristan ... as we reported, he and Maralee have been duking it out in court over the paternity of the baby boy. As we told you ... Maralee Nichols sued Tristan for child support and claims he tried to pay her $75,000 to keep quiet about the baby.

Tristan's alleged messages claimed he's retiring after this NBA season, making him unemployed -- and, at least according to him -- requiring him to pay a smaller amount in child support.

TT asked a judge just last month for an emergency gag order to silence Maralee talking about the paternity case.

It's Tristan's third known child, and according to Maralee's timeline ... he was still publicly with Khloe when they hooked up back in March.

Both TT and KK have publicly supported each other since the split, and are co-parenting their daughter.

AB out ... TO in?

Terrell Owens is hoping that's the case now in Tampa Bay ... saying this week that after Antonio Brown got the boot from the Buccaneers on Sunday, he wants to step in and fill the void on the team's roster.

TO made the announcement on "Getcha Popcorn Ready with T.O. and Hatch" -- which airs every Sunday at 8 p.m. on Fubo Sports Network -- saying he truly believes he can fill in for Brown during Tampa's playoff run.

"If you think about where they are in the season, they don't need me for a 16-game season," Owens said. "Three to four games at the max."

"So, yes, I feel like I can go in, I can contribute at a high level and can be productive."

Owens hasn't played a snap in the NFL since the 2010 season ... but the 48-year-old Hall of Famer has routinely said he's kept himself in good enough shape to make a comeback.

And, Owens says if he gets a shot with Tampa -- he's sure he can prove his critics wrong.

"I know that I can do it," TO said.

As for if the Bucs will actually call ... they do need wide receiver help and are reportedly eyeing some free agents in the wake of Brown's departure from the team Sunday.

Antonio Brown took a break from his nasty Buccaneers breakup to send a thoughtful message to his former nemesis on Monday ... wishing Ben Roethlisberger the best before what might be his last home game as a Pittsburgh Steeler.

AB hasn't always shown love for Big Ben -- remember, the receiver called his former teammate a "loser" during a Twitter rant in 2019 ... and made other negative comments after leaving the Steelers in 2018.

But as Ben hints that Monday's matchup against the Cleveland Browns could be the last time he dons the Black and Gold at Heinz Field, AB had nothing but kind words for #7 ... claiming he doesn't think the 2-time Super Bowl champ will retire after the season.

“I know Ben. He’s a competitor," AB said in a Cameo for a Steelers fan. "He loves to play football. One of the greatest quarterbacks, all-time. And I just don’t see him hanging it up."

"Big Ben has a lot of football left, and he didn’t say that his career was over," Brown added.

“So let’s be positive. Let’s cheer him on. Let’s wish for one of his best games tonight. And let’s keep business boomin’."

Things weren't always bad between the two -- AB and Big Ben were one of the most successful duos in the league before Brown left the team in 2018.

Now, as AB finds himself in another bad breakup following his bizarre, shirtless departure from the Bucs vs. New York Jets game on Sunday, it appears he's extending an olive branch to his old teammate.

Cops in Nashville say they want to question Tennessee Titans linebacker Bud Dupree ... after he was allegedly involved in a fight at a local Walgreens.

According to a statement from the Metro Nashville Police Dept., cops were called to the store at around 8 PM on Sunday night -- just hours after the Titans had beaten the Miami Dolphins in Tennessee.

Cops say Dupree and "several" people with him got into an altercation with two employees at the store ... after "a male employee began videoing Dupree with his phone."

Police, though, say by the time officers arrived on scene, Dupree and the other individuals with him had already left.

Cops say they're seeking to interview all parties now -- including Dupree -- after they say a 21-year-old female employee and a 20-year-old male employee both needed treatment for cuts they sustained in the alleged altercation.

As of now, no arrests have been made ... and no formal charges have been brought against Dupree or others.

The Titans -- who clinched the AFC South title with their win Sunday -- released a statement saying, "We are aware of the situation and are gathering additional information."

Dupree -- a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft -- did play in the team's game against Miami ... registering one solo tackle.

The gym formerly known as Mamba Sports Academy is suing the company that owned the doomed helicopter in the Kobe Bryant crash ... claiming the copter co. should be forced to pay over $100K in costs related to the death of one of the passengers on board.

It's all spelled out in new court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, in which an insurance company and the gym now known as Sports Academy are suing Island Express.

In the docs, the Academy and the insurance co. claim that because Christina Mauser -- a girls basketball coach -- was employed by the gym at the time of her death in the crash ... they paid "death benefits and burial expenses" to her family that exceeded $127,000.

In the docs, the plaintiffs argue that Island Express should be on the hook for that bill ... claiming the crash and Mauser's subsequent death were the result of the helicopter company's negligence.

The plaintiffs are asking for a reimbursement of the amounts already paid plus any additional workers' comp payments that may come due in the future.

As we previously reported, Mauser and eight others -- including Kobe and Gigi Bryant -- died in the helicopter crash in January 2020.

After a lengthy investigation, NTSB officials concluded that the crash likely happened due to a multitude of reasons, including, "Island Express Helicopter Inc.'s inadequate review and oversight of its safety management processes."

A New York Jets rookie was so fired up to have competed against Tom Brady -- he straight up asked the GOAT for his autograph on the field ... despite losing the game in heartbreaking fashion just minutes prior.

Cameras caught the interesting interaction following Sunday's Bucs vs. Jets game at MetLife Stadium ... showing Jets corner Brandin Echols asking for Brady's John Hancock even though the QB had just beaten his team.

In the footage, you can see Echols handed Brady a ball ... gave him a hug -- and then dapped him up after Tom signed the pigskin.

Of course, the ball no doubt carries a special meaning for Echols -- it was reportedly the same football the 24-year-old had intercepted off Brady earlier in the day.

Still, Jets fans weren't exactly pleased to see the autograph-seeking go down ... considering Brady had just ripped their team's heart out.

Tom successfully led Tampa Bay from down 24-10 to a 28-24 win ... and seems NY fans would have preferred Echols to seek out the signature at a later date.

But, let's be real -- even if they pulled out a win, the 4-12 Jets' season is still over regardless ... so, lighten up.

Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs was arrested for DUI just hours after the team's huge win over the Colts ... after cops say the rookie was found passed out in his car in Vegas.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sports ... cops responded to The Cromwell Hotel around 4 AM on Monday, after they say witnesses saw Hobbs asleep at the wheel on a parking lot exit ramp.

Our sources say officers made contact with the football player ... and eventually arrested him after they claim he did not do well in field sobriety tests.

Jail records show the 22-year-old was booked into the Clark County Detention Center at 6:38 AM.

A jail official tells us Hobbs was booked on one count of misdemeanor DUI and is currently in the process of being released from custody. The jail official added that Hobbs has a court date set for May.

Hobbs started as corner for the Raiders in their win over the Colts in Indianapolis on Sunday ... recording 4 combined tackles.

The arrest comes just two months after Hobbs' former Raiders teammate, Henry Ruggs, was accused of driving drunk and slamming his Corvette into 23-year-old Tina Tintor's Rav4.

Tintor's vehicle caught on fire, and officials determined she burned to death. Ruggs was later hit with multiple charges over the incident -- including two felony DUI counts.

The Raiders, meanwhile, are just days away from the biggest game of their season ... they can clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win over the Chargers on Sunday.

Hobbs' status for the game is now unclear.

We've reached out to the Raiders for comment ... so far, no word back.

Soccer legend Carli Lloyd says she's done with Twitter ... and it all appears to be because she got dragged for criticizing a delivery driver.

The former footballer tweeted about her poor experience with a FedEx worker over the weekend ... slamming the person for not taking the extra steps to make sure her packages were safe from rainy weather.

"#noonecaresabouttheirjobanymore," said Lloyd, who attached a picture of the uncovered packages on her front porch steps.

Lloyd likely expected her followers on the social media app to back her and join in on the slamming of the driver ... but it appears the opposite happened.

The 39-year-old, who retired from the USWNT last year, was so heavily criticized -- particularly by those who felt the worker must've been underpaid and overworked during the holiday season -- that she not only deleted the initial tweet, but then she threw up the peace sign to the website.

"Bye Twitter," Lloyd wrote. "I usually know better than to come on here amongst the warriors!"

Deshaun Watson made a rare public appearance this week -- celebrating his girlfriend Jilly Anais' birthday with partying, slow dancing and an expensive diamond gift.

The Houston Texans quarterback -- who hasn't played all season -- has remained relatively low-key as he faces multiple sexual misconduct allegations from massage therapists ... but appeared to be in great spirits at the b-day bash.

Watson was by his girl's side throughout the night ... smiling and sharing a romantic dance as a saxophonist played a slow tune.

DW also came through with a special present for his GF of more than 2 years ... giving her a custom Cuban link piece featuring her nickname, "Lovebug."

Watson and Anais appear to be as strong as ever ... even with the legal battles he's faced in 2021.

The two partied with family and friends throughout the night ... and Jilly got tons of gifts -- including Chanel and a custom painting -- from those in attendance.

Urban Meyer is shutting down shocking allegations made by one of his former Ohio State players ... who claimed the coach used a photo of Trayvon Martin to implement a "no hoodies" rule -- but the ex-coach says it's absolutely NOT true.

Marcus Williamson -- who played CB for the Buckeyes from 2017 to 2021 -- relayed the shocking story on Twitter, calling out Meyers in the process.

"My first team meeting. (True story 2017) This photo was presented to us via PowerPoint to institute our building wide rule of “no hoods” in the building," Williamson said.

But Meyer -- who coached OSU from 2012-2018 -- admits there is a rule about no hats, hoodies and shades, but adamantly denies using a Trayvon Martin photo, telling author Jeff Snook on Sunday that Williamson is way out of line.

"Our team rule was no hats or hoodies or sunglasses of any kind but only in team meetings, just so we could see their eyes and make sure they were paying attention and not asleep," Meyers said.

"We did not, and never would show a picture of Trayvon Martin. My gosh, no."

Meyer added, "I would never do that. He is crossing the line here. It seems people are just piling on now. But, that never happened."

Meyers said other OSU players can back him up on this -- in fact, former Buckeye LB Joshua Perry did just that following Williamson's allegations.

"Saw a former Buckeye brother sharing about his career last night. We can get into the free labor economy of CFB as a whole, but painting OSU as racist ain’t it," Perry said on Twitter.

"And Urban was a tough ass coach, but he always invested in us as players and people. Just a window into my experience."

Meyer won a championship with OSU in 2014 before retiring in December 2018 due to health reasons.

Then, in January 2021, Urban was hired as the Jacksonville Jaguars' head coach ... but his tenure in Florida didn't last very long.

A famous Argentinian DJ claims he's been receiving death threats and nasty insults this week ... after he says fans believe he was the reason Lionel Messi came down with COVID-19.

DJ Fer Palacio -- who has over 1 million followers on Instagram -- posted a video message explaining the situation on Sunday ... saying soccer aficionados are blaming him for Messi's positive test after the two were spotted partying together late last week.

"I am a trend on Twitter because Messi tested positive for COVID-19," the DJ said.

"They relate this to me saying that I infected him. They have even called me 'murderer.' I have a lot of very bad private messages."

The 31-year-old, though, implored fans to stop ... saying it's just not possible for him to have given the soccer superstar the virus -- because he doesn't have it.

"Yesterday I got tested because I have to travel to Uruguay," he said showing a picture of a negative COVID test, "and I do not have COVID-19."

Messi, meanwhile, is isolating away from his Paris Saint-Germain team ... after the squad confirmed on Sunday he and three of his other teammates had the virus.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner appears to be in good spirits following the diagnosis ... sharing a few encouraging words at the beginning of the new year.

"I can only give thanks for everything that I had to live in this 2021," Messi said on social media. "Even more so when many people had a really bad time because of the s****y virus that never ends."