TMZ Sports

Matt Leinart's glad the NFL moved the Rams' playoff game out of Los Angeles ... making it clear to TMZ Sports on Friday, it wouldn't have been right to play the tilt as fires continue to ravage the city.

The league officially relocated Monday's L.A. vs. Minnesota Wild Card round matchup to Arizona on Thursday, citing the safety of its players and its fans ... and Leinart told us at LAX he's all for the move.

The former quarterback -- who actually played his college ball in L.A. and then parts of his pro career in Glendale, Ariz. -- said things are simply "more important than football" at the moment.

Martellus Bennett has gone from catching touchdowns to dropping motivational words ... the ex-Super Bowl champion has just authored a children's book -- and it's super inspiring.

The work is called "Dear Black Boy" ... and Bennett told TMZ Sports this week it's a tale aimed at encouraging young Black boys to follow their dreams in any field -- not simply the sports world.

"When I look at Black boys, I don't see athletes," the former New England Patriots tight end said. "I see a world of possibilities within them. So, I ask them, what are they interested in, not what they play."

Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler says there are precisely TWO NFC teams that can defeat the surging Lions squad ... and they just happen to be playing each other this weekend!

"The only two teams can beat Detroit are [the Packers and Eagles]. Nobody else can beat Detroit. No, it's impossible," the Green Bay legend told Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs nightly on FS1).

Why?

Former Dallas Cowboys star Robert Quinn was arrested on Friday ... after cops say he tried to flee the scene of a violent car crash.

According to a police report, obtained by TMZ Sports, the wreck happened at around 2 AM on January 10 in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Cops say after responding to the scene of the accident, they found Quinn in another person's ride with "fresh bleeding, consistent with injuries sustained in a vehicle collision."

JJ Redick was sentimental as he addressed the media after the wildfires claimed his Pacific Palisades home ... with the Lakers head coach reflecting on the tragic week in Los Angeles.

The first-year head coach spoke with reporters at practice on Friday -- one day after the fires forced the NBA to postpone L.A.'s home game against the Charlotte Hornets -- where he went into detail about what the last few days have been like for his family.

While Redick was in Dallas getting his squad ready for a matchup against the Dallas Mavericks ... he said his wife, Chelsea, was out with friends when she spotted the fire, and rushed home.

If the Cowboys no longer want Mike McCarthy, Brett Favre tells TMZ Sports the Bears should ... saying he believes Chicago and the head coach would be a "perfect fit."

McCarthy's contract in Dallas expires next week -- but according to reports, Jerry Jones and the 61-year-old sideline manager are in talks about a potential extension.

But, if the negotiations fall through ... Favre says a marriage with Caleb Williams in the Windy City makes a lot of sense.

Mark Zuckerberg is claiming that the Biden administration called up his team, yelling and cursing at them, demanding they take down memes about the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Meta CEO is spilling tea about Biden, saying Meta was pressured to censor certain posts ... telling Joe Rogan on his podcast, they even threatened his team with consequences if they didn't remove the posts.

Zuckerberg added, "Basically, it just got to this point where we were like no, we're not going to take down things that are true ... That's ridiculous."

Now entering the UFC Octagon ... Mark Zuckerberg?!? Don't laugh -- the Meta billionaire just revealed he still fully intends on taking a professional MMA fight!!

Zuck doubled down on the plan during his sit-down on Joe Rogan's podcast this week ... and brutal ACL injury be damned, he hasn't given up on showing the world he can kick serious ass.

The Facebook founder -- who's usually a jiu-jitsu guy -- explained he's warmed up to the idea of branching out to different combat styles in MMA ... especially with all the strain on joints that comes with grappling.

2:39 PM PT -- Kyren Lacy's agent, Rocky Arceneaux, said in a statement Friday "we strongly believe the facts will ultimately demonstrate the truth" ... however he did not elaborate much on the case further.

"We recognize the concern and questions that may arise from these recent allegations," Lacy said. "To anyone impacted, directly or indirectly, we want to assure that this matter is being taken very seriously, and we are committed to resolving it responsibly."

LSU receiver Kyren Lacy -- a potential 2025 first-round pick -- is a wanted man in Louisiana ... cops have just issued an arrest warrant for the footballer after they say he played a role in a fatal car crash last month.

The incident, according to Louisiana State Police, happened on Dec. 17 ... as Lacy was allegedly driving recklessly on a highway near Lafourche Parish in his 2023 Dodge Charger.

Police say the 24-year-old Tigers wideout sped by multiple vehicles and passed them in a no-passing zone ... and ultimately caused a horrific accident that led to the death of a 78-year-old man.

Mike McCarthy's status as Cowboys head coach is still up in the air ... but ex-NFL star turned Dallas assistant coach Domata Peko tells TMZ Sports it's quite clear what Jerry Jones needs to do -- bring back Coach!

We caught up with the former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle -- who was hired to work on McCarthy's staff this season -- at LAX this week ... when we asked him about Mike's future in Big D.

"Every time you play a season, you never know who's gonna have a great year [and] who is not gonna have a good year," Peko said. "He's a proven coach, like I said, and a Super Bowl champion, as well. So I don't know anybody out there that could do a better job."

01/10 10:34 AM -- Rams president Kevin Demoff says the team will provide at least 15 buses to transport 750 season-ticket holders to State Farm Stadium for the game on Monday.

It's about a six-hour drive from SoFi Stadium to the new location ... but considering it's a big-time playoff matchup, we take it those spots will fill up rather quickly.

The NFL has seen enough devastation from the wildfires in Los Angeles ... the league has decided to move Monday's scheduled playoff game between the Rams and Vikings to Arizona.

"In the interest of public safety, Monday’s Vikings-Rams Wild Card game has been moved from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA to State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals," the National Football League announced Thursday afternoon, four days before the game was set to kickoff at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA.

The stadium is less than 10 miles from the site of the Pacific Palisades fire ... which has wreaked havoc over nearly 20k acres.

The NFL community is joining forces to support victims of the Los Angeles wildfires ... donating a combined $5 million to the relief fund.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the donation on Friday ... revealing the league and the Rams, Chargers, Vikings and Texans organizations stepped up to provide aid to L.A. County, where historic blazes have destroyed thousands of properties.

"We are heartbroken over the devastating losses experienced by so many in the Los Angeles area and inspired by the heroism of first responders and residents who have supported their neighbors," Goodell said.

Terrible news for Deshaun Watson -- just months after tearing his Achilles, the Cleveland Browns quarterback ruptured his tendon again ... and his football future is now up in the air.

The development was reported minutes ago ... with the team saying he underwent surgery on Thursday after tests showed the controversial signal-caller re-injured the tear he suffered during the Browns' matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in October.

Watson is now in jeopardy of missing the entire 2025 season ... meaning Cleveland is in need of a quarterback more than ever.

Vince McMahon just reached a deal with the feds in his hush money case ... with the former WWE honcho agreeing to fork over $1.7 million to put the matter in his rearview mirror.

The Securities and Exchange Commission said Friday it found McMahon paid a former employee $3 million in 2019 and an ex-independent contractor $7.5 million in 2022 to buy their silence when it came to allegations against him and his company, the WWE.

The SEC, though, says McMahon never properly disclosed the agreements to the WWE's Board of Directors and other officials at the wrestling org. -- a big no-no that resulted in violations.

Fans were PISSED over a call late in the Orange Bowl, with Notre Dame supporters chucking beers onto the football field ... an ugly moment that the beer brand has now been able to capitalize off!

The incident went down in the 4th quarter of the ND vs. Penn State game -- with a trip to the National Championship game on the line -- when the Fighting Irish faithful felt the refs screwed them on a controversial pass interference call ... prompting some to bottles of beer on the gridiron.

The teams were tied at the moment ... with about 8 minutes left in the 4th.

TV cameras zoomed in on the on-field debris ... revealing Michelob Ultra bottles lying on the Hard Rock Stadium playing surface.