Arizona Cardinals

Jen Welter -- the NFL's 1st female coach -- is NO JOKE ... so says Tim Brown who tells us she's a BEAST on the field who took a vicious shot in a men's football game -- AND GOT UP!!!

Before she signed on as a coach with the AZ Cardinals, Welter made history as the 1st female to play a non-kicking position in a men's pro league.

The team she played for was the Texas Revolution of the Indoor Football League -- and NFL Hall of Famer Tim Brown is the team's general manager.

Brown says he's not only a HUGE fan of Jen -- but says he can vouch first hand that she's one of the toughest people he's ever seen play.

"She’s tough as nails," Brown said ... "She took one of the most vicious hits I’ve ever seen and jumped right up."

The hit in question was when she lined up at RB during a game in a goal line situation -- and got blasted. But check the video, she pops up like a friggin' champion!

"It was amazing to see her at 5’2" jumping in the faces of these 6’5" ball players."

As far as a coaching career goes, Brown says, "She’ll be successful. She’s very passionate about the game and KNOWS what she’s talking about."

"She’d have to get more experience to be the first female head coach in the history of the league, but she’s a very educated lady and more opportunities will definitely be coming her way."

Vernon Davis isn't the only NFL star with acting chops -- former Arizona Cardinals safety Kerry Rhodes has been bitten by the acting bug as well ... and he has sights set on LL Cool J's job.

Rhodes recently starred in a short film called "Protocol" where he plays a SWAT team member who rescues a young girl taken hostage by an escaped criminal.

Elliot Feld, the writer/director of the film, tells TMZ Sports that Rhodes approached him looking to make a short. Field says Rhodes was really into the idea of playing an action hero so Felds got the idea from a former SWAT team member ... and a few days later, they started shooting.

Feld says Rhodes was the consummate professional and they were done in three weeks time.

For his part, Rhodes tells TMZ Sports, "I had to channel my inner LL cool J, and now I am coming for his role on 'NCIS.'"

So might we see a collaboration with Vernon Davis and his "Captain Torpedo"?

"As far as Vernon Davis, he can play his superhero character in a movie and I will play the villain." Rhodes says. "But at the end, I will be the one who won."

It was the battle of the birds ... Cardinals vs. Seahawks ... and Jordin Sparks let hers fly right in the direction of a Seattle fan this weekend -- and TMZ Sports has the pic.

Sparks -- a die-hard AZ Cards fan -- was singing the National Anthem at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale this weekend ... when a fan in a Seahawks beanie got her attention.

We're guessing there was some smack talk between the two sides ... and it culminated in a pretty solid one-finger salute from the former "American Idol" champ.

Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer has plead NOT GUILTY to charges -- stemming from allegations he beat the crap out of his wife and threw a shoe at his 17-month-old son.

As we previously reported, Dwyer was arrested on Sept. 17th ... after his wife told police the RB went ballistic on her back in July.

Dwyer's wife told cops he headbutted her in the face, threatened to kill her, punched her in the face with a closed fist ... and also fired the shoe at their child.

But Dwyer says it's all BS -- and moments ago, plead not guilty to felony aggravated assault and eight misdemeanors, including assault, criminal damage and disorderly conduct.

Cardinals are red ...
Dodgers are blue ...
But be careful where you rock those colors ...
Or it could mean THE END of you.

At least, that's what The Game told us out in L.A. the other day -- when he warned Cardinals fans that sporting RED in certain parts of town could be bad for your health.

Game is clearly referring to the Bloods (red) vs. Crips (blue) rivalry ... telling us:

"It depends on where you out out here ... because the Cardinals are red ... you get caught slippin' in the wrong hood, it might not be about baseball. It might be about baseball bats."

Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer headbutted his wife in the face and broke her nose during a domestic dispute in July ... this according to official court docs.

Investigators say ... Dwyer and his wife were in an argument on July 21st that escalated when he "attempted to kiss her and remove her clothing."

Dwyer's wife allegedly told him to stop -- but when he continued anyway, she bit his lip.

That's when cops say Jonathan headbutted her in the face, fracturing her nasal bone.

Dwyer's wife left the home -- but she says she returned when Jonathan texted her a picture of a knife and said he didn't want to live anymore.

According to the report, "She said he had threatened to kill himself in front of her and their child if she alerted the police to the assault."

The two got into it AGAIN the next day -- and Dwyer allegedly "punched his wife on the left side of her face with his right closed fist. He also began punching the walls."

Dwyer's wife also says the NFL player grabbed a shoe and threw it at their 17-month-old child -- striking him in the stomach.

When Dwyer's wife tried to call police -- the NFL player allegedly grabbed her phone and threw it out off the second story of their home.

Witnesses say they heard Dwyer throw the phone -- and could hear is wife yell, "He f**king hit me."

Witnesses also told cops they saw bruising and swelling on her face.

Dwyer's wife fled the state -- and says she finally called cops in September when she felt safe. Cops obtained her medical records which show the broken nose.

For his part, cops say Dwyer admitted there were two incident with his wife ... and admits she bit him on the lip.

He also admits he punched the wall in the home, threw his wife's phone ...and had texted her a photo of a knife with threats of suicide.

However, he denies any physical assault.

Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer is suspected of assaulting his wife in TWO separate incidents ... and is accused of breaking bones ... cops tell TMZ Sports.

According to police, the 25-year-old allegedly roughed up his wife at their home in Phoenix on July 21st and again on July 22nd.

Shortly after the incidents, cops say, Dwyer's wife left the state with their child.

Cops list 2 victims -- a 27-year-old female (his wife) and their 18-month-old child.

A report was made with cops on September 11, 2014 ... and cops have been investigating ever since.

After investigators found probable cause, they arrested Dwyer on Sept. 17th for domestic violence in Tempe.

Cops say they interviewed Dwyer and he acknowledged the incidents -- but he DENIED any physical assaults.

Dwyer is being booked into the Maricopa County Jail on 1 count of aggravated assault causing a fracture, 1 count of aggravated assault involving a minor, 2 counts of criminal damage, 1 count of preventing the use of a phone in an emergency, and assault.

The Arizona Cardinals tell TMZ Sports Dwyer has been deactivated from the roster.

5:00 PM PDT: Cops now tell TMZ Sports, Dwyer was involved in TWO incidents and is accused of "causing a fracture."

Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer was just arrested for domestic violence over an alleged altercation with his wife.

The 25-year-old NFL player was arrested in Phoenix on suspicion of aggravated assault and preventing someone from calling 911 ... this according to CBS News.

It's unclear when and where the alleged incident took place.

Of course, it's just the latest in a string of domestic violence arrests involving NFL players ... including former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, Ray McDonald and NY Jets rookie Quincy Enunwa.

Larry Fitzgerald just got back from a 9,000 mile mission to Rwanda -- where the NFL superstar PERSONALLY handed out hearing aids to hundreds of people in need ... and TMZ Sports has the pics.

It's just the latest trip the Arizona Cardinals receiver took with the Starkey Foundation -- a charity dedicated to helping the hearing impaired all over the world

We're told Larry has been working with the organization since 2007 -- and has participated in more than 10 trips to various places with the group.

This time, Larry and S.F. went to Butare, Rwanda ... where they distributed more than 2,000 devices. We're told Larry doesn't just give out the ear-pieces, he also tests them out with their new owners to make sure everything's working properly.

"Darren Sharper" is apparently becoming a slang term for raping a woman ... at least according to Arizona Cardinals defensive stud Darnell Dockett.

The 3-time Pro Bowler went on Twitter the other day and spelled it out ... writing:

"My boy just said 'Man I saw a girl so bad today I wish I had that DS for her.' I said what's DS? He said that Darren sharper."

Sharper has been charged with drugging and raping 2 women in Los Angeles ... and he's facing similar allegations in 4 other states, including Arizona.

One guy gave Dockett the "too soon" treatment on Twitter. What do you think?

Fatness often plagues NFL players after they retire -- but former lineman Alan Faneca tells TMZ Sports he's helping his old teammates win the battle against obesity .... just like he did.

Faneca -- who played 13 NFL seasons while weighing 320 lbs -- has dropped all the way to 213 lbs ... and ran a full marathon in UNDER 4 HOURS this past weekend.

"There's no reason to be 320 and be walking around post-football," Faneca says ... noting that he made the decision to shed the weight after considering the long-term health issues that have plagued NFL big men in the past.

And now that he's successfully slimmed down, Alan says he's passing along his weight loss secrets to some of his old friends from the Steelers, Jets and Cardinals.

"I have had some buddies reach out that have had trouble and struggled," Alan said while appearing on the "TMZ Sports" TV show ... explaining, "If you dont make that transtiton kind of quick, all of the sudden that 320 turns into an ugly 350."

Fun Fact: In the NFL, it's perfectly LEGAL to tackle an opposing player by the hair if it's hanging out of the helmet.

Funner Fact: Players who pull hair deserve to get their ASSES KICKED because they've made things "personal" ... so says LaVar Arrington.

The former NFL defensive stud -- who has some luscious dreadlocks of his own -- says there's an unspoken code among players regarding the "mane" ... and violators NEED to be dealt with.

Of course, Arrington must REALLY hate guys like Jason Babin (JAX) ... who ripped Andre Ellington's (ARIZ) dreadlocks out of his skull during a game earlier this season ... and then displayed it to the crowd like a trophy.

No, LaVar doesn't like that one bit ...

Larry Fitzgerald tells TMZ Sports he knows ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about reports that the New England Patriots wanted to trade for him in 2013 ... then again, Larry's probably lying.

The Arizona Cardinals star was heading into W.i.P. nightclub in NYC last night ... when we asked about the rumors dominating the headlines -- that Bill Belichick was "interested in dealing" for Larry during the season.

"I haven't heard anything about that," Larry told us.

Yeah ... right.

We also asked Larry if he'd be satisfied finishing his career in AZ ... where he's played for his entire career.

Unless you're NFL legend Ronnie Lott ... you can't feel Rashad Johnson's pain -- but you can see it ... 'cause now there's a photo of the incredibly gruesome finger injury the NFL safety suffered Sunday.

If you haven't heard ... the Arizona Cardinals player crushed his left middle finger during the game against the New Orleans Saints -- but didn't realize he'd actually lost the tip until he took off his glove ... and partial digit was left behind.

Late Monday ... Johnson tweeted a pic of the photo, saying ... "Blessed to be able to still go out and do what I love this season. #thankful #trulyblessed"

After getting screwed in New York, Tim Tebow has touched down in the Grand Canyon State ... and spent his Monday training for hours at an Arizona community college ... and TMZ has the proof.

We obtained pics of Tebow working out with a personal trainer on the track at Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix.

Sources at the scene tell us ... Tebow trained for about 2-and-a-half hours ... running sprints and drills like he's actually gonna see the field next season.

We're told Tebow wasn't exactly incognito ... several kids and adult fans approached him for pics and autographs ... and, per usual, TT obliged with a smile.

There are rumors that Tebow will be traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars during the off-season ... but it's possible the Arizona Cardinals could also bite ... it's not like they could get any worse.

Right?

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter was arrested outside a Taco Bell this morning after officials say Porter put his hands on a cop.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Joey was driving in a Taco Bell parking lot in Bakersfield -- his home town -- when a friend of Joey's was stopped by police.

According to officials, Porter pulled up near the action -- too close apparently -- because a CHP officer rolled over to his car, where he detected the smell of alcohol coming from Porter's car.

Cops say the officer asked for Porter's driver's license, but he refused to hand it over. ... instead, officials say, the 33-year-old tried to roll up his window.

Cops say the officer tried to reach in the car to manually unlock the car -- and that's when Porter "slapped" the officer's hand away.

According to the CHP, the officer decided to grab Porter's arm -- and that's when things got crazy. Porter allegedly got out of his car "in a confrontational manner."

The officer claims he drew his pistol and ordered Porter to the ground, but he wouldn't comply -- though he did ultimately agree to place his hands behind his head.

Additional officers were called to the scene to aid in the arrest. Porter was eventually taken into custody and booked at a nearby jail. He was eventually charged with 3 misdemeanors -- DUI, resisting arrest and assault on a peace officer.