Carolina Panthers

Still think it's funny when women talk about football? Last we checked, there were several women in big-time positions at the NFL Network ... running one of the biggest football shows on the air.

Check out this photo of "NFL Total Access" host Lindsay Rhodes posing for a photo with some of the people behind the scenes ... right after Cam Newton's offensive comments to a female reporter.

"Just finished today's @NFLTotalAccess- for which the producer, sr producer, sr coordinating producer & segment producer were women. #funny."

"Wonder Woman" director Patty Jenkins says Cam Newton has two choices -- he can either get used to a world where women know football, or get left behind with the rest of the cavemen.

We got Patty out at Craig's and asked her what she thought of Newton sticking his foot in his mouth, telling a female reporter it was "funny" she was asking him about route running.

Cam's in the hot seat for the comments, and Patty told our guy it's probably best he rethink things.

"I think it's a changing world. It takes people time to get used to the fact that so many things like that have changed."

But she saved her most important words for last.

"Everybody has to catch up or get left behind."

Take the help, Cam.

Cam Newton owes a female reporter a big apology -- for disrespecting her during a news conference because she's a woman ... and the reporter is justifiably upset.

The Carolina Panthers QB was taking questions from the media when Jourdan Rodrigue asked how he felt about WR Devin Funchess being more physical when running his routes.

Newton laughed and then said, "It's funny to hear a female talk about routes."

Jourdan -- who covers the Panthers for the Charlotte Observer -- replied on Twitter, "I don't think it's 'funny' to be a female and talk about routes. I think it's my job."

When asked if anyone spoke with Cam after the incident she said, "I spoke with him after and it was worse."

Steph Curry is disgusted that Colin Kaepernick is still in the unemployment line ... and he's got a message for all the NFL teams refusing to sign him -- FREE KAEP.

Steph was in attendance for the 49ers vs. Panthers game at Levi's Stadium ... and shared a photo of the field with a #FreeKaep caption.

This statement comes a day after Curry spoke about Kaep deserving an NFL roster spot ... adding that his national anthem protests "shook up the world ... for the better."

“He definitely should be in the NFL," Steph told The Charlotte Observer.

"If you’ve been around the NFL, the top 64 quarterbacks, and he’s not one of them? Then I don’t know what game I’m watching."

As for Kaep ... the former Niners QB was social media silent on Sunday -- but his Know Your Rights Camp account posted messages urging fans to boycott the NFL.

Cam Newton turns 28 today ... and he celebrated by hitting the water with the mother of his children on a crazy expensive Caribbean vacation.

Cam and Kia Proctor -- who he has 2 kids with -- were spotted out on jet skis Wednesday ... having a blast.

But the best part ... Cam made his own birthday music video showing off all the awesome stuff he's been doing on vacation ... and it's SICK AS HELL!

Yachts, ATVs, dance parties ... looks like his birthday wish has already come true.

Another big play from Cam Newton -- who hopped on a jet and flew to Atlanta to meet up with a 10-year-old fan who's gearing up for a heart surgery ... and the video is incredible.

The Panthers QB got word of Austin Deckard -- a HUGE Auburn football fan who's battling advanced pulmonary hypertension and is scheduled to have a stent implanted in his heart this week.

Newton flew to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospital to surprise Austin ... and got the biggest HUG he'd even gotten in his life!

Cam also brought a bag full of gifts for Austin -- including Under Armour gear and Nerf guns ... which he signed.

Breaking news ... Cam Newton found a tie!

After the infamous "dress code violation" that landed him on the bench earlier this month, the Carolina Panthers QB arrived to FedExField in Maryland to play the Redskins in a hat that screams ... "What??"

Panthers coach Ron Rivera hasn't seemed to mind Cam's crazy hats before ... so this one shouldn't be a problem.

... as long as he's rockin' that necktie.

Cam Newton raged WAYYY too hard in the Bev Hills mansion he rented after the Super Bowl -- throwing crazy parties and causing nearly $100k in damage ... this according to a new lawsuit.

Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson told police he was reaching for a dropped cell phone when he lost control of his car and smashed into another vehicle head-on early Sunday morning ... cops say.

Shaq -- the team's 2015 1st round draft pick -- was behind the wheel of a 2016 Chevy SUV which slammed into a 2004 Lexus SUV driven by former Duke QB Anthony Boone at 7:45 AM.

When cops arrived to the crash scene near Shaq's Charlotte-area home, the NFL player was given a breathalyzer -- which turned up traces of alcohol ... but cops say it was well BELOW the legal limit.

"He had some residual left over from the night before, but nothing where it was impairing or anything like that,” Sgt. Ben Miller of the State Highway’s Union County told the Charlotte Observer.

TMZ Sports also spoke with law enforcement officials who say Shaq said he had been playing music off his cell phone but dropped it ... and that's when he made the ill-fated decision to reach down and pick it up.

Officials tell us Boone was not wearing a seat belt -- and was hospitalized for a broken pelvis and broken ribs.

Shaq told police he was not seriously injured. He was not arrested -- but was cited for crossing the center lane.

No matter which team picks up Josh Norman, one thing's for sure -- DUDE'S GONNA BE FILTHY RICH ... so says Reggie Bush.

Bush was out in Hollywood Wednesday night -- and even though he didn't know the details behind why the Carolina Panthers removed the franchise player tag on the superstar cornerback, he's positive the move will pay off for Josh.

UFC superstar Chris Weidman played the role of Super Bowl bet debt settler in the TMZ office ... punishing the producer who picked the Panthers to win -- by delivering a right-handed pie to the face.

It all went down while Weidman was co-hosting the "TMZ Sports" TV show on FS1 -- and brought up the bet Evan and Van made with Weidman back in February.

The initial bet was "loser gets a leg kick from Chris Weidman" ... but Van (he picked the Panthers) was able to negotiate down to a pie to the face.

Another day, another NFL stud dying to be on "Dancing with the Stars" ... this time it's Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart who says his two-step skills are dope enough to bring home the mirror ball trophy.

Stewart recently took to Instagram to make it known he wants to be on the show so when we got him out at LAX of course we wanted to know ... dude, you serious?

Turns out he is ... and he told our camera guy he's totally wanting to put on his dancing shoes as long as it doesn't interfere with his day job.

Hey, we're cool with anybody on the Panthers team dancing ... except for that one guy.

Cam Newton still had so much energy left after beating up on the AZ Cardinals Sunday night -- the Panthers QB hit a North Carolina nightclub to celebrate ... and even did some dabbin' in the DJ booth.

The Arizona Cardinals could be in trouble ... 'cause the Carolina Panthers have EXTRA motivation to win on Sunday -- 150 LBS. of BACON & SAUSAGE -- courtesy of Waffle House.

The Panthers have joked that their secret weapon is WH food. Now, one win away from the Super Bowl, Waffle House has plans in motion to hook up Cam and the guys with a HUGE breakfast ... should they be victorious.

"We have reached out to the team and told them to name the place and time," a Waffle House spokesperson tells TMZ Sports. "We will be there ready to provide them with their much-needed Waffle House food."

The menu? 100 to 150 pounds of bacon and sausage ... as well as all the waffles the team can eat!!

#BreakfastOf(possible)Champions

The adorable father, son dabbing shirt Cam Newton wore before Sunday's playoff game is NOT FOR SALE ... with Under Armour telling TMZ Sports it was a custom 1-of-1 design.

Cam rocked the shirt as a tribute to his new baby boy Chosen -- who was born just before Christmas ... but the Internet blew up with people infatuated with the fashion.

But we spoke to a rep for Under Armour who tells us fans of the shirt are S.O.L. ... 'cause it was specially made for the Panthers QB.

"The shirt was custom for Cam and is not available at retail."

The adorable little girl who got a TD ball from Carolina Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart Sunday drove 100 miles with her family to attend the game ... and says she'll NEVER sell it, EVER!!

The lucky fan is 8-year-old Isabella -- who was at the game with her mom, dad and brother who are all Panthers super fans ... and usually sit in the nosebleed section when they attend games.

But Isabella's father, Kelly, tells TMZ Sports he splurged for the playoff game -- dropping more than $2,500 for the killer end zone seats because he felt something special was going to happen.

He was right.

Isabella became an instant Internet sensation due to her priceless reaction when Stewart singled her out and handed her the ball after scoring the 1st TD of the game.

"She let us all hold the ball, she was super excited!"

Kelly says he ordered a case for the ball the second he got home -- and it's currently on display in their living room.

"We're holding on to it forever," Kelly says ... "Never to be sold. We're too big of fans."