Carolina Panthers

Diddy just got a huge endorsement from one of the most powerful men in the NFL -- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft ... who says he's a huge fan of the rap mogul.

It's high praise -- and the timing couldn't be better ... with Diddy publicly declaring his intentions to become the next owner of the Carolina Panthers.

So, when we saw Kraft in Bev Hills with his GF, Ricki Noel Lander, we asked if he thinks Diddy has the chops to crush in the NFL.

"I'm a big fan of Diddy," Kraft tells TMZ Sports ..."He's a good businessman. He's a very good businessman and I have a lot of respect for Diddy."

It's the big question every Carolina Panthers fan is asking -- will the drama surrounding owner Jerry Richardson affect the players on the field?

Who better to ask than a former NFL star who played 10 seasons in the league -- including 1 year with the Dallas Cowboys?

So, when we saw Marcellus Wiley at Compton City Hall giving out toys to kids (salute!) we had to know ... is the Panthers' season doomed, despite their 10-4 record?

7:05 PM PT -- Diddy is weighing in on the Panthers' sale ... and it sounds like he wants to throw his hat in the ring as the next owner.

Well that was fast -- Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson says he's putting the team up for sale at the end of the season ... the same day the NFL said it's investigating him.

Richardson released a statement Sunday saying he was planning to sell the Panthers franchise to new ownership, but wouldn't start the process 'til the very last game.

As we reported ... the Panthers launched an investigation into their owner this week for alleged misconduct in the workplace, including reported cash settlements for at least 4 employees.

According to Sports Illustrated, the misconduct centered around alleged sexual harassment and the use of a racial slur. The NFL also announced Sunday that it was taking over the Panthers' original probe ... which appears to have forced Richardson's hand.

Gotta say ... this reminds us a lot of when TMZ Sports revealed racist comments made by former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling ... who sold the team after news of his scandal broke.

From Hollywood to the NFL ... now a powerful NFL owner is being investigated for alleged misconduct in the workplace.

The Carolina Panthers have confirmed they have "commenced an internal investigation" into 81-year-old Jerry Richardson. Details of the allegations have not been made public.

"The Carolina Panthers and Mr. Richardson take these allegations very seriously and are fully committed to a full investigation and taking appropriate steps to address and remediate any misconduct," the team said in a statement.

"The entire organization is fully committed to ensuring a safe, comfortable and diverse work environment where all individuals, regardless of sex, race, color, religion, gender, or sexual identity or orientation, are treated fairly and equally. We have work to do to achieve this goal, but we are going to meet it."

As for the NFL ... our sources tell us the Panthers made the league aware this afternoon that they'd launched an investigation.

The scumbag who socked out a 62-year-old man at a Carolina Panthers game has been arrested for assault, cops have confirmed.

The suspect is Kyle Adam Maraghy -- and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD says he's currently on his way to jail.

The CMPD says the 26-year-old is the man who was captured on video brutally attacking another man in the stands at Bank of America Stadium during Thursday Night Football.

We did some checking ... this ain't the first time Maraghy's been accused of violence.

He's been arrested for assault at least 2 times since 2013 -- and has claimed to be a victim in 2 other violent incidents. We're trying to find out if Maraghy was ever convicted.

The victim in the Carolina Panthers stadium attack filed a police report -- claiming he only suffered "minor injuries" after getting socked in the face during "Thursday Night Football."

TMZ Sports has obtained the report which describes the victim as a 62-year-old man -- who claims he was assaulted at 11 PM.

The victim was treated by a medic at the scene.

The attacker's name is not listed on the report as the victim told police he didn't know the man before the incident. The Panthers say they have positively ID'd him and are working with police.

10:25 AM PT -- Panthers executive director of risk management Lance Emory says the team has identified the fan in the video and is currently working with Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD to "pursue charges to the fullest extent of the law."

"The behavior exhibited by the perpetrator is unacceptable and will not be condoned at Bank of America Stadium."

WARNING: THIS VIDEO IS EXTREMELY VIOLENT AND DISTURBING

NFL officials are investigating a brutal incident involving a Carolina Panthers fan blasting another fan in the face during Thursday Night Football.

It all went down toward the end of the game -- the person who shot the footage at Bank of America Stadium says the Panthers fan had been standing for most of the game and the older fan had repeatedly asked him to sit down.

Instead, the Panthers fan berated him with insults -- and ultimately punched the other fan in the face, instantly opening a nasty gash that began to gush blood.

The Panthers fan ran away while witnesses called for security, as seen on the video published on Crossing Broad.

The NFL told Ian Rapoport it's working with the Carolina Panthers security team -- saying, "We take all of these very seriously."

We reached out to the Panthers who told us ... "We are reviewing the incident with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department."

So far, no word from police. We're working on it.

Out with the old, in with the new -- that's Dannon Yogurt's philosophy after dumping Cam Newton and signing the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott ... less than a week later.

Dak signed a sponsorship deal with Dannon the same day Cam got the boot last week after making a sexist comment to a female reporter during a press conference. He's reportedly already set to start filming commercials in Dallas this upcoming week.

As we reported ... Cam publicly apologized after Dannon dropped him on Thursday.

Looks like it was too little, too late.

Ex-NBA star Glen "Big Baby" Davis says he believes Cam Newton was sincere in his apology -- but that didn't stop him from clowning on the QB last night.

"I think he was sincere. I think he just made a mistake," Davis said on his way out of Poppy in L.A. ... "He's probably got woman problems or something."

Davis also said Cam shouldn't sweat losing his Greek yogurt sponsor because he thinks it tastes like "baby food" anyway.

So, what can Cam do now?

"I think his clothing should express how he feels. I think he should wear some women's clothing."

Yeah, hold your breath on that one.

Cam Newton is straight-up apologizing for a comment he made to a female reporter that many branded sexist and belittling ... going so far as to make a video for it.

Cam posted the apology video Thursday evening, saying after careful thought he realized his word choice on Wednesday was degrading and disrespectful to women.

As we reported ... Cam told Carolina beat writer Jourdan Rodrigue that he found it funny a female was asking him about routes after her question about that. He got a TON of backlash since, and even lost his sponsorship with Oikos Greek Yogurt.

In the vid, Cam goes on to say he sincerely apologizes to anyone who was offended ... and that it wasn't his intention to do so.

He even made a plea to young fans of his to be better than him and to do better than him. It's a serving of humble pie at its finest ... but we'll let Cam speak for himself.

The Cam Newton fallout begins ...

Dannon Yogurt has announced they have fired the Carolina Panthers QB as a sponsor for their Oikos Greek Yogurt brand after his sexist comments to a female NFL reporter.

"We are shocked and disheartened at the behavior and comments of Cam Newton towards Jourdan Rodrigue, which we perceive as sexist and disparaging to all women."

"It is entirely inconsistent with our commitment to fostering equality and inclusion in every workplace. It's simply not OK to belittle anyone based on gender."

"We have shared our concerns with Cam and will no longer work with him."

Newton has worked with Oikos for years -- in fact, the company reportedly dropped John Stamos to work with Newton instead.

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.