Cleveland Browns

Myles Garrett tells TMZ Sports it "feels pretty nice" to be officially back in the NFL after his indefinite suspension ... and says he got better during his time away from the game.

As we previously reported ... the Cleveland Browns superstar was reinstated into the league on Wednesday after meeting with commish Roger Goodell and other NFL execs.

Garrett was suspended for 6 games for swinging a helmet at Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph back in November ... and had to seek counseling before making a return.

The 24-year-old spent a lot of time in the gym during his suspension ... so we had to ask if the time away could have actually been a GOOD thing.

"Everything that happens to you is for a reason," Garrett told us at LAX.

"If you take the lesson and make the best out of it, everything a blessing in disguise."

Myles Garrett is officially BACK -- the NFL has decided to reinstate the Cleveland Browns superstar following his suspension for his helmet-swinging attack on Mason Rudolph.

The 24-year-old met with Roger Goodell and other league executives on Monday to discuss his punishment status ... and it must have gone well, 'cause Garrett's ban has been lifted.

Browns GM Andrew Berry commented on the decision, saying "We welcome Myles back to our organization with open arms."

"We know he is grateful to be reinstated, eager to put the past behind him and continue to evolve and grow as a leader."

"We look forward to having his strong, positive presence back as a teammate, player and person in our community."

Garrett's suspension lasted a total of 6 games ... after he swung a helmet at Mason Rudolph during the Browns' game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 15.

Despite the ban, Garrett was still able to rack up 10 sacks and 2 forced fumbles in 10 games.

As we previously reported ... Browns QB Baker Mayfield told us at UFC 246 back in January that Garrett was "in a good place" during the suspension.

"I sat next to him during the fight, he's good, man," Mayfield tells us. "He's in a good place right now, which is good for us as a team."

Myles Garrett is one step closer to getting back in the NFL -- the Cleveland Browns superstar met with commissioner Roger Goodell and other execs on Monday to discuss reinstatement.

Garrett was suspended indefinitely back in November after attacking Pittsburgh Steelers QB Mason Rudolph with a helmet. He appealed the decision, but it was eventually upheld.

TMZ Sports has confirmed ... the superstar met with the folks at the NFL to discuss his status with the league, but an official decision is still in the works.

According to Ian Rapoport, it's believed Garrett will make it back in time for the Browns' first game of the 2020 season ... as long as he held up his part of the deal and sought counseling.

Garrett has slowly started to return to the spotlight in the meantime ... showing face at a recent Lakers game alongside LeBron James' best friend and super agent, Rich Paul.

Saquon Barkley says Baker Mayfield body critics need to BACK OFF ... telling TMZ Sports the dude doesn't have to be shredded to be a good QB!!!

Bake and his closest friends let loose on a Caribbean vacay last week ... and naturally, the guys posted a few pics from the trip.

Of course, the writer of this post has literally ZERO grounds to criticize the Cleveland Browns star ... but some people pointed out Mayfield's physique was just a tad different from Saquon and Sterling Shepard's.

But, Saquon says all the haters need to chill ... 'cause Mayfield's just in R&R mode and has plenty of time to get right before next season.

"He's a quarterback, he's not supposed to be shredded," Barkley told us at the Sports Illustrated party in Miami over the weekend.

"We in off-season, he's gonna have time to get his body right. He can throw the ball 80 yards. That's the only thing that matters."

Tragic day for the Cleveland Browns ... the team's first-ever live mascot, Swagger, has passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 6 years old.

The 145-pound bullmastiff joined the Browns as a puppy at the beginning of the 2014 season ... and ran out with the players before every home game until Week 10 of the 2019 season.

The only home game Swagger missed was in 2017 ... when the Browns played in London.

Swagger's son, SJ, took over the mascot duties as the cancer progressed ... and the beloved dog served as "Dawg Pound Captain" during his final Browns game.

Swagger was a fan favorite at FirstEnergy Stadium ... and even got some one-on-one time with folks like UFC champ Stipe Miocic and Baker Mayfield.

According to Browns fans in our office ... the dog was a true bright spot during some of the Browns' worst years.

Mayfield posted a tribute to Swagger, saying "Doggy heaven got a good one today."

The team says SJ will continue to fill his dad's shoes for 2020 and beyond.

#RIP

Check this out, James Harrison ... there's a defensive lineman who's throwing around a ridiculous amount of weight in the gym ... and it's super impressive.

Myles Garrett did his best impression of the former Steelers superstar Thursday ... posting a video of himself deadlifting what appears to be about 465 pounds with a trap bar -- multiple times!!!

Oh ... and for some of the reps, he's wearing a big-ass weighted vest loaded with 100 pounds.

Now, Garrett lifting heavy weights ain't exactly breaking news ... the dude threw up 225 pounds 33 times at the NFL Combine in 2017.

FYI -- only 2 other guys in the entire draft completed more reps.

Back in January, the Browns star also posted video of himself benching 425 pounds.

MG's still indefinitely suspended for swinging a helmet at Mason Rudolph's head ... so seeing him get after it hard in the gym is a sight for sore eyed Cleveland Browns fans who want Myles back on the field.

Garrett looks shredded -- and is obviously crazy strong -- but he's still got work to do if he wants to match feats of strength with the dude who once benched 500 pounds and pushed around an 1,800-pound sled.

Turns out, getting pulled over for speeding with an open bottle of vodka in the car -- and admitting you'd fail a drug test -- does not go over well with your boss.

At least, that's the takeaway from Jimmy Haslam's comments about Kareem Hunt -- with the Cleveland Browns owner ripping his running back over that Jan. 21 police incident.

"What he did was not acceptable. He's got to do better," Haslam said Wednesday ... "It's not good. Kareem knows he's got to do better."

FYI, Hunt is now a restricted free agent -- and after watching the clip, you gotta wonder if the Browns are just gonna cut bait with the guy considering his controversial past.

Haslam said there's still a chance they keep Hunt around for one more season -- but even if they do, he's clearly on super-thin ice.

As we previously reported, Hunt was pulled over for speeding in Rocky River, Ohio -- and during the stop, cops say they found weed and an open bottle of vodka in his ride.

In police footage, obtained by TMZ Sports, you can see the pullover was not the best look for Hunt ... who straight-up admitted he would have failed an NFL drug test at the time of the stop.

Hunt was issued a citation for speeding ... but he was NOT cited for the pot -- and was sent on his way by the officer.

Haslam was asked about the incident during a press conference announcing the team's new GM ... and his disappointment in the 24-year-old was palpable.

"We have and will continue to work closely with Kareem," Haslam said. "But he knows our expectations are higher than what he showed a week or two ago."

NFL star Maurkice Pouncey was one of Aaron Hernandez's closest friends -- and tells TMZ Sports the Netflix documentary about the troubled NFL star is "all bulls**t."

The documentary -- "Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez" -- has made headlines for several claims about Aaron ... from gay sexual relationships to prison fights to alleged gun violence.

Both Maurkice and his NFL star brother Mike Pouncey were super close with Aaron for years -- and even visited him in prison -- and it's clear they don't believe ANY of the claims from the documentary.

When asked specifically about the gay claims, Maurkice echoed the comments from Aaron's fiancee ... who said they NEVER knew about that side of Aaron but would have loved him the same if it was true.

"What I know there ain't no truth to it," Pouncey says ... "We know nothing about that."

There's more in the clip ... including Pouncey's feelings about Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett.

Remember, it was Pouncey who first attacked Garrett after Myles swung a helmet at Pittsburgh Steelers QB Mason Rudolph during a game back in November.

Pouncey was suspended for 2 games and fined for going after Garrett -- while Myles was suspended indefinitely.

More trouble for Kareem Hunt ... the Cleveland Browns running back was pulled over Tuesday for speeding in Ohio -- and cops say they found weed in his car.

Cops initially pulled over the 24-year-old around noon when they saw him speeding in Rocky River, OH ... just outside of Cleveland.

During the stop, the officer smelled weed coming from Hunt's car and conducted a search that turned up "small amounts of marijuana" in a backpack on the back seat.

The weed was seized as evidence -- but he was NOT cited for the pot. Hunt WAS cited for speeding and sent on his way.

Hunt was NOT formally arrested -- no mug shot. But, he was placed in a cop car during the search.

Of course, Hunt is on thin ice with the Browns due to his violent history -- which includes roughing up a woman at an Ohio hotel ... and other allegations of violence against men during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs.

We reached out to Hunt's rep for comment -- so far, no word back.

Hunt signed a 1-year contract with the Browns after he was cut by the Chiefs -- which means he becomes a restricted free agent after the current season wraps up.

Baker Mayfield can finally relax ... Odell Beckham's core muscle injury that kicked off a rift between the Browns QB and the team's training staff has finally been fixed!!!

Remember, Bake went after Cleveland's trainers following a game earlier this season when he said they weren't handling an Odell core muscle injury properly.

"I would say that it was not handled right," Baker said. "He is not able to run as well as he should be able to as well as he knows ... It was not handled the right way in our training room."

Baker later had to apologize for those statements, saying, "My intentions were not to throw our medical staff under the bus. No, I don’t know all the facts about Odell’s injury."

"It was emotionally answered because I can sense his frustration and I care about my team and putting us in the best position to win."

But, good news for all involved ... the Cleveland Browns said in a statement Tuesday the issue has been resolved once and for all!

"Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. underwent successful surgery Tuesday to repair a core muscle injury," the team said in a statement.

"The surgery was performed by Dr. Bill Meyers in Philadelphia, and a full recovery is expected."

Myles Garrett clearly believes he'll play football again ... 'cause the dude is still hitting the weights HARD -- benching 425 POUNDS in a workout this week!!!

Of course, Garrett's NFL future is up in the air ... the Browns star is still serving out an indefinite suspension for attacking Steelers QB Mason Rudolph with his helmet in November.

But, Myles apparently ain't concerned the ban will last too much longer ... he's lifting weights like he's going to be facing 300-pound O-linemen in the very near future.

Ya gotta watch the clip ... Garrett -- with internet fitness superstar Bradley Martyn spotting -- hits 425 pounds TWICE, and it's impressive as hell!!!

He also makes 100-pound dumbbells look like 45s in an upper chest workout, hits dips with ease and showed off with some weighted rows as well.

Yeah, guy's a beast!!

Garrett's training is just the latest sign his suspension might coming to an end ... remember, he didn't try to hide his face at all at a Los Angeles Lakers game earlier this month.

Joe Burrow says Odell Beckham gave him REAL cash after LSU won the national championship ... and there's NOTHING the NCAA can do about it.

OBJ was passin' out cash like candy at the Superdome after the Tigers beat Clemson in the natty on Monday ... and the video got so much attention that LSU released a statement claiming the money was fake.

But, now ... A TWIST!!!

The star QB appeared on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" podcast and told the guys Beckham WAS handing out real money that night.

"I'm not a student-athlete anymore, so I can say yeah," Burrow revealed.

The only thing that's unclear is if Odell handed the real money to Burrow on the field or at the bars afterward ... not that it would make that big of a difference.

There's more ... the Heisman winner says he's been partying his face off since the victory and has only slept for about 45 minutes!

But, the real party may come Saturday when the championship parade goes down in Baton Rouge ... and Burrow says he's planning to channel his inner Rob Gronkowski.

"I might have to save up so I can Gronk that parade."

Big Cat points out that college championship parades are usually a lot less boozy than the pros ... but Burrow says he's the exception, not the rule!

"I'm graduating and I'm 23 years old, so I can do whatever the hell I want."

Well said, champ.

Hey, look everybody!! Myles Garrett!!

The suspended Cleveland Browns superstar made a rare public appearance at the L.A. Lakers game at Staples Center on Sunday ... and he was pretty easy to spot -- wearing a bright orange jacket.

Of course, Garrett has been almost completely MIA since his infamous helmet-throwing attack on Mason Rudolph back in November ... and aside from a charity appearance for Thanksgiving, the dude's been keepin' it lowkey.

But, the hiding came to an end Sunday ... with the 24-year-old posting up with LeBron James' best friends and business partners, Rich Paul and Maverick Carter, as the Lake Show put up a dub against the Detroit Pistons.

Was it a business meeting?? Possibly ... with Myles being one of the biggest stars in Cleveland now that King James is in L.A., anything is on the table.

As for the game, the Lakers won again, 106-99, and Anthony Davis and LeBron combined for 45 points ... making their record 29-7 on the season.

“Why don’t you come down here and tell me that to my face?!?”

Baker Mayfield clapped back at hecklers HARD Sunday ... challenging guys who were talking smack to straight-up come down to him and meet him face to face!!!

The Cleveland Browns superstar was warming up in the team tunnel to play the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium ... when fans decided to throw some shade his way.

Unclear exactly what the guys were verbally hurling toward the QB (there appeared to be some barbs about losing to a 1-14 team) ... but Baker snapped.

He challenged the guys to come down to him ... but they playfully responded, "We’re not allowed to, you know that!"

Unfortunately for Baker, the trash talk toward him didn't end there ... 'cause hours after the Browns ultimately fell to the Bengals and fired head coach Freddie Kitchens, Dez Bryant hopped on social media to trash the QB.

"Had a stud cast around him under performed and got out performed by somebody he talked down on Danny dimes..." the ex-Dallas Cowboys superstar said.

"Big mouth and being a one read QB not going to cut it.. kitchens put the game in his players hands."

To his credit, Baker at least had one supporter in his corner after a rough weekend ... his wife, Emily Mayfield, wrote on her Instagram page, "Disappointing season… but still couldn’t be more proud of this guy, and the class he has shown through it all."

The absolute dumpster fire of a season keeps getting worse for the Cleveland Browns. Reportedly.

It was bad enough that Cleveland got wrecked by the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday ... but now SI's Mike Silver says Browns' superstar WR Jarvis Landry was asking his opponents to "come get me" during the bad loss.

Of course, this is on the heels of Jay Glazer's report claiming Odell Beckham told teams the same thing earlier this season ... even though OBJ has denied wanting out.

Things got tense on the sidelines between Landry and Freddie Kitchens on Sunday, with Jarvis visibly upset with his head coach during the 38-24 loss to the Cards.

Fast forward to Silver, who says "multiple" sources claim Landry -- and other Browns players -- practically begged Arizona's sidelines to save them from their misery.

... Which is saying A LOT, considering the Cardinals are 4-9-1 (if the report is accurate).

This season has been a disaster for the Browns ... they were considered to be legit Super Bowl contenders during the off-season but have wildly underachieved.

Jarvis Landry says his best friend Odell Beckham is NOT trying to bolt from the Browns, despite reports to the contrary ... telling reporters, "He's not trying to leave."

There are multiple reports claiming Odell told opposing players and coaches to "come get me" out of Cleveland ... essentially letting people know he's unhappy with the Browns and wants to get out.

Of course, Beckham didn't choose to play for Cleveland in the first place -- he was traded there by the Giants earlier this year.

Additionally, Beckham expressed frustrations with the Browns training staff -- suggesting they did not properly handle the sports hernia injury he suffered in training camp.

But, Landy -- who's been super tight with Beckham since high school -- came out strong to reporters today, saying the superstar WR is not trying to jump ship.

"He doesn't want to leave and he's not trying to leave," Landry said moments ago.

"It's not even about trying to go somewhere else," Landry added ... noting that Beckham's been a solid teammate and consummate pro during his run in Cleveland.

For his part, Odell has tweeted about the reports saying, "I NEVER said I was not happy in Cleveland, just like everyone else I’m hopeful for better results. Period. Next story plzz."