Dancing with the Stars

Michael Sam's decision to join "Dancing with the Stars" does NOT mean he's throwing in the towel on his NFL career ... so says his friend Jason Collins who says he can't wait to watch the guy kill it in the ballroom.

Sam's been taking heat from critics who say the decision to join "DWTS" shows he's more concerned about being a celebrity than playing in the NFL.

But Collins -- who famously came out as the NBA's first openly gay player in 2013 -- says the haters are wrong ... and he's got proof to back up his argument.

Michael Sam is adamant ... his decision to join "Dancing with the Stars" does NOT mean he's giving up his NFL dreams ... saying, "Football remains my unquestioned number 1 priority."

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Sam signed on to join Season 20 ... which begins next month.

Some people have said the move is proof that Sam is throwing in the towel on his football career and wants to focus on exploiting his off-the-field fame.

But moments ago, Sam fired back at the critics ... saying, "Football remains my unquestioned number 1 priority, however, while I continue to train and stay ready, I am ecstatic to participate in a fun, athletic competition like so many players before me have done."

"Filming this off-season is very flexible and allows me to be part of the veterans combine 3/22 if accepted or any other workouts."

Michael Sam will be competing in March, not on the football field, but on the "Dancing with the Stars" hardwood ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Michael -- the first openly gay player drafted in the NFL -- will be part of Season 20, which fires up next month.

Here's the problem. Sam -- who insinuated he was cut from the NFL because he is gay -- has vowed to get back in the league and said he'd take part in the first-ever veteran's combine on March 22.

But Sam needs to prove he has what it takes, and we're thinkin' some of the owners might question his commitment if he's focusing on the rumba rather than rumbling.

Rob Gronkowski tells TMZ Sports he's definitely thinking about doing "Dancing with the Stars" one day ... but says he's worried that formal training will RUIN his trademark skills.

Gronk was out in NYC this weekend ... where he broke SEVERAL pieces of big news, including:

-- Did he nail that hot local reporter on Valentine's Day?
-- He's been training teammate Chandler Jones to fight his brother Jon "Bones" Jones
-- He NEVER wants to leave the New England Patriots.

Oh, he also notices our photog is wearing a Miami Dolphins hat ... SO HE SPIKES THE HELL OUT OF IT!!!

Check out the clip -- amazingness.

Derek Hough isn't ready to admit he's banging Kate Hudson -- but he's definitely not denying it either.

The "Dancing with The Stars" pro was in Boca Raton Thursday -- at a Tony Robbins seminar of all things -- when a photog popped the question about rumors he and newly single Kate are hooking up ... and his response is a little weird.

Hough and Huds were reportedly making out at an L.A. hot spot last Friday night -- he left out the front door, and she was spotted sneaking out the back -- sans engagement ring.

So, Derek ... if you're NOT with her ... why not just say so? Just sayin'.

Before Jonathan Bennett hit the "Dancing With the Stars" ballroom, he got turnt up with some interpretive dance ... a Bette Midler classic ... and one of the wildest, most painful staircase falls we've ever seen!

So much for the wind beneath his wings.

Jonathan Bennett's "Dancing With the Stars" appearance almost never happened ... because he suffered a humongous fall as he jokingly tried to prep for the show ... and it was all caught on tape.

So here's the deal ... the "Mean Girls" star shot this video a few months back, but kept it hidden until "DWTS" finished its run (congrats, Alfonso).

In the video, he and a few friends attempt an "interpretive dance" ... but Bennett tried a move on the railing of a staircase that ended ... well, you gotta see it. He ended up with 2 broken ribs and his arm in a sling for 2 months.

The best part -- they were dancing to "Wind Beneath My Wings."

Seeing as he was the one who allowed the video to be posted ... Bennett's ego escaped unscathed.

Tom Bergeron hit a little too close to home Monday night on "Dancing With the Stars" ... when he made a stalking joke about Erin Andrews ... who very famously dealt with a stalker of her own.

Andrews was debriefing Alfonso Ribeiro when she began gushing over Will Smith ... who went on a social media campaign supporting his former "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" co-star.

After Andrews repeatedly invited Will to show up to a taping, Bergeron followed it up by saying Will could do worse than having Erin as a stalker ... insinuating it's ok for hot chicks to stalk guys.

Janel Parrish just had her chances of winning the Mirrorball Trophy derailed ... at least that's the way it looks after she suffered a gnarly injury during rehearsal.

TMZ just got this video of the "Pretty Little Liars" star and Val Chmerkovskiy practicing lifts. Something bad clearly happened because you see her dissolve into tears as she hobbles to a room where doctors examine her.

It looks like she suffered a broken or compressed rib.

She hasn't been counted out, but it doesn't look good. The finals are tonight.

Janel Parrish is pulling double duty on "Pretty Little Liars" AND "Dancing with the Stars" -- and TMZ has learned she's spread herself so thin, she's alienated castmates on both shows.

DWTS sources tell us ... Janel's pro dance partner, Val Chmerkovskiy is freaking out ... because she's missed two days of critical dance rehearsals due to long days of filming on PLL.

We're told ... Val believes he and Janel have a real shot at winning the trophy -- the finals are Monday and Tuesday -- but thinks her PLL schedule is sabotaging their chances.

As for Janel's "Pretty Little Liars" co-stars ... we're told Lucy Hale and others in the cast have been conspicuously absent from the DWTS set the entire season ... and have given her little to no support -- even when she danced to the PLL theme song.

Alfonso Ribeiro -- the front-runner on "Dancing with the Stars" -- may have to pull out of the competition days before the semifinals ... and it's all because of The Carlton Dance.

Our DWTS sources say Ribeiro injured his back during rehearsal Wednesday night as he tried to overcompensate for a groin injury which he suffered on the show, performing his signature move.

The back injury is bad -- he's having trouble even walking. Alfonso skipped rehearsals Thursday so he could get an MRI.

Doctors are telling him the next 48 hours are critical, but they say there's a real chance he can't dance.

"Dancing With the Stars" is drawing a line in the parquet floor with some of its famous pros -- warning them to stay away from an upstart live dance show, or risk a tango ... in court.

Our 'DWTS' sources tell us producers fired off warning letters to several dancing pros right after they sued a touring show called "Ballroom With A Twist." The letter informs the dancers they could be violating their "DWTS" contract if they do any side gigs with the rival.

'Dancing' vets Peta Murgatroyd, Tony Dovolani and Val Chmerkovskiy have all appeared on promotions for 'Ballroom' ... but the show hasn't started touring yet. We're told they've now been told to bail, or face potential legal action.

In other words ... they own you, jive turkeys.

"Dancing With the Stars" wants the competition to know ... they're the head pimp in the dancing game ... and they're going after a rival show for stealing their look and their pro dancers.

There's a live performance stage show called "Ballroom with a Twist" that tours around the U.S. -- but it features a bunch of "DWTS" dancers ... like Peta Murgatroyd, Tony Dovolani and Val Chmerkovskiy (Max's little bro).

The BBC, which owns "DWTS," is suing Scott Stander -- whose company produces "Ballroom with a Twist" -- because those dancers can't work side gigs for a competing show without approval ... according to the suit.

The BBC also says it's pissed 'BWAT' is using 'DWTS' styled graphics to promote the show ... and perhaps the ultimate insult -- in the dancing world, we're guessing -- 'Dancing' alum Louis Van Amstel choreographed the upstart live show.

The BBC wants to shut down the copycat promos, and they want their dancers back. In other words ... beat it, we've got this corner on lock!

Move over Ty Pennington, the house Derek Hough and Mark Ballas bought has officially been souped-up -- and now the famous dancers are looking to cash out.

The "Dancing With the Stars" duo purchased the Studio City pad together earlier this year for $1.275 mil ... and now they're listing it for $1.895 million -- $620K more than they paid.

The flipping process caught the eye of HGTV, which will air a special in January featuring their home pirouette ... tentatively called "Mark & Derek's Excellent Flip."

We're told the "Dancing" stars completely tore up the inside ... and replaced all the windows and doors with fancy new ones -- same goes for the roof.

We're told Derek and Mark forked over at least $200K to rebuild it, with the help of real estate agent Andrew Gulyas ... and now each of the 'DWTS' stars stand to waltz away with some nice pocket change.

Not bad for 8 months work.

Karina Smirnoff went down so hard during a "Dancing With the Stars" rehearsal ... she had to get lifted onto a stretcher and rushed to the hospital.

TMZ obtained video of EMTs whisking Smirnoff away after she bit it in practice ... suffering knee and wrist injuries. Watch the video ... Karina's clearly in pain, and her wrist is already wrapped up in an ice pack.

Sources close to the show tell us x-rays show she didn't fracture anything, but just in case ... producers are scrambling to find a replacement. Karina's already been voted out, but she still performs in each show.

Mark Ballas has a true rookie on his hands with Sadie Robertson because the "Duck Dynasty" star hails from a high school where dancing is strictly forbidden ... just like "Footloose."

Willie Robertson's 17-year-old daughter is partnered with Ballas for this season of "Dancing With the Stars" ... but she also attends Ouachita Christian School in Monroe, LA where administrators have a longstanding ban on all school dances.

We spoke to Sadie's principal Jamie Stokes, and he was unapologetic about the school's policy ... which he says includes banning all dances. Even proms. Zero tolerance dancing, y'all.

Mark and Sadie advanced last week, but judge Julianne Hough told the 'DD' heir she's gonna need to get "more down and dirty" to win it all.

Sadie's dad shot that down almost immediately -- and we're guessing it's ditto from her principal.