Denver Broncos

Ricky Williams says there's no doubt about it -- Todd Gurley is a better running back than he ever was!!

High praise coming from the former Heisman Trophy winner who played 12 seasons in the NFL and was a 1st-team All-Pro in 2002.

But, after Gurley's 208-yard, 2-TD show against the Broncos on Sunday ... Ricky tells TMZ Sports there's just no argument.

"He's better. He's better," Williams says. "He's better than I was."

What makes Ricky say that?? Dude tells us T.G.'s simply more complete than he ever was -- especially as a receiver.

We also asked Ricky about a guy he played with a bunch during his career, Drew Brees -- and Williams had some high praise for him too ... saying he's a top 5 QB of ALL TIME!!!

John Elway is donating tons of money to Republicans running in next month's midterm elections ... TMZ has learned.

We combed through 2018 Federal Election Commission filings to see which A-listers were bucking up for the GOP, and John is leading the pack by a few football fields -- spending over $27,000.

The Denver Broncos honcho and Hall of Fame QB gave $14,825 to Walker Stapleton in his bid for Colorado governor, plus another $10,000 to the state's Republican committee.

Those donations are on top of the $2,700 John donated to Rep. Mike Coffman, who represents parts of suburban Denver. Only one of Elway's donations went beyond his backyard: $250 to Georgia Rep. Karen Handel.

It's interesting ... the FEC has no record of donations in 2018 from some very public GOP supporters like Kanye West, Kid Rock, Clint Eastwood and Roseanne Barr.

Is Tom Brady the greatest NFL player of all time? Tim Tebow thinks so ... but this clip just set off a firestorm in the TMZ office.

Jim Brown. Joe Montana. Jerry Rice. Lawrence Taylor.

You could make a case for all of 'em -- but some people feel TB12's resume is the most impressive.

5 Super Bowl rings. 8 AFC championships. 3 NFL MVPs. 4 Super Bowl MVP. 13 Pro Bowls.

Jim Brown posted 12,312 yards in just 9 seasons -- and remember, the NFL season was significantly shorter back when he played. He was a 3-time MVP and made the Pro Bowl every year he played. He was an 8-time All-Pro.

Lawrence Taylor was a monster who changed the game forever. He was also the last defensive player to win the NFL MVP award (1986).

Jerry Rice is easily the greatest WR of all time. He still holds the record for all-time receiving yards and TDs ... and he leads the TD category by a mile.

Brandon Marshall vs. Brandon Marshall -- who wins???

According to Brandon Marshall, it's gonna be Brandon Marshall.

Here's the deal ... the two NFL studs with the same name will actually be going up against each other on Sunday when the Broncos take on the Seahawks -- so, we got Brandon Marshall to weigh in.

The Broncos linebacker, that is.

"I'm hoping that they throw the ball to him and I can run down the field and get him one time," Brandon tells us.

Of course, the OTHER Brandon Marshall ain't too shabby -- a 6-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who signed with Seattle during the offseason.

By the way, the two finally met in person for the first time earlier this year ... and they appeared to hit it off!!

Clearly, that doesn't mean Brandon ain't still trying to prove a point Sunday.

So, who's the better Brandon Marshall?

LaDainian Tomlinson has ZERO sympathy for Broncos players who got wack haircuts this week ... 'cause back when he was a rookie -- he was hazed to the tune of a near $20,000 dinner check!!

We got the legendary Charger out at LAX when he told us the Denver hazing story doesn't even compare to what he went through as a first-year player in 2001.

"The late Junior Seau and the veterans hazed me by taking me to dinner and spending $18,000 of my money!" L.T. tells TMZ Sports.

Champ Bailey thinks he's no doubt a first-ballot Hall of Famer ... but the ex-NFL corner says he won't pull a Terrell Owensif he doesn't get in on the first try.

The legendary Broncos DB joined the Talk of Fame Network and revealed there's just no way he could do what T.O. did if he missed out on the Hall on the first try.

"For T.O., he carries his emotions a little different," Bailey says.

"So, I can understand him being ticked off a little differently because he's always carried himself that way."

Don't get it twisted ... Bailey says he'd be pretty pissed off too -- 'cause "I objectively think I should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer."

But still ... don't count on him missing his induction ceremony to spite the selection committee.

"I don't know if I would do the things [T.O.] did," he says. "But, every man has his own choices to make."

Denver Broncos DE Adam Gotsis has just learned prosecutors will NOT push forward with rape charges stemming from allegations he sexually assaulted a woman in 2013.

Gostis was arrested on March 7 in Fulton County, Georgia after a woman told authorities the football star vaginally raped her while they were both college students at Georgia Tech.

The Fulton County District Attorney's Office launched a full investigation -- but ultimately decided there was not enough evidence to prove Gotsis committed the crime.

"After a careful and thorough investigation, The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office has decided not to proceed with the case against Mr. Adam Gotsis," D.A. Paul Howard Jr. said in a statement.

"My office understands the sensitivity and significance of these investigations, but the evidence presented does not warrant any further action in this case."

Bradley Chubb ... your head just got JACKED UP!!!

It's the best rookie hazing tradition in football -- the Denver Broncos line up the rookies, break out the clippers and go to work ... churning out the UGLIEST hairdos they can think of.

No one is spared -- including Chubb (the 5th overall pick in the draft) ... with every rookie looking like they just got buzzed up by Stevie Wonder.

Linebacker Brandon Marshall documented the damage -- some players got a checkerboard do ... others got a Coolio look. One dude got the ol' Friar Tuck (just like the one Tim Tebow got back in the day).

Don't worry ... it'll grow back.

Just because the NFL cut ties with Papa John's doesn't mean DeMarcus Ware will follow suit -- in fact, the ex-Broncos star is BRAGGING about ordering a PJ's pizza ... despite the n-word controversy.

Ware -- who's now a consultant with the Broncos -- had a hankering for some pizza Tuesday night and let everyone know the only shop that could satisfy his craving was Papa.

Interesting considering the NFL and several major sports teams (including the Yankees, Rangers and ATL Falcons) suspended their relationships with the company after it came out that founder John Schnatter used the n-word on a company conference call.

But, D-Ware clearly don't care ... ordering up a big ole pie at around 11 PM CT Tuesday night and captioning the act with, "It's about to go down!!!"

The order? Some sort of ham and ground beef mix ... with THREE garlic dipping sauces. Even D-Ware's dog wants in on the action.

Sorry, James Harrison ... there's a new retired linebacker pushin' serious iron in the gym -- and it's just as frightening.

DeMarcus Ware did his best impression of the former Steelers superstar in the weight room Tuesday, hang power cleaning 275 pounds -- FOR REPS.

The video starts in the middle of D-Ware's set ... so, unclear how many times he actually tossed around the nearly three bills ... but it's AT LEAST five.

The craziest part? The soon-to-be 36-year-old Ware -- who retired after the 2016 season -- called the workout a "Basic Tuesday."

FYI ... Ware just signed on to be a part-time pass-rush consultant for his old team, the Broncos ... and he was STILL the most jacked dude out at practice Wednesday.

Von Miller went absolutely BONKERS after the Broncos drafted Bradley Chubb Thursday night -- screaming from the top of his Vegas hotel ... even getting his own daddy in on the party!

The Broncos took 6'4", 270-pound defensive end Chubb with the 5th pick in the draft -- making the Denver defense even scarier than before!

Chubb was a freak at NC State -- racking up all sorts of awards including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which goes to the best defensive player in college football. He also won the 2017 ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Miller is VERY excited -- he even worked up a sweat celebrating. And we get it ... Chubb once broke his finger during a game and KEPT PLAYING! Dude is a monster.

So, who's NOT fired up about the new Chubb and Miller duo? Every other offense in the AFC West.

Von Miller clearly isn't fazed by an investigation into whether he illegally caught a hammerhead shark in Miami, 'cause he continues to party it up there ... in open waters.

The star Broncos linebacker was spotted in the Sunshine State again this weekend enjoying himself on a yacht with a ton of girls and a few pals in tow -- including 49ers rookie Adrian Colbert. Von even hopped on a jet ski with a chick at one point for a quick spin.

As you can see from the photos, Von doesn't seem to be the slightest bit concerned over the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission looking into whether he broke any laws a couple weeks ago in capturing and then releasing a wild hammerhead shark.

PETA flipped their lid over video and photos of the incident, claiming the crew had illegally caught and killed the animal. They ran their complaint all the way up the flagpole in Florida ... which is now officially under investigation.

Von Miller's fishing expedition in Florida has ignited an investigation after PETA accused the NFL star of illegally catching a hammerhead shark ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Miller and some friends went fishing in Miami last week and reeled in the 9-and-a-half foot shark -- which they later threw back in the ocean.

PETA -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -- went berserk over the footage ... accusing Von's group of illegally catching and killing the animal.

PETA vowed to follow up with wildlife officials and said they would "ensure Miller is held accountable."

The complaint got all the way to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission -- a government law enforcement agency that regulates hunting and fishing.

We spoke with FWC Public Information Coordinator Rob Klepper who tells us, "FWC has received the images and video and is looking into whether or not a violation occurred in this incident."

Unclear what the punishment would be if officials found Miller broke any laws -- we're looking into it.

Story developing ...

Von Miller was havin' yachts of fun in Miami over the weekend ... partyin' it up on a boat with a BUNCH of bikini-clad chicks ... and we've got the pics!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the Denver Broncos superstar was posted up outside the Epic Hotel in South Beach on Saturday, soakin' in all the lovely sights of the St. Patrick's Day festivities.

FYI -- Miller's seen wearing the words "Drugs are my Life" on his shirt ... but don't freak out, guys ... it says "Channing University School of Pharmacy" in REALLY tiny letters underneath. Get it?

Miller's got a lot to celebrate ... the Broncos signed quarterback Case Keenum last week. Or maybe it was just the girls.

Broncos DE Adam Gotsis was arrested in Atlanta last week for allegedly raping a woman when he was a player at Georgia Tech in 2013.

According to the incident report, the woman -- now 30 -- claims Gotsis "placed his penis in her vagina against her will" on the night of March 9, 2013.

The alleged victim did not file a report until February 1, 2018. It's unclear why she waited nearly 5 years.

Gotsis turned himself in to the Fulton County Sheriff's Office on March 7 ... and was released the same day on a $50,000 bond.

The Broncos released the following statement ... “We were recently informed of an investigation into an alleged incident involving Adam Gotsis that occurred in 2013 when he was in college."

"Our organization was aware of his arrest on March 7, and it is our understanding that no determination has been made at this time as to whether any charges will be filed."

"The Broncos take an accusation of this nature very seriously and will continue to closely monitor the legal proceedings. This issue was promptly reported to the NFL as soon as we learned of it, and we will remain in communication with the league office regarding this matter."

Gotsis was a 2nd-round pick for Denver in 2016. He played in all 16 games for the Broncos last season, making 13 starts.

John Bowlen -- son of Broncos owner Pat Bowlen -- has cut a plea deal in his DUI case ... the one where he told a cop, "So you know who my father is?"

As we previously reported, the 31-year-old -- who used to work for the Broncos -- was busted in July 2017 when cops say he was blazing down a California highway around 100 mph while drunk.

And to make matters worse ... he had a puppy in the backseat.

Now, we've learned ... John appeared in a San Luis Obispo court Thursday and pled no contest to driving under the influence. The good news for Bowlen? No jail time.

He ain't completely off the hook ... the judge sentenced him to 3 years probation and ordered him to pay $2,415 in fines and other costs. He must also complete a DUI education program.

FYI -- this wasn't Bowlen's first brush with the law ... back in 2015, he was arrested for domestic violence and told officials he was the "blood of the city."