Football

Martellus Bennett has gone from catching touchdowns to dropping motivational words ... the ex-Super Bowl champion has just authored a children's book -- and it's super inspiring.

The work is called "Dear Black Boy" ... and Bennett told TMZ Sports this week it's a tale aimed at encouraging young Black boys to follow their dreams in any field -- not simply the sports world.

"When I look at Black boys, I don't see athletes," the former New England Patriots tight end said. "I see a world of possibilities within them. So, I ask them, what are they interested in, not what they play."

Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler says there are precisely TWO NFC teams that can defeat the surging Lions squad ... and they just happen to be playing each other this weekend!

"The only two teams can beat Detroit are [the Packers and Eagles]. Nobody else can beat Detroit. No, it's impossible," the Green Bay legend told Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs nightly on FS1).

Why?

Former Dallas Cowboys star Robert Quinn was arrested on Friday ... after cops say he tried to flee the scene of a violent car crash.

According to a police report, obtained by TMZ Sports, the wreck happened at around 2 AM on January 10 in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Cops say after responding to the scene of the accident, they found Quinn in another person's ride with "fresh bleeding, consistent with injuries sustained in a vehicle collision."

If the Cowboys no longer want Mike McCarthy, Brett Favre tells TMZ Sports the Bears should ... saying he believes Chicago and the head coach would be a "perfect fit."

McCarthy's contract in Dallas expires next week -- but according to reports, Jerry Jones and the 61-year-old sideline manager are in talks about a potential extension.

But, if the negotiations fall through ... Favre says a marriage with Caleb Williams in the Windy City makes a lot of sense.

2:39 PM PT -- Kyren Lacy's agent, Rocky Arceneaux, said in a statement Friday "we strongly believe the facts will ultimately demonstrate the truth" ... however he did not elaborate much on the case further.

"We recognize the concern and questions that may arise from these recent allegations," Lacy said. "To anyone impacted, directly or indirectly, we want to assure that this matter is being taken very seriously, and we are committed to resolving it responsibly."

LSU receiver Kyren Lacy -- a potential 2025 first-round pick -- is a wanted man in Louisiana ... cops have just issued an arrest warrant for the footballer after they say he played a role in a fatal car crash last month.

The incident, according to Louisiana State Police, happened on Dec. 17 ... as Lacy was allegedly driving recklessly on a highway near Lafourche Parish in his 2023 Dodge Charger.

Police say the 24-year-old Tigers wideout sped by multiple vehicles and passed them in a no-passing zone ... and ultimately caused a horrific accident that led to the death of a 78-year-old man.

Mike McCarthy's status as Cowboys head coach is still up in the air ... but ex-NFL star turned Dallas assistant coach Domata Peko tells TMZ Sports it's quite clear what Jerry Jones needs to do -- bring back Coach!

We caught up with the former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle -- who was hired to work on McCarthy's staff this season -- at LAX this week ... when we asked him about Mike's future in Big D.

"Every time you play a season, you never know who's gonna have a great year [and] who is not gonna have a good year," Peko said. "He's a proven coach, like I said, and a Super Bowl champion, as well. So I don't know anybody out there that could do a better job."

01/10 10:34 AM -- Rams president Kevin Demoff says the team will provide at least 15 buses to transport 750 season-ticket holders to State Farm Stadium for the game on Monday.

It's about a six-hour drive from SoFi Stadium to the new location ... but considering it's a big-time playoff matchup, we take it those spots will fill up rather quickly.

The NFL has seen enough devastation from the wildfires in Los Angeles ... the league has decided to move Monday's scheduled playoff game between the Rams and Vikings to Arizona.

"In the interest of public safety, Monday’s Vikings-Rams Wild Card game has been moved from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA to State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals," the National Football League announced Thursday afternoon, four days before the game was set to kickoff at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA.

The stadium is less than 10 miles from the site of the Pacific Palisades fire ... which has wreaked havoc over nearly 20k acres.

The NFL community is joining forces to support victims of the Los Angeles wildfires ... donating a combined $5 million to the relief fund.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the donation on Friday ... revealing the league and the Rams, Chargers, Vikings and Texans organizations stepped up to provide aid to L.A. County, where historic blazes have destroyed thousands of properties.

"We are heartbroken over the devastating losses experienced by so many in the Los Angeles area and inspired by the heroism of first responders and residents who have supported their neighbors," Goodell said.

Terrible news for Deshaun Watson -- just months after tearing his Achilles, the Cleveland Browns quarterback ruptured his tendon again ... and his football future is now up in the air.

The development was reported minutes ago ... with the team saying he underwent surgery on Thursday after tests showed the controversial signal-caller re-injured the tear he suffered during the Browns' matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in October.

Watson is now in jeopardy of missing the entire 2025 season ... meaning Cleveland is in need of a quarterback more than ever.

If Brandon Jacobs were in charge of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Eli Manning wouldn't have to wait long to have a bust in it ... as the ex-Giants tailback says his former teammate is "no question" a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Jacobs didn't mince a single word when TMZ Sports got him talking about Manning's HOF candidacy this week ... saying Eli's two Super Bowl wins over the New England Patriots should be enough for a gold jacket alone.

"Well, s***," Jacobs said, "he beat Tom Brady twice -- that's enough!"

Demarcus Robinson's suddenly got a bit more on his mind in addition to the Rams' playoff game this week ... TMZ Sports has learned the L.A. wideout was just hit with a criminal charge.

The Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney tells us Robinson was charged with one count of misdemeanor DUI ... stemming from his November arrest.

The LA City Attorney says Robinson's facing an infraction as well ... and is due in court for arraignment in the case late next month.

The Super Bowl is just weeks away, and Guy Fieri is gearing up to once again throw the BIGGEST party in New Orleans on Super Sunday ... and the Food Network star says this year could be the best yet!

"We throw a tailgate for 10,000 people, 2,000 of which we carve out specifically for our veterans, first responders, and active military. But for 10,000 people to come spend five hours in Flavortown getting ready for the greatest day in sports," Fieri told Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs nightly on FS1).

The party, which starts at noon on the day of the big game (February 9), will go down at the massive Mardi Gras World facility ... and Guy says it's the perfect place to tailgate before kickoff.

Travis Kelce's ex-girlfriend, Kayla Nicole, says she's actually a fan of his new lover ... claiming despite all the chatter surrounding the relationship -- she likes Taylor Swift.

Nicole made the revelation when she was chatting it up with other contestants on the season premiere of "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" on FOX ... when she explained how she really felt about the Kansas City Chiefs tight end's romantic partner.

"I really, like, like her," Nicole said. "I think that she's very talented."

Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Charles Snowden appeared to be so out of it during his DUI arrest last month, police video shows one cop actually thought the football player was "too drunk to even stand."

Snowden's run-in with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department happened at 11:30 PM in Sin City on Dec. 9 ... after cops say they found him passed out behind the wheel of his running Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Body cam footage, obtained by TMZ Sports, shows the SUV was actually teetering on a retaining wall ... and despite multiple attempts to wake him up and get him to turn off the car, the video shows Snowden wouldn't budge.

The family of late Tennessee Titans great Frank Wycheck announced the former tight end tested positive for Stage III Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) ... in hopes the diagnosis will raise awareness on the dangers of brain damage in contact sports.

The Wychecks released a statement on the findings on Tuesday ... saying it teamed up with Boston University's CTE Center to analyze the 52-year-old's body after his death in Dec. 2023.

The family wishes for an "improved commitment to player safety and enhancing support for those who may be affected by the consequences of head injuries."