LA Chargers

L.A. Chargers defensive lineman Brandon Mebane rejoined his team Wednesday after taking time off to be with his hospital-stricken infant daughter, who passed away last week.

While still in the womb back in July, Mebane's daughter, Makenna, was diagnosed with a heart defect as a result of a chromosomal condition called trisomy 13.

The family moved to Omaha, Nebraska where Mebane's wife, Amena, and unborn child could be treated by doctors who specialized in the condition.

Makenna was born more than 1 month premature in November and later developed an intestinal infection known as Necrotizing Enterocolitis (also known as NEC) -- a fast-striking, devastating condition that can be fatal if not caught and treated immediately.

Doctors treated Makenna for weeks -- and Mebane used the team owner's private jet to travel to the last 2 regular season games when Makenna's health seemed to be stabilizing.

But unfortunately, her health took a turn for the worse earlier this month and she passed away on January 3.

Obviously, Mebane is devastated -- but says he plans to play in the Chargers' playoff game against the New England Patriots this weekend.

Melvin Gordon went head to head with his Uber driver over who's going to win Sunday's Wild Card matchup between his Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens ... and the guy didn't have a clue who he was talking to!

The video's hilarious -- the Chargers stud RB playfully goads his friendly driver to make predictions on the game and ends up getting some spicy trash talk out of him ... especially about Philip Rivers.

After praising Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and basically telling Gordon the Chargers QB sucks, he adds ... "I'm going to pull for Phil Rivers to get up off the ground because they gonna put him on the ground."

The driver also feels confident in Baltimore because they've been playing more as a team now that Flacco's on the sidelines, but clearly ... he doesn't have much info on that Melvin Gordon guy.

Even funnier ... despite making it clear he's pulling for the Ravens, the driver eventually admits he's from Texas, but he's "got to talk that crazy talk" since he's picking up Baltimore residents.

Antonio Gates ain't sure he wants to hang up his cleats after this season ... 'cause the Chargers legend tells TMZ Sports he's having way too much fun to quit football!!!

A.G.'s 38 years old and it's clear he's WAY past his prime ... but when we got the tight end out in Bev Hills -- he says he's not ruling out playing another season in 2019.

"I'm having a lot of fun now. More fun than I had in my whole career to be honest with you."

It's interesting ... considering Gates has just 28 catches and 2 touchdowns this season -- but the Chargers are 11-4 and do still have a shot at the AFC's No. 1 seed.

Sounds like all that winning has Gates -- who nearly retired before THIS season -- thinking about playing another year with Philip Rivers -- even if he ain't ballin' like he used to.

"Right now, I'm just enjoying the moment, man. We in the postseason, we got a chance to the playoffs and win the championship. And, after that, I'll just see how it goes."

If Melvin Gordon cost ya money last night ... the L.A. Chargers running back says he's truly sorry.

"To my fantasy owners ... who lost without my help I’m sorry," M.G. wrote on social media.

Gordon was a monster this year -- averaging 25.15 fantasy points per game -- but a knee injury sidelined him while many needed him the most in fantasy playoffs Thursday night.

Of course, the NFL superstar was probably the reason you were IN the fantasy playoffs in the first place ... but he's still apologizing nonetheless.

"Crunch time in these playoffs and I couldn’t come thru !!"

But hey, it coulda been worse ... at least fantasy owners had a heads-up a couple hours before kickoff to swap him out of the lineup.

As for his teammate, Keenan Allen ... the same can't be said -- and THAT'S the apology we're all still waiting for!!!

POLICE BEEF!!!!

The Kansas City P.D. was talking all sorts of crap about the Chargers before they took on the Chiefs Thursday night.

So, when K.C. choked away the game, the LAPD decided to rub some salt in the wound.

It all started before the big "Thursday Night Football" matchup ... when the KCPD threw shade at the Bolts for their lack of fan support in BOTH San Diego and L.A.

"While our football team doesn't have to move cities to get fans, we'd like to keep our city's traffic (both fans & commuters) moving during tomorrow's Chiefs vs Chargers game."

"Stadium full of people will be going to Arrowhead during rush hour. Plan alt. routes or extra time."

So, when Philip Rivers and company stormed into Arrowhead and silenced the 75,000 fans with a last-second, come-from-behind victory ... the LAPD decided to clap back.

"It’s ok...we’ll take the 11-3 playoff-bound @Chargers and their great win over the @Chiefs."

SHAAAAAAAAAAAADEEEEE!!

Of course ... L.A. cops weren't the only ones getting in on the K.C. trollin' -- Rivers made sure the fans at Arrowhead got some in person too!

The best news for all parties?? Both teams have clinched a playoff berth ... which means we could all get round 3 in just a few weeks.

Don't worry, Stephen A. Smith ... your colleagues got your back!

The ESPN star went viral on Thursday because of his DISASTROUS pregame analysis of the Chargers game ... which included a bunch of guys who weren't even playing.

It was a mess ... and HILARIOUS!

He mentioned Hunter Henry as a key player while noting the way he's played this year. The problem? Hunter's been out all season with a torn ACL.

Stephen also mentioned Derrick Johnson as a player to watch for the Chiefs -- despite the fact he hasn't been on the roster since 2017. Good times!

So, when we saw ESPN's Cari Champion at LAX, we had to ask ... WHAT HAPPENED?!

"Stephen A. is a very smart man. He has a lot going on and he is extremely smart," Champion said.

"I think Stephen A. has a lot to do ... a lot on his plate ... he knew exactly what he was talking about ... we all make mistakes."

She added, "[You] try doing live television 20,000 hours a day!"

For his part, Stephen A. called the situation a "brain-lock moment" and clowned himself on Twitter.

"It’s called a MISTAKE because I was think of Virgil Green, but mentioned Hunter because I was multi-tasking. That’s what happens when you’re doing a thousand things."

"But I don’t blame you if you told me to 'Stay Off The Weeeeeeedddddddd.!' That was a brain-lock moment."

Cops are on the hunt for the scumbags who broke into the home of L.A. Chargers star tight end Antonio Gates and his wife, Sasha, over the weekend ... while their kids were inside the house.

Scary situation ... surveillance cameras at the San Fernando Valley home captured multiple suspects climbing a gate and stalking around the property over the weekend.

We're told the men targeted Antonio's garage where they stole a number of items and rummaged through some of Antonio's high-end cars, including a Rolls-Royce.

All the while, we're told Antonio's kids were inside the home.

The burglars never made contact with the family -- but they stole a bunch of stuff including a hoverboard belonging to one of Antonio's kids.

Cops have the surveillance footage and are hunting for the suspects.

Sources connected to the investigation tell us it appears the men may have cased the property before they struck because they knew exactly where to head once they climbed the fence.

Gates is the latest high-profile burglary victim in the area -- as we previously reported, cops have made a bunch of arrests after stars like Yasiel Puig, Robert Woods and Rihanna were also burglarized.

Unclear if cops believe the suspects in the Gates incident have any connection to the other cases.

Shawne Merriman tells TMZ Sports he's feeling pretty crappy today after learning Chargers owner Alex Spanos died ... saying, "Just really sorry for the loss, man."

Spanos -- who bought the Chargers back in 1984 -- passed away Tuesday morning at 95 years old ... just several weeks after his wife, Faye, died at 92.

"I sent text messages this morning to the family," Merriman, an ex-Chargers superstar, tells us.

"Very sorry to hear that. Alex Spanos has done so much for the organization."

Though Alex relinquished control of the Bolts to his son, Dean, in '94 ... Shawne says Alex and the rest of the Spanoses played huge roles in his development as a man after drafting him in 2005.

In fact, Shawne tells us the Spanoses are like family to him ... and he's hurting for them.

"Just want to send my love and condolences to the Spanos family."

George W. Bush also released a statement on Spanos' passing Tuesday, saying, "Alex was one-of-a-kind ... He was a wonderful citizen and friend, and the Bush family will miss him."

Bad news, San Diego ... the Chargers ain't coming back.

Good news, San Diego ... Landon Donovan's working on your replacement -- YOUR VERY OWN MLS SOCCER TEAM!!!

Philip Rivers and the rest of the Bolts packed their bags for L.A. last year ... and in their wake -- they left a giant plot of land for the city to use.

That's when Donovan stepped in and helped spearhead an effort to fill that space with a new stadium, restaurants, housing, shopping -- and a new MLS futbol team.

So, what'll it take for Landon to get all this done??

"If people in San Diego want this to happen and want this to be a part of the future of this city and impact people for decades to come," Donovan tells us, "then they can vote 'yes.' Our measure is Measure E."

The vote's Nov. 6 ... and Donovan's promising a space of land that will rival what L.A.'s got downtown by the Staples Center if it goes down.

Chargers star DL Corey Liuget claims his former trainer injected him with PEDs without his consent and cost him over $15 MILLION ... and now he's suing to get that cash back.

The NFL stud -- who's been with the Chargers since '11 -- was suspended for the first 4 games of this season after testing positive for a banned substance.

Now, Liuget's filed a lawsuit ... pointing the finger at his longtime trainer -- Ian Danney.

Liuget claims he went to get treatment for broken foot bones in November 2017 ... when Danney injected him with what he said was a "strong dose of an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory."

He says 2 days later he gave a urine sample ... and it came back dirty.

Liuget says he then confronted his trainer ... who admitted to giving him prescription medication -- but denied giving him a banned substance.

But, Liuget is still pissed ... and says it's cost him a fortune in salary and endorsements -- not to mention the public humiliation he says he's endured.

Liuget's asking for more than $15 MILLION in damages.

Cris Cyborg straight-up TOSSED a Chargers coach at L.A.'s training camp Monday ... judo-throwing a wide receivers assistant at practice -- and the video is incredible.

The poor guy's name is Phil McGeoghan -- a 6-foot-2, 224-pound ex-NFL player -- who for some reason wanted a pre-practice, hands-on demo from one of the baddest women on the planet.

Cyborg obliges ... picking the guy up and throwing him over her shoulder -- just like Joey Bosa on Sundays.

"Today I had a Job interview with the [Chargers] to be head of security," Cyborg jokingly said of the incident.

"I think it went well...what do you think Coach?"

L.A. Chargers rookie safety Derwin James is finally talking about the night he was robbed at gunpoint in Hollywood -- saying, "I wouldn't wish that upon anybody."

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the 22-year-old (a 1st round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft) was leaving an Italian restaurant on June 23 when he was approached by two men who demanded his jewelry.

The assailants snatched a chain from Derwin's neck and stole his Rolex -- and then slashed the tires on his Rolls-Royce before fleeing the scene.

On Thursday, James told the media ... "I wouldn't wish that upon anybody. It happened. It was just one of those things that you never expect to happen to you, but it happened and I'm just happy to be out here playing football."

The Chargers need tight end help now that Hunter Henry is done for the year ... and Geno Smith's got the perfect guy for the job -- ANTONIO GATES!!

The new Los Angeles quarterback told us he's hopin' the Bolts bring back the future Hall of Famer -- and his reasoning is pretty simple.

"Gates is a legend!"

Fair enough.

We also asked Geno if he thinks LeBron James is the top talent in Los Angeles now ... and Geno doesn't disagree!

Chargers star rookie Derwin James just bought his mom the dopest "thanks for raising me" gift ever -- a big-ass house in Florida!!

"I don’t think there is anybody more deserving in the world then her," the ex-FSU safety posted on social media.

Unclear what city the house is in or how much it costs ... but the place looks super nice, complete with two stories and a bunch of palm trees in the yard.

Derwin becomes the latest NFL first-round pick to buy his folks a new home ... NY Giants stud Saquon Barkley dropped more than $400,000 on his mom and dad's new pad just last week!

Forget the Tom Brady-playing-until-45 debate ... Melvin Gordon says there's a GRIP of NFL QBs who can play to that age -- including his teammate, Philip Rivers!!

The Chargers superstar told us it's really not that hard for dudes like Brady, Rivers, Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Russell Wilson to play forever ... 'cause they're studs who don't ever get hit like running backs do.

"I feel like those guys ... they quit when they want to, man," Gordon told TMZ Sports.

"As long as their arm's working, and they feel like they can throw and they can be in there, there's going to be someone that want them."

For the record ... the oldest QB to ever start a game was the Falcons' Steve DeBerg at 44 years and 279 days old.

L.A. Chargers star Mike Pouncey says he's ready and willing to take Donald Trump up on his offer -- telling TMZ Sports, "If he wants to talk, we'll talk."

Remember, earlier this month Trump said he wants to reach out to NFL players for input on people in the criminal justice system who deserve a presidential pardon.

"I am going to ask all of those people to recommend to me -- because that's what they're protesting -- people that they think were unfairly treated by the justice system," Trump said.

So, when we saw Pouncey out at Catch the other day, we asked how he felt about Trump and his offer.

"I don't think he has a bad relationship [with us] ... If he wants to talk, we'll talk."