Charles Woodson Praises Raiders' McDaniels Hire ... 2nd Time's A Charm!!!
-
Exclusive
- 742 shares
Former Raiders legend Charles Woodson is on board with the hiring of Josh McDaniels as the team's next coach ... telling TMZ Sports the "second time's a charm."
We spoke with Charles -- who spent 8 seasons with the then-Oakland Raiders -- and the ex-cornerback told us he has no worries about McDaniels his second time around.
"He’s been a head coach," Woodson said. "He’s been through it one time before. So, he’s gained the experience."
"I think he’ll be good the second time around," he added.
Las Vegas hired Josh to be signal-caller after Rich Bisaccia stepped in amid the Jon Gruden scandal ... and a lot of people were hoping RB would get the gig.
But, CW tells us the experience McDaniels gained when he was the Broncos' head coach ... will prove to be valuable during his stint with the Raiders.
As for whether Josh will be able to turn Derek Carr into the G.O.A.T. as he helped do with TB12 ... Woodson says don't count on it.
"There's one Tom Brady."
related articles
Henry Ruggs Car Crash Tina Tintor & Dog Honored W/ Mural ... Near Wreck Site
-
Breaking News
- 782 shares
Tina Tintor and her dog have been memorialized with a mural in Las Vegas ... three months after they tragically died there in a car crash involving former NFL star Henry Ruggs.
The art was just painted on a wall near the wreck site -- showing a depiction of Tina and her Golden Retriever, Max, smiling in front of a blue background.
The artist painted both of their names in pink lettering above their pictures ... and added, "In loving memory."
In front of the art -- which sits on the corner of the intersection near where the two were hit by Ruggs' Corvette on Nov. 2 -- family, friends and supporters have continued to leave photographs, candles and flowers.
Tintor's uncle told KLAS in Vegas that he organized the painting of the mural following Tina's death.
As we previously reported, investigators say Tintor burned to death after officials say Ruggs was speeding with a .161 BAC before he rammed his sportscar into the back of her RAV4.
She was just 23 years old.
Ruggs has been hit with five charges for his alleged role in the crash ... and he could face decades behind bars if he's convicted on all counts.
related articles
Raiders' Nate Hobbs Begged Cop To Not Arrest Him During Speeding Stop ... Police Video Shows
-
Breaking News
- 749 shares
Raiders star rookie Nate Hobbs begged an officer to not arrest him during his speeding stop last month ... with police video showing the football player told the cop, "I've already been arrested two weeks ago!"
In the footage, obtained by TMZ Sports, you can see a Nevada State Police officer was livid with Hobbs on Jan. 16 in the Las Vegas area after he said he observed the guy going 110 MPH in a 65 MPH zone.
The cop can be heard chastising Hobbs in the clip after taking him out of his Mercedes ... saying the Raiders cornerback was putting everyone in danger by driving recklessly.
Hobbs tried to explain that he was in a hurry to make it to a football meeting on time ... but the officer was not pleased to hear that explanation.
"Why would you put yourself and everybody else out here on the roadway in extreme danger because you're going to a meeting?" the cop said. "Explain that to me."
When Hobbs apologized and insinuated it was a mistake ... the officer retorted, "Over 110 miles an hour? No signaling, cutting cars off, that's an honest mistake? No, that's a poor choice."
The cop then threatened to arrest Hobbs -- and that's when the Las Vegas player began pleading with him to reconsider.
Hobbs -- who had just been arrested for DUI in Vegas on Jan. 3 -- said, "I've already been arrested two weeks ago! I cannot be arrested again, sir. Please."
He added, "I'm begging you. I swear, I'm begging you."
Fortunately for Hobbs, the cop decided to not arrest him ... and instead hit him with a citation, towed his car and allowed him to leave.
Nate Hobbs read it the whole way 😤 @based_nvte @Raiders
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) August 22, 2021 @thecheckdown
📺: #LVvsLAR on @nflnetwork (or check local listings) pic.twitter.com/EnB8zedplh
Hobbs had played in the Raiders' playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals the day before the stop ... recording eight total tackles and a pass deflection.
related articles
Dana White I Tried To Get Brady To Sign W/ Raiders ... Before Retirement
-
Exclusive
- 1.5K shares
Dana White says he fought like hell to get Tom Brady to play one more year -- and to do it for the Raiders -- telling TMZ Sports, "I was hammering him to come to Vegas."
Dana -- a huge Patriots fan who calls Sin City home -- says the conversations all went down shortly after Brady and the Buccaneers were booted from the playoffs ... and the TB12 retirement talk started to circulate.
The UFC honcho tells us he tried hard to get inside information from Tom about what he was going to do ... and the entire time, he said he was urging the guy to force a trade from Tampa to Nevada.
"I was firing texts to him and he sent very cryptic text messages," White says. "He had me thinking he wasn't going to retire. So, you know what I was doing? I was hammering him to come to Vegas and play for the Raiders."
Tom's initial response was not a "no," Dana said ... but, ultimately, Brady announced Tuesday he wouldn't be a Raider or a Buc or even a football player anymore -- retiring after 22 seasons in the NFL.
Now that he's officially done, we asked Dana if he expected to see Tom at more fights (he's a part-owner of the UFC) and White said he was hopeful, but knows Brady will still be a busy guy even without football.
related articles
Raiders' Nate Hobbs DB Was Under Legal Limit In DUI Arrest ... Prosecutors Say
-
Breaking News
- 145 shares
9:49 AM PT -- Hobbs' attorneys, David Z. Chesnoff and Richard A. Schonfeld, tell TMZ Sports ... "Since Mr. Hobbs did not violate the DUI laws he was not charged, nor will he be charged with a DUI offense."
"He will fulfill his court obligations for the careless driving traffic offense," they added.
Big break for Nate Hobbs in his DUI case ... prosecutors say toxicology results revealed the Raiders player was UNDER the legal limit of .08 following his arrest earlier this month.
The Clark County District Attorney's Office made the announcement Wednesday ... saying blood analysis following Hobbs' Jan. 3 arrest in Las Vegas showed "Hobbs was under the legal limit for a DUI charge."
Prosecutors say as a result of the tests ... they did not pursue a DUI charge against Hobbs, and instead, they say the NFL cornerback ended up pleading guilty to a misdemeanor careless driving charge.
Prosecutors said in a statement they hit Hobbs with that charge after they say he fell asleep at the wheel of his car in an exit lane of a parking garage at a Vegas hotel -- just hours after Hobbs and the Raiders beat the Colts in Indianapolis.
Prosecutors say as part of Hobbs' guilty plea, he agreed to "pay a $685 fine, complete a victim impact panel, and complete 20 hours of community service."
The prosecutors added that if Hobbs does not complete the requirements, he faces a 30-day jail sentence.
"After reviewing the facts of the case, and the fact that the result of the blood-alcohol test placed Mr. Hobbs under the legal limit for a DUI charge, my office determined that this was the most appropriate disposition in this case," Clark County D.A. Steve Wolfson said in a statement.
"Mr. Hobbs' case will progress through the normal channels of the justice system, as would any other case with similar circumstances."
Wolfson added, "Additionally, he will be submitting to an alcohol treatment program provided by the National Football League and the NFL Players' Association."
Hobbs -- who played in the Raiders' playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals days after the arrest -- is due back in court for a hearing on the matter in March.
Originally Published -- 9:30 AM PT
related articles
Report: Nate Hobbs Busted For Driving 110 MPH ... 2 Weeks After DUI Arrest
-
Breaking News
- 1.6K shares
More trouble for Nate Hobbs -- the Raiders rookie was busted for reportedly driving well over the speed limit on Sunday ... just 2 weeks after he was arrested for DUI.
TMZ Sports has confirmed ... the 22-year-old cornerback was cited for reckless driving on Jan. 16. According to 8 News Now, Nevada State Police Highway Patrol clocked him driving 110 miles per hour in a 65.
Hobbs was issued a citation ... and his car was reportedly towed from the scene.
We broke the story -- Hobbs was arrested for DUI around 4 AM on Jan. 3 ... just hours after the Raiders' road win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Cops say they found Hobbs passed out in his car in the exit ramp of a parking garage ... and claim he smelled like booze and had "glassy watery eyes."
Hobbs was arrested after cops claim he did not do well on field sobriety tests, but his attorneys released a statement saying there were serious concerns it did not qualify as a DUI under Nevada law based on the facts relayed by Vegas police.
Hobbs' recent run-ins with the law are obviously not the first time someone from this Raiders team has allegedly acted recklessly in a vehicle -- Henry Ruggs is accused of getting drunk, speeding in his car and then killing a woman and her dog in a wreck in Las Vegas in November.
Story developing ...
related articles
Raiders' Nate Hobbs DUI Arrest ... Mug Shot Released
-
Breaking News
- 236 shares
TMZ Sports has just obtained the mug shot that Nate Hobbs took after his DUI arrest earlier this week ... and you can see in the photo, the Raiders player clearly wasn't happy to be in custody.
We broke the story ... Hobbs was arrested early Monday morning in Las Vegas after cops say he was found passed out behind the wheel of his car in the exit lanes of a parking garage at The Cromwell.
In new police docs, cops say when they made contact with the Las Vegas cornerback -- who had just played in the team's win over the Colts on Sunday afternoon -- he smelled like booze and had "glassy watery eyes."
Officers also said in the docs that Hobbs had mumbled speech.
Hobbs, though, according to the cops, said he was not drunk ... and instead told them he had fallen asleep in his 2019 Mercedes because "he was just tired."
But police say when they put him through a set of field sobriety tests, he "failed said tests" and was ultimately arrested.
Hobbs was booked on a misdemeanor DUI charge ... and he posed for a mug shot photo looking stern in a pink T-shirt. He's now due in court for a hearing on the matter in May.
Hobbs' attorneys told us following the arrest they have "serious concerns" that Hobbs' situation "does not qualify as a DUI under Nevada law."
The Raiders, meanwhile, say Hobbs is -- for now -- still slated to play in the team's critical game against the Chargers on Sunday despite the run-in with officers.
related articles
Raiders' Nate Hobbs Expected To Play Vs. Chargers ... After DUI Arrest
-
Breaking News
- 95 shares
Raiders rookie Nate Hobbs will likely return to the football field against the Chargers on Sunday ... less than a week after he was arrested for DUI.
Las Vegas interim head coach Rich Bisaccia updated the media on Hobbs' status Wednesday ... saying based on what the team knows at this time, the 22-year-old will not be punished prior to the Week 18 matchup.
"We take [the arrest] extremely serious, organizationally and certainly within our team," the coach said. "Based on what we've learned at this time, we expect Nate to play."
"It's a legal matter, and other than that I really have nothing else. We'll leave it at that."
TMZ Sports broke the story ... Hobbs was arrested after cops say he was found passed out behind the wheel of his car parked in the exit ramp of a Vegas hotel early Monday morning.
Hobbs' attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, addressed the arrest ... saying, "The facts and circumstances related by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to the news media leave serious concerns that this does not qualify as a DUI under Nevada law."
It's a surprising move by the team, especially when Hobbs' former teammate, Henry Ruggs, was charged with 2 counts of felony DUI after he was accused of driving drunk and crashing his Corvette into the vehicle of 23-year-old Tina Tintor, who burned to death after her Rav4 caught fire, according to officials.
Despite the legal troubles Hobbs is facing, it sounds like he'll be ready to go in the Raiders' huge game ... with major playoff implications on the line.
related articles
Raiders' Nate Hobbs Arrested For DUI ... Allegedly Passed Out In His Car In Vegas
-
Exclusive
- 7.4K shares
1:34 PM PT -- Hobbs' attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld tell TMZ Sports, "The facts and circumstances related by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to the news media leave serious concerns that this does not qualify as a DUI under Nevada law."
1:12 PM PT -- Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia just said he and the team are aware of Hobbs' arrest, though nothing has been determined with the player's status on the team.
"We're just trying to collect as much information as we possibly can on what exactly happened," Bisaccia said, "and what the situation is and where he's at with that."
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs was arrested for DUI just hours after the team's huge win over the Colts ... after cops say the rookie was found passed out in his car in Vegas.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sports ... cops responded to The Cromwell Hotel around 4 AM on Monday, after they say witnesses saw Hobbs asleep at the wheel on a parking lot exit ramp.
Our sources say officers made contact with the football player ... and eventually arrested him after they claim he did not do well in field sobriety tests.
Jail records show the 22-year-old was booked into the Clark County Detention Center at 6:38 AM.
A jail official tells us Hobbs was booked on one count of misdemeanor DUI and is currently in the process of being released from custody. The jail official added that Hobbs has a court date set for May.
Hobbs started as corner for the Raiders in their win over the Colts in Indianapolis on Sunday ... recording 4 combined tackles.
The arrest comes just two months after Hobbs' former Raiders teammate, Henry Ruggs, was accused of driving drunk and slamming his Corvette into 23-year-old Tina Tintor's Rav4.
Tintor's vehicle caught on fire, and officials determined she burned to death. Ruggs was later hit with multiple charges over the incident -- including two felony DUI counts.
The Raiders, meanwhile, are just days away from the biggest game of their season ... they can clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win over the Chargers on Sunday.
Hobbs' status for the game is now unclear.
We've reached out to the Raiders for comment ... so far, no word back.
Originally Published -- 12:41 PM PT
related articles
Jose Aldo Vegas Turn Up!!! ... After UFC Win
-
Exclusive
- 46 shares
How do you celebrate a big-time win in the Octagon?! If you're UFC star Jose Aldo ... you hit up the LV Raiders game, and then pop bottles and dance to music played by Diplo!
35-year-old Aldo beat fellow UFC star Rob Font at Fight Night Saturday night ... in a 5-round unanimous decision.
Jose Aldo has beat Font, Munhoz and Vera to reemerge as a top contender at 135 after #UFCVegas44.
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) December 6, 2021 @MMAjunkie
Now he's calling for a title eliminator vs. T.J. Dillashaw, and @MikeBohnMMA agrees it has to happen. pic.twitter.com/Ey2qnFhpRo
Aldo was ranked 5th before the fight ... and since he toppled the 4th ranked fighter, he is very much in title contention.
So, a reason to celebrate ... and celebrate he did Sunday afternoon.
We're told Jose attended the Raiders-WFT game (unfortunately for the hometown fans, the Raiders lost 17-15) ... hitting up the Wynn Field Club at Allegiant Stadium with 7 friends, where they watched football.
FYI, Aldo's Brazilian ... so it's unclear if he's an American football fan, or if he just went for the atmosphere and booze.
After the game, we're told Jose stayed for the game-day afterparty hosted by Diplo ... where he enjoyed bottle service with his friends, dancing up a storm.
Congrats, Jose!
related articles
Cowboys Game Brawl Women Throw Down at Concession Stand ... Nacho Fast, Bitch!!!
The penalties in the Raiders-Cowboys game were nothing compared to what went down at a concession stand -- at least 3 women throwing, and landing, big punches in an ugly brawl.
So much for all that Thanksgiving spirit crap ... these ladies clearly checked theirs at the door Thursday when they entered AT&T Stadium. From the video, all we can tell is something or someone pissed off a female staffer serving refreshments ... because she hurled herself over the counter, ready to fight.
Unfortunately for her, the floor was covered in nachos, so she slipped down ... giving her opponent a chance to punch her square in the face!!! Ball caps and the combatants' long hair went flying.
As the fight raged on, at least one other woman and a male concession worker made some feeble attempts to break it up.
Cops tell TMZ ... there was a lot of this sorta thing happening during the game. They made several arrests for intoxication, but it's unclear if either of these women were taken into custody.
Maybe it's overly passionate fans returning to stadiums post-quarantine, or maybe it's fans being overly served ... but we've seen some gnarly fights at NFL games lately. Earlier this month a Titans fan was hurled down several rows at SoFi Stadium during a wild brawl at a Rams game.
BTW, if you were stuffing your face and missed it ... the Cowboys lost their game in OT. So, it's a good bet there were more pissed-off fans fighting in the parking lot.
related articles
Henry Ruggs Crash Tina Tintor & Max Honored ... With Dog Walk Event In Las Vegas
Hundreds of people honored Tina Tintor and her golden retriever, Max -- who were both killed in the Henry Ruggs car crash on Nov. 2 -- by having a special dog-walking event in Las Vegas this weekend.
The "Pack Walk" happened in the Town Square shopping center in Vegas on Saturday -- just two days after the 23-year-old was laid to rest.
Hundreds of Las Vegans and their dogs gathered this morning to remember Tina Tintor and her dog Max, who were killed in a crash involving ex-Raiders player Henry Ruggs III. @lmartineznews reports: https://t.co/wqOFRpzIsN pic.twitter.com/Ag93N94NuQ
— FOX5 Las Vegas (@FOX5Vegas) November 14, 2021 @FOX5Vegas
About 200 people -- including Tintor's family -- showed up for the tribute with their canines, dressing the dogs up in white bandanas to symbolize peace.
Tintor's family brought Tina's other dog, a 3-year-old husky named Bella, to the event.
Tina Tintor’s family walking with her other dog, a husky named Bella. They came to the pack walk in honor of her and Max @8NewsNow #8NN https://t.co/d0Lp39iPw8 pic.twitter.com/vqOwBDoJFh
— Victoria Saha (@VictoriaSaha) November 13, 2021 @VictoriaSaha
"Las Vegas is a large community of dog lovers and knowing this unfortunate event brought so many feelings," one of the organizers said.
"We need this. We need the family to know the community is here for them as well."
Tintor was also honored with over 2,000 donations to her GoFundMe that was launched a few days after her death. In total, over $103,000 was raised.
As we previously reported, Tina was tragically killed after officials say Ruggs struck her Toyota from behind with his Corvette.
Cops say Ruggs was going 127 MPH at the time of impact, causing Tintor's car to burst into flames and ultimately killing her and her dog.
The 22-year-old NFL player has been hit with five charges over the incident -- including four felonies -- and is facing over 50 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
related articles
DeSean Jackson Cops Sick Skull-And-Crossbone Cleats ... For 1st Raiders Game
-
Exclusive
- 231 shares
There will be no more blue-and-gold cleats for DeSean Jackson -- the former L.A. Rams wideout is a Raider now ... and he just copped some dope skull-and-crossbone spikes to celebrate the move!
TMZ Sports has learned ... the receiver hit up his go-to artist, Joe Castro, just days after he was released by the Rams and signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Castro tells us the 34-year-old wanted a "new team, new cleats" theme involving skulls for his first game as a Raider on Sunday -- and the shoe expert delivered.
The kicks feature a silver-and-black image of a skull rockin' a black patch over its right eye with two swords crossed behind it -- just like the Raiders' logo.
On the other side of the white Under Armour cleats is another scary skull figure in front of two intense blades.
The shoes also feature faded grey skeleton heads scattered around.
Castro -- who's made custom cleats for DJack for several years -- says it only took him a couple of hours to make.
Jackson had requested his release from the Rams after only catching 8 passes for 221 yards and 1 touchdown in 7 games this season.
The Raiders -- who recently cut star wideout Henry Ruggs -- signed Jackson on Nov. 8.
related articles
Jon Gruden Sues NFL & Roger Goodell ... You Destroyed My Career!!!
-
Breaking News
- 4.3K shares
Jon Gruden is accusing the NFL and Roger Goodell of conducting a "malicious and orchestrated campaign ... to destroy [his] career and reputation."
It's all spelled out in a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ Sports, filed in a Nevada court on Thursday ... in which Gruden says the Goodell and the NFL obtained his private emails with his friend and former coworker Bruce Allen.
The former Raiders head coach accused the NFL and its commish of holding the emails for months ... only to leak them when they could cause maximum damage to Gruden.
Gruden characterizes this as a "soviet-style character assassination."
In the docs, Gruden points out that the NFL uncovered hundreds of thousands of emails as part of a larger investigation into sexual harassment allegations against the Washington Football Team ... but the only emails that he claims the NFL leaked are the ones that implicate Gruden.
The 58-year-old, meanwhile, says Goodell and the league have kept all of the other ones under wraps.
Gruden also claims the NFL initially only released a single email -- the one containing the reference to NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith's lips -- and immediately began pressuring the Raiders to fire him over it.
But, when the Raiders refused, Gruden claims the NFL then released a batch of other emails, saying the league "weaponized" them, and ultimately caused the Raiders to pressure Gruden into resigning.
Gruden notes in the suit that the NFL has historically tried to appear transparent, by issuing written reports on a host of past investigations, including Deflategate, the Ray Rice incident, and the harassment allegations against the Miami Dolphins.
The former coach says the leak is an attempt to distract from the NFL's failure to properly handle the sexual harassment allegations against the WFT.
Gruden is suing for unspecified damages -- including punitives -- claiming the NFL's actions caused him to lose his sponsorships and recognition (including his place in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Ring of Honor).
It should be noted -- nowhere in the documents does Gruden deny sending the offensive emails.
For its part, the NFL has denied Gruden's allegations ... saying in a statement they "are entirely meritless and the NFL will vigorously defend against these claims.”
Story developing ...
related articles
Raiders Owner Mark Davis Attends Tina Tintor's Funeral ... Henry Ruggs Car Crash Victim
Mark Davis was one of about 100 people who attended the funeral services for Tina Tintor on Thursday ... paying respects to the woman who died in a car crash that authorities say his former player, Henry Ruggs, caused.
The Las Vegas Raiders owner showed up to the somber ceremony in a black suit, white-collared shirt and a tie ... and sat in a pew at the local church where the services for Tintor went down.
Davis stayed for the entire hour-long event ... and did not speak with media members afterward.
As we previously reported, Tintor died along with her dog, Max, after cops say Ruggs crashed his Corvette into the back of their Toyota on a street in Las Vegas on Nov. 2.
Officials say Ruggs had been speeding prior to the wreck -- going 156 MPH just seconds before the crash -- and claim the former Raiders star was drunk at the time, too.
Ruggs has since been hit with five charges over the incident -- including four felonies -- and prosecutors say he's facing over 50 years behind bars if convicted on all counts.
As for Tintor and her family, her attorney said in a statement following the crash that they're "devastated" over the loss of the 23-year-old.
"Family was everything to Tina," the lawyer said, "and she was the light of her parents' life."
RIP
related articles
Shannon Sharpe Henry Ruggs' NFL Career 'Probably' Over ... After Vegas Crash
-
Exclusive
- 1.1K shares
Henry Ruggs' NFL career is likely over ... so says Shannon Sharpe, who tells TMZ Sports he believes the former Raiders star's fatal car crash will "probably" cost him his spot in the league.
The Hall of Famer broke it down at LAX earlier this week ... saying he's pretty sure Ruggs' alleged actions during the Nov. 2 wreck in Las Vegas will almost certainly spell the end of his time as an NFL player.
"It's sad," the Broncos legend said. "I hate it for him that what he's going to have to go through probably cost himself a career."
Sharpe, though, made it clear he doesn't have too much sympathy for the 22-year-old over it all ... explaining the choices Ruggs is accused of making that night are just inexcusable.
"He was very selfish," Sharpe said ... "This lady lost her life because he was selfish. Because he was reckless. This isn't a mistake."
"A mistake is leaving my phone in the Uber. That's a mistake. Getting intoxicated, making a conscious decision to drive a vehicle at a high rate of speed, that's not a mistake. That's reckless."
As we previously reported, authorities say Ruggs traveled at 156 MPH while drunk in his Corvette ... before slamming it into the back of a Toyota, killing a woman and her dog.
Ruggs has since been hit with five charges for his alleged role in the incident, including four felonies ... and prosecutors say he's facing over 50 years behind bars if convicted on all counts.
Sharpe clearly believes even if Ruggs serves one-tenth of that possible sentence ... his last down in the NFL has likely already been played.
"But you know what?" Sharpe said. "His greatest punishment is going to be having to live knowing that he cost someone their life."