Los Angeles Rams

The LAPD has reached out to several L.A. Dodgers stars -- including Yasiel Puig, Justin Turner and Clayton Kershaw -- to make sure their homes are protected during the World Series ... unlike last year.

Remember, Puig's home was hit by burglars during Game 7 of the 2017 World Series -- and cops have said the suspects specifically targeted the place because they knew he'd be at Dodger Stadium at the time.

L.A. Rams wide receiver Robert Woods was also hit by burglars during a Rams game this year -- cops believe the suspects are the same crew of burglars that hit Puig.

Even though cops made multiple arrests, they still believe some of the suspects are on the loose, and they're concerned about copycats and other crime crews. Bottom line -- they don't want to take any chances this time around.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... LAPD officials have reached out to MLB security, agents for the players, personal assistants and other personnel in the hopes of protecting the homes of Dodgers players and staffers.

We're told cops are working with the players to make sure home security systems are up to snuff and, in some cases, additional security personnel are watching their houses.

And, cops will continue to make extra patrols in the neighborhoods where the players live.

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!!!

Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk ain't gonna like this ...

The ex-head coach of the original 'Greatest Show On Turf' Rams says this year's version is better ... AND more explosive!!!

"They're close," Dick Vermeil tells TMZ Sports. "But, I really think you'd have to say that this team overall might be a little better."

Of course, there were three versions of the 'GSOT' Rams ... coached by Vermeil in 1999 -- and then by Mike Martz in 2000 and 2001.

But, they were all badass ... with Warner and Faulk leading the way -- and potential Hall of Famers like Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt streaking down the sidelines too.

Yet when Vermeil crunched the numbers for us ... and compared them to Jared Goff, Todd Gurley and the guys in L.A. now -- he says this 2018 team wins.

LeBron James has beefed up security at his L.A. home in a major way -- bringing a team of armed guards to patrol his house after learning he was targeted by a team of burglars.

As we previously reported ... the LAPD arrested 4 people who had hit more than 24 homes of the rich and famous, including Yasiel Puig, Rihanna, Christina Milian and others.

Cops say the bad guys had a list of 12 more celebrity targets -- including LeBron, Matt Damon and Viola Davis.

We're told LeBron is taking the situation very seriously -- he's got a wife and 3 kids at home -- and is taking every possible measure to protect his family.

Sources tell us ... Bron has at least 10 armed security personnel at the home -- including off-duty police officers. We're told the NBA's security team is also involved in the security plans.

L.A. Rams star Robert Woods -- whose home was burglarized -- is also working with the NFL security team to ensure his safety as well.

Cops say they believe there are more people involved in the burglary crews -- and they're asking the public for leads to track down the additional suspects.

L.A. Rams wide receiver Robert Woods might be close to getting his stuff back ... cops have made an arrest in his burglary case.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Woods' San Fernando Valley pad was broken into Thursday while he was gone -- because he was busy destroying the Minnesota Vikings defense on "Thursday Night Football."

Law enforcement sources tell us ... cops investigating the burglary pulled over a suspect they believed was connected to it Friday, and found items belonging to the Rams WR in his car.

We're told the alleged burglar had other stolen items in his vehicle as well ... so he's being investigated for multiple burglaries in the area.

As we first reported ... cops believe Woods' burglary -- as well as the burglaries at Dodgers slugger Yasiel Puig's house -- are far from random. Police think they're being targeted by crooks because they're pro athletes ... so it's easy to know when they won't be home because they're at their games.

Hopefully, Puig will get some of Woods' good fortune soon ... especially since he's been burglarized FOUR times.

The war at the Coliseum wasn't just on the field Thursday night -- a bunch of fans got into a brawl in the stands ... with one guy getting tossed over several rows of bleachers!!

The standoff began just before the end of the 1st half ... a Rams fan got into it with several Vikings fans.

You can see the Rams fan smack a female Vikings fan in the face ... and then it gets crazy.

Punches are thrown, a beer gets tossed, a woman gets her hair pulled (hard!) and then the Rams fan grabs a dude ... and FLINGS HIM OVER 4 ROWS OF BLEACHERS!

The video is nuts -- and the guy who was tossed is lucky he wasn't seriously injured. In fact, he got up and continued to scream at the dude who chucked him.

We're told security responded and removed several of the combatants from the stadium. Unclear if any arrests were made.

JOE BUCK SAYS THE RAMS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!

Nah, just kidding ... but he really likes 'em.

The "NFL on FOX" play-by-play guy called the Rams game on Thursday night at the Coliseum in L.A. -- and was clearly impressed when he hit up Craig's for dinner after the game.

When we asked if Rams fans should have Super Bowl expectations after their 4th straight win, Buck answered, "They should."

DAMN RIGHT THEY SHOULD!!!

"I think they're good," Buck added ... "They're REALLY good."

Buck also showed love to Jared Goff -- who gunned his way through the Vikings like he was a blonde Deadpool mixed with John Wick multiplied by Schwarzenegger in "Commando" (throwback).

Oh, and did you hear what Todd Gurley said about the Rams after the game?

"Nah, we can't be beat right now. No ifs, ands or buts about it."

L.A. Rams wide receiver Robert Woods had a GREAT night on Thursday -- until he got home ... and saw his home had been broken into while he was playing the Vikings, TMZ Sports has learned.

Woods caught 5 passes for 101 yards and a TD in the Rams victory over Minnesota at the Coliseum in L.A. Clearly, somebody knew he would be out of the house (the game was nationally televised) and burglarized Robert's San Fernando Valley pad.

We're told when Woods returned to his home after the game, he called police -- but since no alarm was set, it's unclear exactly when the burglary took place. It appears the intruder entered through a back window. Sources say cops and Woods are trying to put together a list of what was taken.

The situation appears to be similar to Yasiel Puig -- who also lives in the Valley. His home was hit while he was playing a game at Dodger Stadium earlier this month.

Woods is from Los Angeles -- he went to high school in Gardena and played college ball at USC.

Story developing ...

Nelly doesn't hate the Rams for leaving St. Louis -- he's still rooting for 'em ... assuring TMZ Sports they're just "on loan" to L.A. for the time being.

Yeah, don't hold your breath ...

The Rams are killin' it right now -- they're 3-0 and Jared Goff and Todd Gurley are playing out of their minds.

So, when we saw the STL rapper at Mastro's in Bev Hills on Wednesday night -- we had to ask if he's still backing his boys in blue and white.

That's when Nelly reminded us where his team REALLY belongs.

"They're on loaner out here," Nelly said ... "They're on loaner out here. They're on LOANER out here, man!"

We got it. Loaner. Out here.

By the way, back when the Rams announced the move in 2016, Nelly told us he thinks the team should change the team colors and leave the blue and gold to STL.

The team actually has plans to do that -- but league rules slowed down the process. Expect new threads by 2020.

Fresh off kickin' Deji's ass... Jake Paul is already getting challenged to step back into the ring ... by All-Pro wide receiver Dez Bryant.

Dez apparently tried to congratulate Jake's brother, Logan, via Twitter DMs on his fight with KSI ... except he got the 2 Paul's confused and accidentally messaged Jake.

After Dez explained the mistake, Jake clapped back by congratulating the current free agent on his massive contract extension ... pretending to mix Bryant with L.A. Rams superstar Todd Gurley, who just signed a 4-yr., $57.5 mil contract this past July.

Jake (who happens to be a Cleveland Browns fan) made the interaction public ... saying "Dez Bryant don’t want the smoke💨 & no team wants Dez Bryant!! GO BROWNS!!"

When Dez was asked about Jake, he said "I guess he called himself trying to clown..we can get in the boxing ring tho if he want smoke."

Of course, Jake just got done beating up on Deji this past Saturday ... and proceeded to call out Chris Brown as his next opponent.

Aaron Donald sent a message to the Rams on Thursday -- six of them, in fact -- letting his abs say the words his mouth didn't ... PAY ME!!

The not-so-subtle memo to his L.A. bosses went down on Donald's IG ... where the superstar D-lineman -- who's still holding out -- posed shirtless with every one of his six abs flashing.

The caption might as well have had general manager Les Snead's name on it too ... 'cause it read, "Lookin good for 280."

Translation -- he's a 6"1', 280-pound monster in incredible shape ready to get back on the football field.

At least the Rams know Aaron Donald's staying in shape during his contract holdout ...

The L.A. star hit the weight room Wednesday decked out in camo with XXXTentacion's "Look At Me!" blasting ... and bench pressed 495 pounds -- with zero help from his spotter!!

It's so impressive ... for fun, here's a list of things that weigh right around what Donald just pushed off his chest:

-- Two washing machines (400 lbs)

-- A Grizzly Bear (800 lbs)

-- A Ducati Scrambler motorcycle (410 lbs)

-- A Sumatran Tiger (300 lbs)

Todd Gurley ain't wasting any time recruiting the newest top WR in free agency -- sending a message to Dez Bryant, "Come to the Rams!"

"I'd love to have Dez, man," Gurley told us at LAX moments after Bryant was released from the Dallas Cowboys ... "He's a beast!"

Fun Fact: Gurley and Bryant have the Jay-Z connection, they're both repped by ROC NATION Sports and who knows ... it could pay off in a big way for the Rams.

This clip is awesome ... you gotta see when Gurley spots a fan rocking his #30 jersey in the terminal and stops dead in his tracks to dap the guy up. It's pretty great.

Plus, Gurley also weighs in on Colin Kaepernick ... saying he hopes the QB gets another shot in the league.

The Rams player who was arrested for driving around with a loaded handgun that was allegedly stolen has struck a plea deal with prosecutors ... and he'll be on thin ice for the next 3 years.

Ethan Westbrooks -- a defensive tackle who played in all 16 games in 2017 -- was arrested back in September after he was pulled over in Kern County, CA for speeding and cops found the gun in the car.

Officials had previously said the gun -- which had been reported stolen in 2009 -- was loaded with 13 rounds of ammo. He was initially booked with 5 felonies including carrying a loaded firearm and possessing a high-capacity magazine.

But now, court records show Westbrooks made a deal in which he agreed to plead no contest to misdemeanor carrying a loaded firearm ... and in exchange, the rest of the charges were dropped.

27-year-old Westbrooks has been sentenced to 1 day in jail -- and got credit for time served, so he ain't going back.

Former NFL running back Isaiah Pead ain't gonna let a life-changing accident rob him of his athletic dreams ... telling TMZ Sports he's now on a quest for Paralympic gold!!

We spoke to Isaiah 16 months after he lost most of his left leg in a car crash ... and he told us he's planning on hittin' the track in hopes of crushing the 2020, 2024 and 2028 Summer Paralympics.

"If they let me on the track, I'm goin' for the gold, period."

Pead says he's still in the early stages -- getting a prosthesis and sponsorship -- but he's confident everything will come together.

If and when it does, the ex-Rams and Dolphins RB says he's gunnin' for the podium in the 400 -- an event he dominated back when he was a high school sprinter.

As for his long-term goals -- "3 gold medals, 3 Paralympics. God willing, that's a hell of a career right there."

It turns out the L.A. Rams aren't the first NFL team to have male cheerleaders ... 'cause the Atlanta Falcons had dancin' dudes on the squad 30 YEARS AGO.

ICYMI -- reports earlier this week claimed the Rams made history when they announced Quinton Peron and Napolean Jinnies would be joining the squad as the NFL's first male cheerleaders.

But back in 1987, the Falcons had a co-ed squad consisting of 12 women and 12 men ... and we're told they weren't alone. Billy Quercia -- a member of the '87 Falcons cheer team -- tells us the K.C. Chiefs also had a co-ed squad around that same time.

Quercia says they were real-deal cheerleaders -- not just stuntmen -- and were included in all the dance routines.

Quercia says he's not upset about being left out of the conversation. He says it's a "fabulous" move by the Rams to finally add men to the cheer team after all this time ... and hopes more teams follow their lead.