NY Giants

This is a GREAT moment caught on video ...

There we were, talking with WWE legend Shawn Michaels, when a MASSIVE dude nervously began to shuffle into the frame.

With a giant grin on his face, the man tapped Shawn on the shoulder ... and then, like a kid meeting his hero, he explained that he's a NY Giants player ... and Shawn was one of his idols growing up.

It's awesome -- the player is defensive tackle Jay Bromley, a 3rd round pick from Syracuse who just completed his rookie season.

Michaels is clearly impressed ... and the two proceeded to bro out ... even after Shawn broke the news he's a Cowboys fan.

In yet another display of freakish athleticism, here's New York Giants superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. dunking like a boss ... while wearing a backpack.

The NFL star -- who was just named offensive Rookie of the Year -- put on an impromptu slam dunk clinic on an outdoor court earlier Tuesday ... and gave a shoutout to LeBron James while he was at it.

Fun Fact -- Beckham Jr. says soccer is his 2nd sport ... not hoops.

Eli Manning claims he doesn't give a crap about the pressure in his footballs -- and says the fact that Tom Brady obsesses over it seems incredibly strange to him ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

The 2-time Super Bowl champ was a guest speaker at a private function at the New York Athletic Club last week when he was asked for his opinion on Deflate-Gate.

"I never worried really much about the inflation," Manning said ... "I thought it was kind of strange that [Tom] Brady knew he liked his ball at 12.5 pounds of pressure in the ball."

"That's the minimum number you can have ... seems kind of strange to me."

But get this, Manning says he's not convinced the pressure in the ball "is that big of a deal" ... and claims the Brady scandal is the first he's ever heard of an issue with inflation.

Manning -- who seems to be the bane of New England's existence when it comes to Super Bowls -- also told the crowd what he thinks could be the key to another Seattle victory.

The New York/Boston rivalry just took an interesting turn -- with NY Giants co-owner Steve Tisch telling us he's rooting for Tom Brady to beat the Colts this weekend ... and eventually hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

Tisch was out at Craig's in L.A. last night -- when we asked if it's cool for NFL owners to root for another team after their own squad gets eliminated from the playoffs.

Steve says he's got some pretty good reasons for backing New England -- including the fact he's already beaten the Pats the last two times they faced 'em in the Big Game.

Oregon shmoregon ... That's how NY Giants star Prince Amukamara felt about Monday Night's big game telling TMZ Sports the only competition he cared about was from the thirsty chicks on ABC's "The Bachelor."

Prince was out in NYC Monday night -- not watching the big game -- when we asked who he thought might take it between the Bucks and Ducks.

Here's the thing ... Prince didn't care!! He was more into "The Bachelor" ... and the BRACKET he filled out for the show.

Yes, a "Bachelor Bracket" is a thing ... just like the Final Four where you pick the names of the women who you think will get a rose from Chris Soules and advance every week.

Hopefully, Prince didn't have Alissa, Jordan, Kimberly, Tandra or Tara going the distance.

Like you need ANOTHER reason to like Odell Beckham Jr.????

Well, here we go -- 'cause the NY Giants receiver says he turned down an amazing opportunity to join the U.S. National soccer program when he ws a kid ... because he'd miss his family too much.

Beckham Jr. -- who's also a hardcore sneakerhead -- was at the opening of the OG Sole sneaker shop in Jersey this weekend when he explained why he chose football ... instead of leaving his family and pursuing a career in soccer at 14-years-old.

In fact, OBJ also picked his college to stay close to his fam -- choosing LSU instead of any other program in the country ... just so he could stay local.

Things worked out.

Fun Fact -- Odell says he has more than ONE HUNDRED pairs of sneakers ... including a pair of the most sought after kicks in the shoe game.

NY Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (the guy who made that insane 1-handed catch) will beat your ass in just about EVERY sport ... and there's video to prove it.

The 22-year-old NFL phenom has been flexing his talents in everything from basketball (#dunkskills) ... soccer (#juggleskills) ... baseball (he can SWITCH HIT!) and even golf (#niceswing).

For the record, OBJ has been a freak athlete his entire life ... and was asked to try out for the U.S. Men's National Team when he was a teenager ... but turned it down to focus on football.

Victor Cruz won't let a busted right knee keep him from hitting the party scene ... 'cause the NY Giants star hit up a huge party in Miami Thursday night -- with his knee brace -- and we've got the pics.

Cruz -- sporting a medical brace under his sweatpants -- hit up a Crooks & Castles party presented by Hennessy V.S for Art Basel Thursday night.

Despite the fact he's recovering from a season-ending torn patellar tendon in his right knee that he suffered during a game back in October, Victor was seen laughing and having a great time at the party.

Meanwhile, back in NY ... Cruz's teammates -- who have lost 7 straight games -- are preparing to take on the Titans this weekend.

Cruz seems to be making good progress on the knee -- he looked pretty spry while walking through a NY mall a few weeks ago ... and told us he expects to be busting out his salsa again very soon.

Remember when NY Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said the coolest moment in his life was when his hero LeBron James tweeted about his legendary 1-handed catch???

Well, last night ... OBJ got a new "coolest moment" in life -- when he met LeBron in person and they took a picture together!

As we previously reported, Beckham Jr. had called James his "favorite athlete" and talked about how much it meant when LeBron gave him props for that sick grab against the Cowboys.

The two finally met in person at dinner Wednesday night -- and you can by the look on Odell's face ... dude was stoked!!

In fact, James even posted about it ... writing, "Giving the game to my young king @iam_objxiii tonight at dinner! Keep going homie and #StriveForGreatness #RWTW."

Pretty cool, right?

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. says he's been BOMBARDED with praise since that one-handed miracle grab ... but the best moment involved a tweet from LeBron James.

OBJ was at Steiner Sports in NYC last night when revealed that LeBron is his all-time favorite athlete ... and when King James tweeted about the catch on Sunday, it blew his mind.

FYI -- here's the tweet LeBron posted after Beckham's catch: "Man I just witnessed the greatest catch ever possibly by Odell Beckham Jr! WOW!!!!"

Imagine your hero writing that about you. Pretty cool, right?!

Still, Odell is modest about the 3-fingered catch, saying the greatest snag ever made still belongs to ANOTHER NY Giants wide receiver.

Check this out ... we just spoke with Odell Beckham Jr.'s high school coach Nelson Stewart about the insane 1-handed catch -- his quotes are fantastic.

-- "We tried to stop him from catching the ball with one hand in high school ... but then we said, 'This is stupid, he never drops the ball. Let's just let him.'"

-- "Now we have a problem with our players trying to catch the ball with one hand. They say, 'But you let him do it.' I say, 'You are not Odell Beckham!'"

-- "He said he wants to have his high school jersey hanging at the high school one day. We haven't given his number away since -- so I think he's on his way."

-- "His hands were bigger than anyone on our team. He literally never dropped a ball. He redefined everything you could do."

Fun Fact -- OBJ went to Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans ... where Eli and Peyton Manning played their prep ball.

Don't worry Tom Coughlin, the Jonas Brothers got your back.

With Tiki Barber calling for Coughlin's job, Nick Jonas -- a huge NY Giants fan -- is still supporting his favorite head coach, telling TMZ Sports he loves the guy ... despite the team's 3-7 record.

Luke Petitgout -- who played nine seasons in the NFL, mostly with the New York Giants -- was arrested in New Jersey on Tuesday on a charge of sexual assault and simple assault.

The 6'6", 275-pound Petitgout was arrested at the home of his estranged wife Jennifer, says the NY Daily News. Jennifer is the alleged victim and the paper says she was photographed with bruises.

He was arrested and charged with sexual assault with force and simple assault. He is currently being held on $50,000 bail.

Petitgout's attorney, Patrick J. Jennings, called the charges "baseless" and told the News, “We intend to vigorously defend against the charges.”

Retired NFL star Steve Smith is taking Titans QB Zach Mettenberger to task for that gameday selfie he took before taking a loss against the Texans.

Mettenberger's been getting blasted by fans and players for the Instagram of his new haircut -- hours before Sunday's kickoff ... his first start, by the way. Smith says the kid needs to be more like his ex-QB, Eli Manning.

Smith was shopping in Calabasas when he stated his case ... and it's a good one. Ever seen an Eli or Peyton Manning selfie? Exactly. And Steve's got hardware to back up his argument.

The secret to beating the Dallas Cowboys?

Phil Collins.

Well, maybe he can help -- because NY Giants head coach Tom Coughlin turned to Phil's best song to help fire up his team this week ... so says linebacker Mark Herzlich.

Herzlich says Coughlin decided to play some music during practice this week to get the team ready for their HUGE game against the Dallas Cowboys ... and Tom decided Phil's jam could help pump up the intensity.

Mike Tyson approves.