NY Giants

New York Giant's running back, Saquon Barkley is spreading his good fortune -- literally -- by passing out hundred dollar bills like they were playing cards at a blackjack table.

Barkley, who's up for Pepsi's Rookie of the Year, was at Red Rabbit nightclub Friday night in New York City, and he cheerfully doled out $100 bills to folks waiting in line in the freezing cold to get inside.

Barkley is reportedly pulling in $31.2 million over 4 years. Not bad for a 21-year-old.

Post Malone is out here rapping Cowboys victories into existence -- and with a crazy win over the Giants, he celebrated in the best way possible ... making the other guy wear your team's gear.

The Texas native was at the Cowboys/Giants game Sunday in NY, where he was surrounded by Giants fans ... one of whom we're told he made a bet with. It was simple -- if my Cowboys win, ya gotta rock my Cowboys jacket. Well, they won all right ... in epic fashion.

With just about a minute left, Dak Prescott threw what you might call a Hail Mary down the field to Cole Beasley, who made an incredible catch in the end zone. At first, it looked like he was out of bounds and the pass was incomplete, but upon further review ... it was ruled a TD.

The Cowboys made a two-point conversion after that and went on to win it 36-35. Post, of course, was ecstatic ... and, of course, followed up on the bet by making the Giants fan put on his Dallas coat. In this clip, obtained by TMZ, you can see the guy was a good sport.

What's even crazier ... Post rapped about this exact same scenario happening in his new single, "Wow." ... almost down to a tee.

It's only been 13 games ... but Giants star rookie Saquon Barkley is ALREADY the best running back in the NFL -- so says Victor Cruz.

Of course, the ex-NY star is super biased ... dude still bleeds Giants blue -- but he tells us there's no doubt in his mind Saquon tops Ezekiel Elliott and Todd Gurley in the RB ranks.

"He's No. 1 in my opinion. He's done the most with less this year. So, he's a phenomenal player."

Cruz didn't stop there ... he says the Giants RB is HANDS DOWN the Rookie of the Year AND deserves a spot in the Pro Bowl.

Here's some real talk from Eric Dickerson ...

With Saquon Barkley getting super close to breaking some of his cherished NFL rookie rushing records, we asked E.D. if he's rooting for the NY Giants stud to take his #1 spot.

The answer was about as honest as it gets ...

"HELL NO!!!"

Don't get it twisted, Dickerson tells TMZ Sports he loves Barkley and thinks he's a great player -- but "You wanna keep them records!"

Saquon has already racked up 1,753 total yards from scrimmage -- creeping on E.D.'s rookie record, 2,212.

Barkley also has 12 games with 100 yards from scrimmage -- 1 game shy of tying Eric's rookie record (13).

But, what about the old saying, "Records are made to be broken?"

"People who don't have records say that," Dickerson replied.

"When you have records, you don't want 'em broken. When you get to my age, you want to hold on to them as long as you can!"

One record Barkley probably won't touch is his rookie rushing record -- 1,808. Saquon only has 1,124 at the moment with only 3 games left in the regular season.

Victor Cruz is going to bat for his former quarterback ... 'cause the ex-Giants WR says Jerry Rice is absolutely INSANE for saying Eli Manning isn't a Hall of Famer.

"Jerry Rice is outta his mind. You hear me??" Cruz tells TMZ Sports ... "I'll look right in the camera -- Jerry Rice, you're outta your mind, sir."

As we previously reported ... Jerry said he doesn't think Eli belongs in the Hall -- saying the NY quarterback just ain't good enough to get in.

Cruz has a serious bone to pick with that hot take ... saying Manning's two Super Bowl rings ALONE put him squarely among the NFL's legends.

"He's definitely a Hall of Famer. Are you kidding me?! What are you talking about, Jerry?? C'mon man, you know better than this!"

Think the Giants need to draft Eli Manning's replacement IMMEDIATELY this offseason??

Think again ... so says Michael Irvin -- who tells TMZ Sports New York should wait until 2020 to get their new QB.

"You need the top pick, not this year, but NEXT year," The Playmaker says.

Sooo ... why?? Two words -- Tua Tagovailoa.

Irvin thinks the Alabama QB -- not anybody in this upcoming draft -- is the key to finally replacing Eli and turning the Giants back around.

"If you get Tua, you've got something!"

Here's the grossest thing you'll see all day ... NY Giants WR Sterling Shepard straight-up pulled the nail off his big toe -- and documented it all on video.

The New York star hit the Giants locker room Monday ... and noticed his foot needed a little manicuring after beating the Buccaneers on Sunday.

So, Shepard reached down ... grabbed the nail on his left foot ... plucked it straight off -- AND DIDN'T EVEN FLINCH!!!

"Aw, yeah! It's time to come off! Yessir!"

Unclear when Shepard suffered the toe catastrophe that caused the gruesome scene ... but we're all hopeful he puts the camera down next time it happens.

Dan Rather ain't all that impressed by the Giants' win Monday night -- he thinks they're still awful ... but he's happy as hell for Eli Manning!!

The CBS News legend watched Eli turn back the clock on 'MNF' ... leading a game-winning TD drive over the 49ers late in the 4th quarter -- and dude couldn't have been more proud of the QB.

"I'll tell you what, whatever you think of the Giants -- and they are terrible -- I love Eli Manning," Rather tells TMZ Sports.

Dan says Eli reminds him a little bit of himself ... saying he too is an aging legend on the back 9 of his career -- and he understands exactly what the QB is going through.

"As an anchorman on the fade, on the way out, you say to yourself, 'I'm not as good as I once was. But, for once, I'm as good as I ever was.' That was Eli Manning last night against San Francisco."

Dan says he thinks the Giants should not only continue to roll with Eli this season -- he wants to see him under center NEXT season too.

As tough as it may be, Eli Manning NEVER wants to play for another team besides the New York Giants ... his dad Archie Manning tells TMZ Sports.

"I know he doesn't want to," Archie told us at LAX ... "Eli's theory is kinda, 'Go win a game.' So, that's kinda mine too. Hopefully, they can go win a game and win another game."

The Giants have been struggling this season -- and last season -- they're 4-20 in their last 24 games and even NFL legends like Terrell Owens have called for the org. to bench Eli and move on.

But, Archie's still optimistic -- "I think they can win some games and get going in a good direction."

We asked Archie if people should be pointing the finger at Eli ...

"A lot of people [are] on Eli and he's the quarterback and that's kinda the way it works."

And, how long does Archie think 37-year-old Eli will play in the NFL?

"Eli, I always said a quarterback north of 35 can play, if he's healthy, as long as his team's good. Last couple of years we haven't been that good, so hopefully, they can turn that around second half of the season."

Our guy also asked ... if the Giants can't turn things around, what's your advice to Eli?

"I'm sticking with Eli. Go win a game and don't look beyond that." He's hanging tough and we'll see what happens."

The Giants take on the 49ers on Monday night. Archie will definitely be watching.

Maybe Terrell Owens ain't so crazy after all ... because beloved ex-NY Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz tells TMZ Sports it might be time to finally sit Eli Manning.

Remember, T.O. strongly called for the Giants to move on from #10 -- saying the skills are "eroding" and "the writing's on the wall."

So, when we saw Cruz -- who won Super Bowl 46 after the 2011 season with Manning -- we had to ask if the Giants should bench their legendary QB.

"Maybe, yes at the moment," Cruz said ... "just to see what I got in my future. Just to see what's going on."

In other words, the Giants should test their backups to see if anyone can get the offense going.

The problem for the Giants -- their backup QB, Kyle Lauletta, was arrested in New Jersey earlier this week after cops say he almost ran over an officer with his car during a stop.

Might not be the right time to anoint him the QB of the future ...

As for Eli, if the Giants really do want to move on -- but Eli still wants to play in the League -- Cruz says he doesn't think Manning would have a problem getting hired somewhere else.

"It would be weird to see him in another jersey," Cruz told us ... "but I think he'll find a job somewhere for sure."

Terrell Owens is sick of the excuses in New York -- and says the Giants need to suck it up and BENCH Eli Manning already ... because it's obvious he just ain't got it anymore.

"Odell can't perform because the quarterback is not performing. So, they should basically replace the quarterback," the Hall of Famer tells TMZ Sports.

"I mean, if it was anybody else, any other quarterback, he would have already been replaced. So, at this point, give someone else an opportunity."

And, to the people calling Eli a "legend" -- Owens has a bone to pick with them too.

"He's won a couple of Super Bowls, but I wouldn't put him in the legendary status. I wouldn't put him in that legend status as of yet ... no disrespect."

Owens also says he's sick of people blaming Eli's offensive line -- saying other quarterbacks in the league have similar problems ... but elite players find a way to win.

"You have special players that are behind those not so great lines that can make something out of nothing. Eli's not one of those types of quarterbacks. He needs protection."

But, the bottom line for Owens -- "[Eli's] skills are pretty much eroding and he's not really giving the guys an opportunity."

One last thing, even though he's a Hall of Famer, 44-year-old Owens is trying to get a roster spot with the Buffalo Bills ... and he's even rocking the hat to curry favor with management.

11:38 AM PT -- New info directly from police ...

The Weehawken PD says Lauletta was driving a 2017 Jaguar in a "dangerous manner" around 8 AM.

When an officer tried to stop him, the QB "attempted to evade him, making an illegal turn and continuing towards Route 495, almost striking the officer."

Another officer then stopped Lauletta -- but the QB "refused various instructions to produce his driving credentials and exit his vehicle."

Lauletta was then arrested and charged with 3rd degree eluding police, obstructing administration of law, resisting arrest, reckless driving, disregarding an officer's directions, improper turn and failure to remain in a marked lane.

There's more ... cops say upon further investigation, they realized the 2017 Jaguar registered to the QB was involved in a similar incident the previous day.

Cops say a summons for the previous incident was sent by mail since the car left the scene.

Kyle Lauletta -- the NY Giants backup quarterback -- was arrested in New Jersey early Tuesday morning on his way to practice, law enforcement confirms to TMZ Sports.

The 23-year-old was pulled over in Weehawken -- and allegedly failed to obey a police officer's directions, according to NJ.com.

Lauletta reportedly came close to striking the officer with his car.

NY Giants head coach Pat Shurmur issued a statement saying, “We were made aware of the situation this morning, and we have been in contact with Kyle. We are still in the process of gathering information. This is obviously very disappointing.”

Lauletta is a rookie out of the University of Richmond. The Giants selected him in the 4th round of the 2018 Draft.

With the Giants playing like garbage this season, there has been a push for Shurmur to start Lauletta over Eli Manning when they face the 49ers on Nov. 12.

Story developing ...

New York Giants legend Amani Toomer tells TMZ Sports the problem in NY ain't Eli Manning ... it's his trash O-line!!!

Of course ... Amani's biased -- dude is rockin' a Super Bowl ring these days 'cause of Eli's heroics in SB XLII -- but he swears he's tellin' the truth.

"I'm not an Eli apologist," Toomer tells us ... "I just think that, in my honest opinion, I just don't think Eli's it -- I don't think he's the issue."

So, what is? Amani tells us to look at the five dudes in front of Manning for that.

"Realistically, there's not many quarterbacks that you can insert in this situation and get an appreciable difference."

As for the future of the franchise ... Amani says the team just needs to stick with Eli -- 'cause the ex-WR clearly HATES the idea of drafting QBs.

"I think when you're getting a rookie quarterback," Toomer says ... "you're wishing on a star."

Saquon Barkley is great -- but imagine how much better he'd be if he wasn't running behind the NY Giants "sorry" ass offensive line ... so says Eric Dickerson.

The NFL Hall of Famer was at the 29 at Rocco’s Tavern event in Studio City -- where we had to ask the running back if he thinks Barkley has a shot at his rookie rushing yards record (1,808).

But, ED shot that down -- saying, if Saquon wants to have a shot at ANY record, he needs help from the big boys up front ... and right now, that group is playing like trash.

The good news for Barkley -- ED says Todd Gurley was in a similar situation a few years ago, but the Rams brought in the help he needed, and now he's exploding all over the NFL.

The message -- "I don't care how great you are, if you're not getting the blocks, it's not gonna happen."

Lawrence Taylor says Bill Belichick is absolutely correct ... Khalil Mack ain't NOWHERE near his level -- and neither is anybody else!!!

Of course, the reason we're even talking about this is 'cause a reporter had the onions to ask The Hoody -- who coached L.T. in NY -- if Mack was on the same level as the Giants legend.

"We're talking about Lawrence Taylor now," Bill said Wednesday morning, stone-faced and kinda pissed.

"I'm not putting anybody in Lawrence Taylor's class. So, put everybody down below that."

L.T. didn't take long to agree ...

"What he said!! The mold was made never to be duplicated!!!"

FYI ... L.T. was the NFL's 1986 MVP (the last defensive player to win the award), a 10-time Pro Bowler, an 8-time First-Team All-Pro member AND a 2-time Super Bowl winner.

As for Mack, he does have a Defensive Player of the Year award under his belt and 3 Pro Bowls in his 4-plus seasons ... but yeah, he ain't no L.T.

The Giants SHOULDN'T bench Eli Manning -- they should block for his ass -- 'cause he's still a great QB ... so says the guy who won 2 Super Bowls with the embattled star.

TMZ Sports talked to Brandon Jacobs -- Eli's NYG teammate from 2005-2011 -- about the 1-5 Giants' crappy offense ... and whether it's time to put Manning on the pine.

"I still think right now, I think Eli is great."

B.J. says Eli's gotta be used right, 'cause he ain't the guy to operate a run-and-gun style offense.

"Eli's a pocket passer. He's a pocket passer. He'll sit there and get balls off and put balls in small areas. I've seen him do that."

It's true ... Jacobs was on the field for a bunch of huge moments -- including David Tyree's "Helmet Catch."

But, if Manning's still got it ... why do the Giants have the worst record in football?

Most of that blame falls on the NYG struggling O-line.

"I wouldn't trust the guys in front of me if I was him," Jacobs says ... "Ya ask me, the poor guy's shell-shocked."