NY Giants

This is the most respectful way we've ever seen anyone call for a QB to hit the pine ...

The guy calling for Eli Manning to bench himself is Treach -- the leader of Naughty By Nature -- who happens to be a HUGE fan of the NY Giants.

Treach respects Eli. He likes Eli. He appreciates Eli.

But, he makes it crystal clear the future Hall of Famer's time is up -- dude needs to hand over the reins to a new quarterback.

"He loves the game so much, but he might need to fall back and show the team how to do it and let new legs come in," Treach said ... "But, he did great things for us. We gonna love him forever."

Treach is the latest rapper to weigh in on the NY Giants saga -- Lil Wayne took a shot at Eli on Tuesday after the QB told reporters he doesn't watch Weezy very often.

Eli was responding to an interview Odell Beckham did with Lil Wayne and Josina Anderson in which Odell said he "wasn't being given an opportunity to be the very best that I can."

He also said the Giants lacked heart.

Eli was asked about the interview on Monday and said, "I don't watch Lil Wayne much."

Wayne responded on Tuesday morning, saying, "You don't have to watch much of me, but you can listen if you could. You probably need to the way you've been playing."

Meanwhile, the Giants are 1-4 and in last place ... and they're playing the Eagles on Thursday.

Bruce Springsteen looked the way a lot of NY Giants fans felt Sunday after a gut-wrenching loss against the Carolina Panthers ... with the game slipping away in the final seconds.

The Boss was spotted at Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, New Jersey watching the Giants game with friends. The team was up by a point after a clutch touchdown by rookie Saquon Barkley in the last minute of the game -- but Cam and co. came charging back up the field.

As great of a play as Saquon made, it was trumped by Panthers kicker Graham Gano in the last 6 seconds of the game ... when he kicked a 63-yard field goal to win it 33-31.

Now, we don't know if Bruce was watching these last few plays -- but based on how down and out he looks here ... we're just gonna say it's very possible. Eyewitnesses tell us he rode to the bar on his motorcycle earlier in the day, and had some beer and a burger while there.

Eli Manning still has the full support of NY Giants co-owner Steve Tisch ... who tells TMZ Sports, "Do not count Eli out!"

Of course, Eli struggled last year and was benched in Week 13 for Geno Smith. And, with the Giants going 1-2 in their first three games this season, some fans are wondering if the Manning era is over.

Not Tisch though ... who says he believes in the 37-year-old -- but wouldn't commit to Manning in 2019 and beyond.

"One game at a time," Tisch told us in Beverly Hills on Tuesday ... "We're going into Week 4. It's a long season. Hopefully an exciting season."

So, who would replace Eli if Tisch and the Giants have a change of heart? Technically, the #2 QB on the depth chart is Alex Tanney from Monmouth College.

Nothing would make Tiki Barber happier than to see Saquon Barkley break his NY rushing record this season ... 'CAUSE IT WOULD MEAN HIS GIANTS WOULDN'T SUCK ANYMORE!!

"If he breaks my records, then that means good things," the NY legend tells TMZ Sports.

Tiki holds a grip of Giants records ... but it's his 1,860-yard, single-season rushing total that many have said could be within reach for Barkley by season's end.

And, if you think Barber is secretly hoping the star rookie falls short of that ... you'd be wrong.

"That means good things for the New York Giants," Tiki says.

Barber's ex-teammate, Amani Toomer, seems to think it's certainly possible the record falls this year ... 'cause the ex-receiver tells us Saquon was undoubtedly the most impressive NFL rookie of Week 1!!

Just when you thought Odell Beckham Jr.'s 2018 could not get ANY better ... super hot Instagram model Lindsey Pelas has invited OBJ to one of the most wondrous, mystical places in the world ... her DMs.

Little backstory ... Lindsey is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and went to LSU at the same time Odell did ... even though she says they never met while they were on campus (what were you thinking Beckham?!).

We got Pelas in L.A. and asked if she's looking for a reunion with her fellow Tiger now that he has the richest NFL WR contract of all time ($95 million) ... and she said all DMs are OPEN ... but she won't send one first.

"I think ... I should be on the receiving end ... I might catch it."

Odell, we know you're not a QB ... but might be time to throw, bro.

Victor Cruz doesn't seem to be bored in his new life after football -- the recently retired NFL star spent his Wednesday night having a fancy dinner with Drake!

Cruz hung up his cleats after 6 seasons with the NY Giants -- in which he racked up 4,549 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns. Not a bad stint.

Cruz reportedly made close to $30 million in contract money during his career.

After he made his retirement official last week, Cruz signed a deal with ESPN to be an NFL analyst.

Fast forward to Wednesday night ... and Cruz was leaving Nobu in New York with the 6 God.

Life is good!

By the way, when he's not hanging with world-famous rap stars, Cruz is dating Karrueche Tran.

Forget helping kids in poor countries ... Michael Blackson says Odell Beckham needs to spend that new NFL jack on something even more important -- "I'll be your personal comedian!"

Blackson -- whose nephew, Eli Apple, is a starter for the NY Giants -- says he's super happy that Odell managed to secure the bag, but now he needs to spread some of that bread around.

"All I want for you to do is spend that money on some good causes," Blackson said ... "Help the children in China, Argentina, Guatemala. You know what, f**k the kids. Help me out, man!"

"Get me a job, I'll be your personal comedian! I'll follow you around, I'll make you laugh without tickling you!"

Blackson says he'll cheer Odell up on bad days -- and since he plays for the Giants, he's gonna have a lot of bad days!

And, Michael says he's so serious about working for Odell, he'll even bleach his hair blonde to fit in.

Odell Beckham, you're about to sign the largest contract extension for a WR in the history of the NFL -- what are you gonna do next??

Forget Disneyland, Odell just had a locker room dance party with Sterling Shepard while bumping "For The Love Of Money" by The O'Jays.

... and it's awesome!!!

Odell is reportedly about to finalize his new deal with the New York Giants -- a 5-year deal worth up to $95 MILLION with $65 guaranteed, according to ESPN and NFL Network.

For perspective ... the largest WR contracts are currently held by guys like Antonio Brown (4-years, $68 mil) and Mike Evans (5-years worth up to $82.5 million).

Think Odell's happy about it? Judging by the video, he's over the moon -- dude is dancing like he just won the lottery ... and he kinda just did!

Did you know Ja Rule is a huge NY Giants fan?? Neither did we ... but it's true -- and he's guaranteeing his favorite squad will run through the NFC this season!!

"G-Men going all the way this year," he tells TMZ Sports. "We're going to the Bowl! I said it first!"

The rapper was leaving Palace Hotel in NYC when he made the bold prediction ... and his thoughts on the Giants didn't end there.

The lucky NY Giants fan who got Baker Mayfield's 1st-ever touchdown pass Thursday night -- THREW IT BACK ON THE FIELD ... and the whole thing is on video.

Baker hit Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku for a 10-yard strike in the 2nd quarter -- and Njoku tried to gift the ball to a fan in the end zone.

But, the fan wasn't a Browns supporter -- or a fan of money -- because he took the valuable pigskin and fired it right back onto the field in disgust ... screaming and yelling the entire time.

The fan then started pointing to his Giants hat while the crowd at MetLife Stadium in NJ cheered him on.

Ultimately, Big Blue lost the game -- and the fan lost an opportunity to turn that collector's item into a serious profit.

NY Giants co-owner Steve Tisch -- who's also a huge movie producer -- says he's down to put Odell Beckham Jr. in one of his flicks ... BUT, there's a catch.

"After a long career," Tisch tells TMZ Sports.

Still ... Tisch has produced movies like "The Equalizer," "Southpaw" and "Forrest Gump" (he won an Oscar) -- and can you fathom OBJ in any of those down the road?!

As for if Tisch envisions the receiver spending that long football career in New York ... he didn't exactly specify -- but his tone seems to suggest the Giants DO want to pay him long-term.

The man suing Odell Beckham for an alleged brutal beatdown at the NFL star's home is escalating the war -- now claiming he has proof Odell tried to illegally pay a woman for sex.

But, Odell's team claims it's all BS.

It's all in new court docs filed in California ... in which Ishmael Temple claims he was at Beckham's Beverly Hills home back in January, when the NFL star turned on him and allegedly ordered his employees to beat him up.

Temple claims he suffered major injuries, including broken teeth. He initially sued for $15 mil.

Odell's camp vehemently denied the allegations -- claimed Beckham had no involvement in any violence -- and claimed Beckham was being extorted by a man who filed a frivolous lawsuit.

But, Temple's lawyers have filed new docs -- including an alleged email exchange with Beckham's attorneys -- and it's loaded with new bombshell allegations.

Among them, Temple's attorney claims, "We have evidence of your client offering $1k to sleep with a girl from Arizona visiting L.A. known to my client."

Temple's lawyer also says they have "evidence of drugs of the most prohibited types readily available and consumed at his parties."

In the docs, Temple's lawyer claims he initially offered to drop his case against Beckham for a $225,000 settlement -- but later rescinded that offer. Unclear why.

We reached out to Odell's camp for comment and were told -- "Odell Beckham Jr., through his attorney, denies all of the allegations."

One thing's for sure ... this case is as nasty as it gets, and it doesn't look like it's going away any time soon.

Baker Mayfield's ex-Oklahoma teammate is going to bat for the Browns QB ... with Sterling Shepard telling TMZ Sports his boy is really NOT fat -- despite a very unflattering photo on social media.

The Cleveland Browns rookie has been getting criticized over a pic he took Tuesday night with gaming legend Ninja -- in which he appears to be a little thick around the midsection.

So, when we got Shep out in NYC on Thursday -- the Giants receiver told us the camera angle must've been distorted ... not Mayfield's waistline.

"He lookin' good, man, I've been training with him," Sterling says.

"He's been grinding. I already know my man's going to be ready. Ain't worried about that."

A healthy Odell Beckham ... a new left tackle ... a couple high draft picks -- Saquon Barkley says it'll all turn Eli Manning's career back around!!

... Maybe.

We got the NY Giants' star rookie leaving Delilah and had to ask ... will all the team's new additions be enough to make Eli a good QB again??

"Hopefully!" he told TMZ Sports. "Hopefully. I think Eli looked great in camp."

Saquon knows all about what it takes to carry something heavy (did you see his uphill farmer's carry?!) ... but we gotta say, lifting Manning out of his end-of-career funk seems like a helluva task.

Saquon Barkley is gonna put his big, round, sweaty, naked ... THIGHS ... on his wall -- 'cause the NY Giants star tells TMZ Sports he's framing his ESPN Body Issue pics!!

And ... can ya blame him??

The 6-foot, 233-pound running back showed off his oily, clothesless body for the mag's annual nude edition ... and we gotta say -- he killed it.

As for how he got that jacked body ... Barkley told us at CC Sabathia's charity softball game at Yankee Stadium ... it's sometimes fueled by spicy chicken sandwiches, french fries and strawberry milkshakes.

Dude says he doesn't even consider that a "cheat meal" too!!

The brother of NY Giants star Janoris Jenkins has been charged with aggravated manslaughter in the death of a man found in the basement of JJ's New Jersey home ... officials say.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... William Jenkins was taken into custody early Tuesday morning on an unrelated parole warrant violation.

But now, officials clearly believe that, before they arrested Jenkins, he killed Roosevelt Rene ... the man discovered at Janoris' home.

Rene's body was not found until roughly 9 hours after William was arrested. But, once they started investigating ... they believe they found enough evidence to connect William to the killing.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office says the investigation is ongoing and notes that the charges are "merely accusations. Defendant presumed innocent."