Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Vick tells TMZ ... his involvement with a children's charity is not a publicity stunt to fix his image -- claiming he truly is a changed man ... thanks to his 2-year prison stint.

The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback just called in to "TMZ Live" to talk about his involvement with the Team Freedom Outreach -- a charity that recruits volunteers to play sports with children who are incarcerated.

During the conversation, Vick told us he's truly passionate about the cause -- and claims it's all because of an epiphany he had during his time in prison for running an illegal dog fighting ring.

"Sometimes it takes this ... for a person to go through certain hardships ... to realize what their purpose really is," Vick said.

"I think God placed it on my heart when I was incarcerated to come out and be the best person I can be and to help as many people as I can help."

Michael Vick is currently in Washington D.C. -- meeting with a powerful congressman in an effort to help incarcerated children get their lives on track ... TMZ has learned.

The Philadelphia Eagles QB got together with Rep. John Lewis from Georgia to push Team Freedom Outreach -- a charity that recruits volunteers to play sports with children who are incarcerated.

Vick says he's passionate about TFO because, "Many of these children who are incarcerated receive no visitors."

He adds, "Team Freedom Outreach gives them positive mentorship. It shows these kids that somebody cares. It helps them make a plan."

Second chances -- something Vick knows all about.

NFL superstar LeSean McCoy believes he has a smoking gun that proves he NEVER physically assaulted a woman on a party bus back in 2012 -- a text message -- and TMZ has a copy of the digital evidence.

The Philadelphia Eagles running back just filed new documents in his legal war with "Mary Roe" -- a woman who sued McCoy claiming she was assaulted and badly injured on his party bus back in December after she objected to being sprayed with water.

In his legal response, McCoy included a text message that "Roe" -- aka Brandi -- allegedly sent to another woman in which the accuser states, "Lesean [sic] didn't touch me physically."

In the text, Brandi says she has bruises and a lump on her head from the incident -- but she needs witnesses to back up her allegations that McCoy ordered his bodyguard to rough her up.

The alleged text continues, "I'm trying to keep Leseans [sic] name out of this even if he encouraged his body guard initially at first."

"I know this isn't a pretty situation but females go thru things like this all the time and it gets brushed under the rug or thrown out. I have 2 other girls that I'm hoping will at least speak to my lawyer as well."

Brandi is suing both McCoy and a man she believes to be his bodyguard for more than $50k in damages for assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment and negligence.

LeSean McCoy is adamant ... he NEVER assaulted a woman on a party bus back in December -- and claims his accuser is just trying to shake him down for some cash.

TMZ spoke with McCoy's lawyer, Andrew M. Smith, who tells us, "The allegations against LeSean McCoy are completely, unequivocally false."

Smith continues, "There are no criminal charges pending [against McCoy] and no probable cause was ever found."

As we previously reported, a woman using the alias "Mary Roe" filed a lawsuit against the Philadelphia Eagles star ... claiming she was assaulted and badly injured on McCoy's party bus back in December after she objected to being sprayed with water.

Cops say ... when they interviewed the woman shortly after the incident, she had no visible injuries.

McCoy's lawyer says, "This is sadly an attempt to extract money and LeSean will vigorously defend any attempt to collect money through a personal injury claim."

The woman who claims Eagles running back LeSean McCoy assaulted her on a party bus in December had no visible injuries when she met with cops on the night of the incident, cops tell TMZ.

New Jersey State Police Sergeant Brian Polite tells us ... officers did meet with a woman at a rest stop near the Jersey Turnpike on December 19, who claimed she had an altercation with a male on a party bus.

Sgt. Polite tells us ... during the initial meeting with the accuser, she never named McCoy as her attacker.

As we previously reported, the accuser -- using the alias "Mary Roe" -- filed a lawsuit against McCoy claiming she suffered major injuries to her head and back -- and bruises all over her body -- after McCoy and/or his bodyguard roughed her up and kicked her off the bus on December 19, 2012.

In her suit, Roe claims she got the boot because she resisted when McCoy tried to spray her with water while on the bus, which was heading back to Philly from an NYC nightclub.

But Sgt. Polite says ... when cops met with the accuser in the wake of the alleged incident, they did not observe ANY visible marks or injuries on her body.

NFL superstar LeSean McCoy has been sued by a woman who claims the running back humiliated her on a party bus -- sprayed her with a beverage -- and then booted her from the ride on the side of the Jersey Turnpike.

According to the lawsuit filed by a woman using the alias "Mary Roe" ... the Philadelphia Eagles RB had invited 15 women to join him on a party bus that went from Philly to a NYC nightclub on December 18, 2012.

During the trip, the lawsuit alleges, McCoy, along with his bodyguard and a couple of other guys, began to spray some of the women with water.

Roe claims she protested the water spraying ... so McCoy ordered his bodyguard Big John to "get her."

In the suit, filed May 10 in Philadelphia, the woman claims McCoy and/or Big John proceeded to hit her in the face, causing her to fall to the ground.

While she was on the floor, the men allegedly physically restrained her and poured a beverage onto her hair, clothes and body.

And if things couldn't get worse ... the woman claims McCoy and Big John then forcibly ejected her from the party bus on the side of the New Jersey Turnpike.

But some of the women allegedly complained to McCoy about Roe getting the boot -- so she was snatched back up from the side of the road and placed back on the bus.

The woman claims she was taken to a nearby rest stop -- where the football player once again ditched her -- and continued on with his party trip.

Roe is now suing for more than $50,000 in damages for assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment and negligence. Roe says she suffered head trauma, a disc protrusion on her spine, bad sprains, contusions and bruises all over her body, and severe shock.

We reached out to McCoy's reps -- and the Eagles -- so far, no word back.

Former Philadelphia Eagles QB and soup pitchman Donovan McNabb was put to the test -- when asked to name the best soup of all-time. Get ready ... for the first (and probably last) Soup-er Bowl!

DeSean Jackson's one of the top NFL players -- worth MILLIONS -- who can live anywhere in the world, and yet he chose to drop $1.65 million on a new crib ... IN THE VALLEY!!!!

Jackson -- who has a 5-year, $51-million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles -- purchased the 3,837-square-foot home in Tarzana, CA earlier this month .

Sources close to Jackson tell TMZ ... despite playing on the East Coast, Jackson's been renting a place in L.A. for years (he's from the area) ... and recently decided to upgrade to home-owner status.

As for the digs, it's worthy of the wide-receiver ... 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, hardwood floors, gourmet kitchen, guest house and giant backyard pool.

TMZ has learned ... Vick -- who cancelled his book tour after "credible threats" were called in to several Barnes & Noble stores across the country -- says he refuses to let his haters control his life.

Vick's rep tells us ... "Regardless of the past threats, he has millions of fans around the world and has been receiving countless messages of support. He will continue to keep an active schedule working with charities."

Mike will continue to work with the Team Freedom Outreach (recreation and visitation programs for youth detention centers) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization. We're told Mike has security measures in place in case more threats are made and plans on giving cops a heads up before he visits the centers.

"Mike is committed to helping make his community a better place," Vick's rep says ... adding, "[he] is determined to continue his work with charity and helping others."

Paris Jackson could go straight from high school to the pros ... because she's already drawing interest from the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleading squad ... TMZ has learned.

In fact, Eagles cheer-honcho Barbara Zaun tells TMZ ... she's seen the footage of Paris shaking her pom poms for her prep school's varsity squad recently and was super impressed ... saying, "We think Paris will make a great Eagle cheerleader!"

"We thought that she had a lot of poise, confidence, and enthusiasm in her cheer performance," Zaun says ... adding, "Paris has that 'wow factor' that makes a great cheerleader."

But Michael Jackson's 14-year-old daughter will have to wait a few years before she can join the squad ... because the ShEagles (we just made that up) require members to be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma.

Still, Barbara says when Paris is ready to don that Midnight green, black and silver ... Philly is more than happy to give her a shot.

"She is already very comfortable in the limelight, so we think she would definitely stand out and impress the judges ... We hope that she will try out for the team and be an Eagles cheerleader!"

Two days after tying the knot, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and his Eagles cheerleader bride Krystle Campbell took a break from enjoying their honeymoon to take part in the bizarre ritual of
trashing their wedding dress for a photo shoot in Maui on Monday.

For those who don't know, it's become somewhat of a trend for a newlywed couple to destroy the bride's expensive wedding gown -- often at a beach or lake -- and capture it on film.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid's son died from a self-injected heroin overdose ... according to the Coroner's investigation of Garrett Reid's death.

Garrett was found dead on August 5 in his room at Lehigh University ... where the Eagles were holding training camp.

The Northampton County Coroner and D.A.'s Office announced the results of their investigations -- and revealed they had found 47 syringes, 65 needles, and a number of spoons in Garrett's gym bag.

29-year-old Garrett had battled drug addiction for years.

Michael Vick has blown through nearly $30 million since filing for bankruptcy in 2008 -- nearly 95% of his total income -- TMZ has learned.

According to legal docs filed in his bankruptcy case, Vick made $31 million since he went belly up -- that includes his Eagles salary and various endorsements and other business ventures.

The math is pretty simple -- Vick had to pay a total of $29.6 mil -- of that, $10.9 went to taxes, $9.2 mil went to creditors, $2.7 went to lawyers and accountants, and the rest is for various things, including child support and living expenses.

All tolled, Vick is now left with around $1.5 mil. That's nothing to sneeze at, but considering what he made it's pretty shocking.

Things are looking up for the NFLer. Vick signed a 6 year, $100 million contract in 2011 ... with almost $40 mil in guaranteed money, so he won't be poor -- in rich terms -- for much longer.

The oldest son of Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid was found dead this morning in a dorm room at Lehigh University, this according to several reports.

The Lehigh University Chief of Police confirmed that Garrett Reid, 29, was found dead at Eagles training camp after a 911 call was placed at 7:20 AM ET. Reid was in camp assisting strength coaches.

Police said that at this point there is no evidence of foul play and the coroner’s office said that an investigation is ongoing.

Eagles GM Howie Roseman announced the news to the press this morning, saying of Reid, "He's been strong for us, we’re going to be strong for him right now."

Reid had a troubled past which included multiple drug-related arrests.

Jason Babin of the Philadelphia Eagles is living in an empty home -- because all of his family's belongings were jacked from storage ... including eight hunting shotguns worth around $12,000.

Babin tells TMZ he hired Houston Movers R' Us to move his family from Texas to Philadelphia back in August -- and asked them to put everything in storage until he found a home (this is his first season in Philly).

According to Babin, when he called the company a few weeks ago to send his stuff they gave him the run around ... before finally admitting his possessions were lost in a robbery.

Babin says NFL Security followed up with Houston PD ... and confirmed a police report was filed which included the serial numbers for his missing guns.

Babin claims the moving company is now refusing his calls and giving him fake phone numbers. TMZ made several calls to Houston Movers R' Us ... but we haven't heard back.

There have been multiple reports that the Oakland Raiders are the front-runners to acquire the Pro Bowl QB through a blockbuster trade -- but a source close to McNabb tells TMZ, "He does NOT want to play for the Raiders and would refuse the trade."

McNabb reportedly does not have a no-trade clause in his contract -- but according to Philly.com, he can refuse to negotiate a contract extension ... and most teams wouldn't trade away draft picks or players to get Donovan for the one measly year he has remaining on his current contract.