Philadelphia Eagles

Terrell Owens has some strong words for his former 'Celebrity Apprentice' boss ... telling Donald Trump when it comes to the Eagles, YOU WERE REJECTED FIRST!

T.O. was leaving Avra Estiatorio in Beverly Hills when we asked the former Eagles WR for his thoughts on Trump uninviting the Eagles to the White House.

"I'm sure it wasn't him uninviting the Eagles. I'm sure they didn't wanna go! So, how does he uninvite people that didn't wanna go?! Come on dog, let's keep it real!"

According to Trump himself ... only a "small number of players" were planning on attending the Super Bowl ceremony Tuesday morning, so he pulled the invite rather than have a small showing.

As for Terrell's opinion on the NFL's new national anthem rule?

"It is what it is ... I just think they're taking away people's freedom of speech."

Donald Trump has announced the plans for the Philadelphia Eagles to visit the White House to celebrate the Super Bowl victory is officially OFF ... and POTUS is making it seem like it was his decision.

Instead, Trump says he will still have the United States Marine Band and the United Army Chorus playing the national anthem at 1600 Pennsylvania ... while he stands proudly and watches.

The team was scheduled to visit on Tuesday ... without several key members from the team who opted out as a way to protest Trump's stance on the national anthem.

But, Trump says the "smaller delegation" of players who accepted the invite are no longer coming because "the fans deserve better."

"The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow."

"They disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our country."

"The Eagles wanted to send a smaller delegation, but the 1,000 fan planning to attend the event deserve better."

"These fans are still invited to the White House to be part of a different type of ceremony-one that will honor our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the National Anthem."

The man who allegedly punched a police horse outside a Philadelphia Eagles 2018 playoff game is suing the team and police ... claiming he was brutally beaten by cops for NO REASON.

And he's adamant he did NOT intentionally punch that horse.

The man behind the suit is Andrew Tornetta ... who was arrested Jan. 21 outside Lincoln Financial Field in Philly before the Eagles crushed the Vikings in the NFC Championship.

At the time, cops said Tornetta punched a police horse with a closed fist TWICE while mounted officers were attempting to break up a violent tailgating situation.

But, Tornetta says the allegations are horse crap ... claiming he was innocently hanging out when the mounted cops rode up on him, grabbed him and started dragging him.

In the lawsuit, Tornetta says at least two cops unsheathed their batons and began beating him multiple times -- and he suffered serious injuries to his back, skull and face.

Tornetta says cops then provided a misleading statement to investigators -- saying he punched the horse -- when in fact, he never intentionally struck anyone ... human or equine.

On top of the injuries, Tornetta says he was "demonized on social media and internet sites reporting upon his assault on police and his cruelty towards an animal."

Tornetta is suing the two cops involved (a State Trooper and a Philly PD officer) and the Eagles organization -- claiming the security officers weren't properly trained.

The Philadelphia Eagles have officially been invited to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl win ... and now the question is -- who's gonna show up?

The folks at 1600 Penn. announced the invite Thursday afternoon, saying "President Trump looks forward to welcoming the Philadelphia Eagles to the White House on June 5th to celebrate their Super Bowl LII win.”

The Eagles seemed to accept the invite saying ... they're "working through the logistics of a trip to Washington DC, including a visit to the White House, on June 5th."

Here's the thing ... several prominent players have made it VERY clear they have no interest in meeting up with Trump ... including Torrey Smith, Chris Long, Malcolm Jenkins and Dannell Ellerbe.

FYI -- the last team to be so outspoken about Trump -- the Golden State Warriors -- had their White House invite pulled after Stephen Curry opposed the visit.

So, while the whole team might visit the nation's capital next month ... there probably won't be perfect attendance when the players head over to Trump's crib.

Terrell Owens LOVES him some him ... even in retirement!!

Now that the NFL legend is FINALLY getting into the Hall of Fame this year ... T.O. got to get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the bronze bust that'll live forever in Canton.

The 6-time Pro Bowler flew to Utah on Thursday to get the ball rolling on the project ... and in true T.O. fashion, he seemed to enjoy looking at the dozens of reference pics of himself pinned on the board.

As for the bust creator himself, Blair Buswell ... he's legit. He's made over 80 busts for the NFL HOF -- and told Owens he's also doing Randy Moss' and Ray Lewis' this year.

4:48 PM PT -- A rep for Ajayi tells TMZ Sports the lawsuit is bogus ... adamantly denying Jay ever physically pushed the owner of the home.

They also deny Jay damaged the property in any way ... or hosted any parties.

Instead they claim the owner tried to get Jay and his friend to pay him cash directly -- bypassing the Airbnb website -- so they say they left the house several days early ... but still paid the full rate.

Ajayi's people also say the group filed a complaint against the home owner with Airbnb.

NFL star Jay Ajayi shoved the owner of a fancy L.A. mansion who charged the Eagles running back $25k in damages for trashing the place ... this according to a new lawsuit obtained by TMZ Sports.

The 24-year-old is being sued by the owner of a swanky 6,000 square foot pad located above the famous Sunset Strip ... where the RB and a friend stayed back in February for 5 days after Ajayi won the Super Bowl.

According to the suit, Ajayi and his buddy threw at least 3 parties at the house despite the fact they were specifically told -- NO PARTIES!

In fact, the owner claims he charged a $5,000 fee for each party at the home ... which Ajayi never paid.

Additionally, the owner claims Ajayi broke a table, scratched some floors and violated the no smoking rule.

In total, Ajayi racked up $25,000 in penalty fees -- but when the owner confronted Jay on Feb. 18, he claims Ajayi "pushed [him] on [his] chest in a menacing and threatening manner."

The owner describes the incident as battery -- and said he had to call local security to remove the NFL star from the property.

Chris Long's quest to be the wokest man in the NFL continues -- he tells TMZ Sports he didn't celebrate his Super Bowl win in Vegas, L.A. or Miami ... instead going to Africa to build wells with his charity.

Long was out in NYC when we asked if he's still celebrating the Eagles' victory over the New England Patriots -- he isn't -- then we asked what huge party spot he hit to turn up after the historic win.

Prepare to feel bad about yourself.

"I went to Tanzania actually, to work on my charity called Waterboys.org."

If you didn't know, Waterboys.org is an organization started by Long that unites players from the NFL for the goal of bringing life-sustaining well water to East African countries.

John Lennon was not a saint. In fact, The Beatles legend is a "bad guy" ... so says NFL star Chris Long.

Long was responding to a Twitter challenge where he was supposed to state a "controversial yet unproblematic opinion" ... and he wrote, "John Lennon was a bad guy."

The Philadelphia Eagles stud doubled down in all caps -- "JOHN LENNON WAS A BAD GUY AND IF THIS MAKES YOU MAD UNFOLLOW ME."

When asked why he felt this way, Long responded, "It’s easier for me because I don’t care for the Beatles. I don’t feel a need to cape for an abuser."

Long is clearly referring to Lennon's admission that he physically abused women -- something he touched on during a 1980 Playboy interview.

"All that 'I used to be cruel to my woman, I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved' was me. I used to be cruel to my woman, and physically -- any woman."

"I was a hitter. I couldn't express myself and I hit. I fought men and I hit women. That is why I am always on about peace, you see. It is the most violent people who go for love and peace."

"Everything's the opposite. But I sincerely believe in love and peace. I am not violent man who has learned not to be violent and regrets his violence. I will have to be a lot older before I can face in public how I treated women as a youngster."

In fact, his first wife, Cynthia, wrote a book and said Lennon once slapped her in the face.

Meek Mill is well beyond prison walls now, and any merch signaling otherwise oughta be corrected to reflect his current sitch -- according to Meek himself, who did just that for a fan.

Philly fan Zack Rothenberg spotted Meek sitting in his SUV Saturday after the 76ers game against Boston, and approached the car by foot (in the middle of traffic, mind you) for an autograph on his custom Eagles jersey ... which reads "Free Meek" on the back.

Meek happily obliged, but rather than his usual John Hancock, he signed the jersey with "Meek Free!" We're told the rapper liked it so much, he took a photo of the jersey himself. He doesn't appear to have posted it yet, however.

As we've reported ... Meek's been the toast of the town in Philly since being released from prison a couple weeks ago. He was choppered to the Wells Fargo Center to catch Game 5 of the Heat series, and was allowed to ring the ceremonial bell before tip-off.

Another member of the Philadelphia Eagles' 2017 Super Bowl team says he's not planning on going to Trump's White House with the team ... this time it's linebacker Dannell Ellerbe.

"Me personally, I wouldn't go," Ellerbe says ... noting, "I've already been before."

Ellerbe -- who's now a free agent -- is referring to the Super Bowl ring he won as a member of the 2012 Baltimore Ravens team. That squad visited then-President Barack Obama.

But, several Eagles players have stated they're not feeling the current President and will not attend the ceremony at 1600 Penn ... including Torrey Smith, Chris Long and Malcolm Jenkins.

Plus, it recently came out that Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie had made some anti-Trump comments -- calling his presidency, "disastrous."

3:02 PM PT -- The Eagles have officially released Daryl Worley from the team.

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Daryl Worley was reportedly tased and arrested by police after he was found passed out in his car near the team's practice facility.

According to reports, Worley was arrested early Sunday morning after cops discovered him in a vehicle -- which allegedly contained a gun inside -- around the Eagles' South Philly facility. He allegedly became combative with officers, was reportedly subdued by taser.

Michael Irvin says it's a damn shame some Eagles are boycotting Trump's White House ... and hopes the time-honored tradition can continue once POTUS is outta office.

"I hate that we're at that place," Irvin told TMZ Sports. "Hopefully we can get back to that, if not this President's term, maybe the next."

Remember, The Playmaker won 3 rings with the Cowboys ... so it wasn't a surprise when he told us he thinks the ceremony's a BIG deal.

That said, Mike says he realizes times have changed with #45 in the Oval Office ... so when it comes to Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Long and the other Eagles skippin' out on the visit, he ain't gonna hold it against them.

Michael Bennett allegedly yelled "y'all must know who I am. I could own this mother f***er," before pushing an elderly paraplegic woman and injuring her shoulder ... this according to cops in Texas.

Houston PD just held a news conference to break down the Bennett incident at Super Bowl LI ... where he allegedly broke through locked doors at the southwest corner of the NRG Stadium tunnels.

Bennett was indicted by a Grand Jury today ... and charged with injuring an elderly person ... a felony. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

HPD says one of their officers witnessed Bennett push 3 stadium employees... injuring the 66-year-old who was in a heavy, motorized wheelchair. Cops say the wheelchair did not flip over, however, the woman was pushed back.

There is no video of the incident, according to cops.

Eagles star Brent Celek is taking a line from "Terminator" in his heartfelt farewell to Philly -- telling fans not to be sad about him getting released 'cause, "I'll be back."

Brent -- who missed only 1 regular-season game in 11 SEASONS with the team -- says he's not 100% on continuing his playing career ... but no matter if it's on the field or off, he's gonna fly with the Super Bowl LII champs in the future.

"One day I'll be back with the Eagles in some capacity," Celek told TMZ Sports.

"When -- who knows? But, I love that organization ... I owe it to 'em."

Brent's also got nothing but love for Philly and its hardcore fans -- saying they've been great to him since he got drafted by the team in 2007.

Case in point -- the standing O they gave him at the 76ers game on Tuesday ... just hours after he was released.

Brent described everything it meant to him ... and you're gonna need some tissues.

Super Bowl hero Trey Burton has a message for the Philadelphia Eagles -- please don't make me leave and find a new team!!

Burton is the tight end who completed the "Philly Special" to Nick Foles on 4th and Goal in Super Bowl 52 ... a key play in Philly's 41-33 victory over the Patriots. He instantly became a fan favorite in Philly.

Problem is ... he's now a free agent and he hasn't received an offer from Philly.

We spoke with Burton who says he REALLY wants to continue his career with the Eagles -- where he's spent his entire career since entering the league in 2014 ... but he also understands it's a business.

"I wanna be back here," Burton says ... adding, "The ball's not really in my court. It's in their court."

Burton caught 5 TDs last season and some people think he could be the best tight end available in free agency.

So, where would he end up? Burton says he's down to play anywhere (even Cleveland!)-- but his goal is to return to the Super Bowl champs.

Eagles RB LeGarrette Blount's deeply disturbed by the situation with ex-NFL lineman Jonathan Martin, but hopes catching an early warning sign is good for everyone ... including Martin.

We got Blount at LAX Friday and talked about the troubling gun photo JM posted on IG -- which cops are treating as a serious threat ... he tells us he believes the guy needs some serious help.

LeGarrette says he can't really relate to Martin's history of being bullied because it didn't happen to him, but he's witnessed it for others ... and suggests it could be contributing to Jonathan's behavior.

What's interesting is he seems to imply that Martin's bullying case in 2013 helped alleviate the issue in the NFL overall -- he says it's almost nonexistent today.