TMZ Sports - Page 11

The Chiefs sure looked like the best team in the AFC once again on Thursday night -- but Shawne Merriman tells TMZ Sports anyone who thinks the Chargers can't knock them off is simply delusional.

The Bolts legend didn't mince words when we caught up with him on Friday -- just hours after Kansas City knocked off Baltimore in a thrilling season-opener -- saying straight up, "If you're looking over the Chargers in this division, you're crazy."

Of course, Merriman's a bit biased -- he's remained a huge Chargers supporter even in retirement -- but he's adamant the feeling around this year's Los Angeles team under Jim Harbaugh is just different.

Peyton and Eli Manning really are getting "everybody" to help promote their popular "Manningcast" show ... enlisting none other than the Backstreet Boys to remix one of their biggest songs for the two NFL legends ahead of the new season!!

TMZ Sports has obtained a clip of Brian, AJ, Nick, Howie and Kevin giving an a cappella rendition of their mega hit, "Everybody" ... but instead of the famous lyrics we've all belted out over the past 27 years, they swapped them out for some Manningcast-themed lines.

"Everybody (yeeeaaaahhhh), watch the Manningcast (yeeeaaaahhhh)," the boy band legends sang. "Everybody, it's on Monday night ... Manningcast -- ALRIGHT!!"

Taylor Swift may not have had her BFF Brittany Mahomes by her side on Thursday night, but that didn't stop her from letting loose at the Chiefs game ... check out new video TMZ Sports has obtained from her evening in her suite seats -- she was going nuts!!

Swift -- who eschewed one of her normal chairs at Arrowhead Stadium next to Patrick Mahomes' wife for a spot adjacent to Travis Kelce's parents -- was seen throughout Kansas City's opener rooting on her man and his teammates vs. Baltimore very enthusiastically.

Before the start of the game, she could be seen pressing her hands against the luxury box's glass to get pumped up.

Dave Castro -- the creator and director of the CrossFit Games -- is apologizing to Luka Đukić and his family following the death of his brother, Lazar ... admitting he made a mistake with comments he made after the tragedy.

Castro released the statement Thursday night on his Instagram page ... responding to Luka's lengthy statement about how things played out in the hours after Lazar drowned during an event -- specifically how Castro claimed the Games would continue with the Đukić family's blessing.

"I should never have said that the decision to continue the CrossFit Games in August was 'blessed' by their family," Castro said. "At the time, the decision was made to continue the Games and allow our athletes to compete -- and we respected those athletes who decided to withdraw."

"Basketball Wives" star Jennifer Williams' wedding plans are hitting a speed bump -- her fiancé Christian Gold is going to jail a week before he's supposed to be at the altar ... TMZ has learned.

Christian was taken into custody Friday morning in Georgia's DeKalb County courthouse for a probation violation. The judge sentenced Christian to 15 days behind bars, which must have been a major shock for Jennifer, who was in court supporting her man.

However, the judge showed some mercy for the couple's marital plans -- Christian's going to do 2 days in jail for now, and then he'll be temporarily released, so he can walk down the aisle.

Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes may be on the outs ... because they sat in different suites at the Kansas City Chiefs home opener -- and politics could be to blame.

The pop superstar watched boyfriend/tight end Travis Kelce lead the Chiefs to a 27-20 victory against the Baltimore Ravens from inside a crowded suite at Arrowhead Stadium.

Brittany, on the other hand, took in the game with her little daughter Sterling Skye from a different suite, keeping an eye on her hubby -- Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Danica Patrick was at Burning Man with a new man ... and based on the former driver's social media behavior Thursday night -- it's pretty serious!

Take a look at a carousel of pics the 42-year-old just dropped on her Instagram page ... while there were several snaps of her enjoying The Burn alone, there were two showing her getting awfully cozy with a hunky guy.

In the first one, Patrick could be seen smooching the dude in the dust. In the second, you can see her locking lips with her new lover on some Playa swings.

Patrick Mahomes ain't just the best player on the Chiefs, he might be the top teammate too ... 'cause he went to epic lengths to make sure star rookie Xavier Worthy didn't lose his first-ever NFL touchdown ball.

Check out the quarterback's actions following Worthy's 21-yard scamper to the endzone in the first quarter of Kansas City's season-opening win over Baltimore ... No. 15 barely celebrated the six points -- and instead, raced toward an official.

Mahomes had apparently realized the 21-year-old dropped the pigskin in the big moment ... and he went to retrieve it for the 2024 first-round pick before it was lost.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely absolutely unloaded on a heckling fan after narrowly losing to the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday ... firing back by screaming out, "f*** you, bitch" -- and it was all caught on camera.

The wild moment went down minutes after the Ravens' 27-20 loss ... a game that ended with Likely's toe landing out of bounds in the back of the end zone when Baltimore tried to tie things up in the final seconds.

24-year-old Likely -- who had a stellar night with nine receptions, 111 yards and a touchdown -- was fuming over the failed comeback ... 'cause when a presumed Chiefs fan yelled out "you stink" as he made his way through the Arrowhead Stadium tunnel, he lost his cool.

Popular YouTuber Paul Harrell shared a grim message to all of his fans ... He's dead!

Harrell's manager, Brad Nelson, posted a prerecorded YT video from December 2023, showing Harrell in a wooded area explaining why he's no longer among the living.

As he stared into the camera, Harrell said his pancreatic cancer had spread throughout his body, getting into his bones.

Taylor Swift is all in for her boo Travis Kelce’s new NFL "Era" ... because she just showed up in style to cheer him on as the Chiefs face off against the Ravens in the season opener.

The singer’s on break from her epic tour, so she's showing love and support for Travis and his team as they kick off another winning season Thursday night in Kansas City ... and she arrived about an hour before kickoff.

Taylor pulled up to Arrowhead Stadium in a denim outfit ... with red boots rising all the way up past her knees, plus a cute little purse.

The Windy City can now let out a big exhale ... Simone Biles has just ensured TMZ Sports she has so much Chicago swag in her closet now, there should be no more Packers attire on her at Soldier Field going forward.

Biles, of course, ruffled plenty of Bears supporters' feathers with her wardrobe earlier this summer ... when she was seen at her hubby Jonathan Owens' Aug. 17 preseason game wearing a grip of Green Bay logos on her jacket.

It obviously wasn't meant to be any shade -- the piece was just a tribute to Owens, who had played for the Bears' biggest rival for the entirety of 2023, before signing on with Chicago this offseason.

Rudy Gobert was forced to use his award-winning defense on Shaquille O'Neal on Thursday ... firing back after the Hall of Famer called him the worst player in the NBA.

The Big Aristotle didn't mince his words during a sit-down with his son, Myles, this week ... when he claimed the Minnesota Timberwolves big man "can't f***ing play" and didn't deserve his five-year, $205 million contract.

Shaq insisted he wasn't being a hater ... just stating facts, as there are so many people in the world with "real" jobs who don't get paid nearly as much.

Prosecutors in New Mexico want another bite at the apple when it comes to Alec Baldwin, Jamie Foxx is going to address his health scare for the first time, and Ludacris is breaking out the big guns ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Charles and Babcock explain why prosecutors are trying to get another trial in the "Rust" shooting case.

Ryan Garcia and his ex have resolved their issues ... reaching an agreement this week that'll cost the star boxer tens of thousands each month -- but will at least dissolve the restraining order he recently had levied against him.

Court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, show the 26-year-old pugilist and his estranged wife, Andrea Celina Velarde, formally struck the deal and got the judge to sign off on it Thursday morning in Los Angeles.

As part of the arrangement, Garcia agreed to fork over $23,663 a month to Andrea ... in addition to paying up to $20,000 monthly for one of her credit card bills. He also said he'd pay for all of the expenses involved with her 2024 Range Rover -- and all of the health, vision and dental insurance for her and their two children.

Travis Kelce's embracing his relationship role ... saying he understands he's arm candy for Taylor Swift -- and, that suits him just fine.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end opened up about his relationship during an interview on "CBS Mornings" in anticipation of his Pepsi commercial with Megan Thee Stallion ... based on the iconic 2004 ad starring Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Pink and Enrique Iglesias.

TK's cracking up in the clip, still dressed in his Roman gladiator garb for the commercial ... saying it seems he's chosen the arm candy role -- which he says is basically a tradeoff for all the cool, fun activities and sponsorships he takes part in.