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Tom Brady is used to being the best.

For 23 seasons, he was the most dominant quarterback in the NFL, and it could be argued that no player in the history of the league has ever played the position with greater skill.

But after decades of dismantling opposing defenses, Brady has finally encountered an adversary capable of neutralizing his prodigious talents.

(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

We’re talking, of course, about the broadcasting booth.

Tom Not-So-Terrific

Yes, if you’re a football fan then you’ve probably heard the criticisms of Tom Brady’s color commentary for Fox.

It’s been one of the inescapable narratives of this season, right up there with the awful officiating and the Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce breakup rumors.

For the sake of fairness, we should note that Brady is not the most unqualified announcer ever to call an NFL game.

(Photo by...

To celebrate its 20th anniversary next week, ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is going back to the beginning. The late-night series will air a special episode in primetime on Thursday, January 26, featuring guests from the original premiere in 2003: George Clooney, Snoop Dogg and Coldplay.

The special will air that night at 10 p.m. Et, and then repeat again in the normal “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” slot at 11:35 p.m. That marks 20 years to the day that the show premiered, on Sunday, January 26, 2003.

“As everybody might imagine, it feels like it went by in the blink of an eye and it also feels like it’s been going on since the Middle Ages,” Kimmel tells Variety. “But it definitely gives me a sense of accomplishment. Especially when you go back and watch some of the old shows and you’re like, ‘wow, this is this is very unprofessional.’ Those nights...

The “what if?” game has always fascinated me: What if Donald Trump had been cast in Shark Tank rather than The Apprentice (it was Mark Burnett’s call)? He likely would have been broke rather than president.

I cite this to remind readers that Hollywood plays a role in our politics as well as in our pop culture, and hence the town would do well to heed the cultural shift reflected in this week’s election results. The audience is changing — will movies and TV change accordingly?

Related Story Peter Bart: Hollywood Honchos Are In A Likability Lull, But Does It Really Matter? Related Story 'Armageddon Time' Director James Gray Reveals Real-Life Tragic Circumstances Of A Key Character In His Autobiographical Film – Telluride Q&a Related Story 'SNL's Weekend Update Tackles Jon Gruden Resignation, Bisexual Superman, Wildfire At Reagan's Ranch, Timothée Chalamet Starrer 'Wonka' & IATSE...

Jon Gruden has sued the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell, claiming they “sought to destroy the career and reputation” of the former Las Vegas Raiders coach, according to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Clark County District Court in Nevada, one month after Gruden resigned from the Raiders following reports that he used racist, homophobic and misogynistic language in emails. The emails, which were first reported by The Wall Street Journal, emerged during the course of an investigation into alleged workplace misconduct at the Washington Football Team,...

On this week’s edition of Saturday Night Live, Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che covered a wide array of topics, ranging from the Jon Gruden scandal to the announcement of a bisexual Superman and beyond.

Jost noted that Raiders head coach Gruden resigned “after the discovery of homophobic, misogynistic and racist emails he sent,” acknowledging that “clearly, the emails are indefensible.

“But does anyone want to be judged by their old emails? I mean, if you could see half of the emails [Michael] Che sends me…Actually, I’ll show you one,” he continued. “The subject line says ‘Listen Up Honky’ and then the body of the email just says ‘I wish they got you instead of Harambe.'”

Jost later addressed DC Comics’ recent announcement that the new Superman will be bisexual. “They also announced,” he joked, “that The Riddler has always been down for whatever.”

Che...

How many Saturday Night Live cast members does it take to cover every terrible thing about the National Football League? Does the show even have enough actors? In this weekend’s cold open, we found out.

Let’s count….

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For starters, 1) Cecily Strong starts off as the NFL’s Head of PR – who doesn’t want to give her name,...

This week’s “Saturday Night Live” cold open took aim at the scandal surrounding former Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden, who was forced out last week after shockingly racist, misogynistic and homophobic comments he made in emails while he was an ESPN commentator resurfaced.

The sketch featured “SNL” key players including Colin Jost, Cecily Strong, Kenan Thompson, Heidi Gardner and Pete Davidson. The sketch featured a series of people accepting and then quickly resigning as Raiders coach because of problematic statements in their past.

Raiders owner Mark Davis (played by Alex Moffat) was also skewered for his unusual bowl haircut: “I’ve heard all the jokes about my hair and how it looks like Donald Trump’s haircut gave me a haircut.”

Jost played NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. “All 32 teams understand that diversity is our strength,” Jost as Goodell said. “I know our Black coaches would agree. Both of them.

Saturday Night Live opened with a riff on Raiders coach Jon Gruden’s resignation following the disclosure of homophobic, misogynistic and racist emails, using the incident to spotlight how the NFL is found wanting when it comes to its diversity record.

Gruden stepped down as coach of the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this week after The New York Times published stories about the contents of the emails.

Introducing Gruden in the sketch was NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, played by Colin Jost. “I think we can all agree that the emails sent by Jon Gruden were horrifying and deeply offensive, especially to me,” Goodell said. “I was referred to as the F word. The P word. The C word. The R word. The F-ing R word. And the F-ing R word P-word. And I was once weirdly called a Dilf. That was kind of sweet. But I assure you. All 32 teams...

Colin Kaepernick should have been cut for kneeling during the national anthem, according to a newly uncovered email exchange between former Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden and ex-gm Bruce Allen of the Washington Football Team.

“They suspend people for taking amino acids, they should cut this f**k,” Gruden wrote in an email to Allen, according to Yahoo Sports.

Kaepernick has not played in the National Football League since 2017, when he opted for free agency. When Kaepernick was not re-signed, he filed a grievance against the NFL, alleging a conspiracy by the owners. The lawsuit was eventually settled.

Starting in 2016, Kaepernick began kneeling for the national anthem before games, allegedly to protest police brutality and racial injustice. Players on other teams picked up on his lead, eventually prompting the NFL to adopt a different approach to player relations and become more woke. That included messages on its helmet and in the end zone,...

ESPN reporter Adam Schefter, under fire for giving an NFL team a pre-publication look at his story and investing with potential news sources, has responded with a statement,

Schefter, one of the top reporters on the National Football League for the network, is being criticized for sending an email containing a full draft of a story on the league’s collective bargaining agreement to former Washington Football Team president Bruce Allen, asking for a fact-check.

He called Allen “Mr. Editor” and asked for suggestions on potential changes in the story. Both tactics are considered taboo by reputable journalists.

Schefter’s email came to light after emails from the NFL’s investigation into the Washington Football Team’s culture emerged. The emails were part of an estimated 650,000 uncovered during the investigation, but only a handful were released to media.

Insensitive and racially charged comments by Las Vegas Raiders Coach Jon Gruden...

Former “Monday Night Football” commentator Jon Gruden stepped down as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders late Monday on the heels of a New York Times report that he repeatedly used homophobic and racist language in emails during his time working for ESPN.

“I have resigned as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders,” Gruden said in a statement issued by the team via Twitter. “I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.”

"I have resigned as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone."

Jon Gruden

— Las Vegas Raiders...

Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden resigned Monday night, issuing the following statement which was posted on the team’s Twitter page:

“I have resigned as Head Coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.”

His words came shortly after Gruden spoke with Raiders owner Mark Davis about his decision. The NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero called it “a swift and stunning fall” for one of the highest-paid coaches in the NFL.

Gruden has been under fire for the past few days over an email that was sent in 2011, when Gruden was working as a commentator for ESPN.

As players and owners were jockeying over a collective bargaining agreement, Gruden had an email exchange with Bruce Allen, an...

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has apologized for using a racist trope in an email about NFL players union chief DeMaurice Smith. The email was sent in 2011, when Gruden was working for ESPN.

As players and owners were jockeying over a collective bargaining agreement, Gruden had an email exchange with Bruce Allen, an executive with the franchise now known as the Washington Football Team. “Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of michellin tires,” he wrote, according to the Wall Street Journal, invoking a staple of anti-Black imagery.

Asked about the email by the Journal, Gruden said it was “a horrible way of explaining” how upset he was about the labor talks, adding that he was “really sorry.” He issued an apology to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, saying, “I don’t have a racist bone in my body.” Amid the tense labor atmosphere of the time, Gruden said he...

In a crucial moment for any TV network that wants to stay in the business of broadcasting NFL football games, ESPN this evening is calling in some big guns.

Before kickoff on tonight’s “Monday Night Football,” the sports-media giant will feature an opening segment designed with help from colleagues at Disney sibling Marvel. The montage looks similar to the opening of one of the studio’s super-hero blockbusters. Viewers will hear narration from Samuel L. Jackson, the actor who plays Nick Fury and has enjoyed a continuing presence in Marvel’s popular films. They will see players from tonight’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens depicted as if they were superheroes from one of Marvel’s colorful comic books. And then they will hear “Heavy Action,” the theme that has been have been an audio hallmark of the program since its tenure on ABC.

Keep Memory Alive's 24th annual Power of Love gala at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, March 7 brought top artists and performers Billy Ray Cyrus, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Kelsey Grammer, Sammy Hagar, Derek Hough, Chris Isaak, Jimmy Kimmel, Katlyn Nichols, Greg Phillinganes and more together to honor music legend Neil Diamond and raise crucial funds and awareness for Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

Neil Diamond performs onstage at the 24th annual Keep Memory Alive Power of Love Gala

Credit/Copyright: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive

Also in attendance were Paula Abdul, star of E!’s hit TV show “Botched” Paul Nassif, M.D., “Bar Rescue” star Jon Taffer, British singer Matt Goss, jeweler Steven Lagos, chef Hubert Keller, magician Hans Klok, photocomposer Ryszard Horowitz and owner Mark Davis, president Marc Badain and coach Jon Gruden of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Paying tribute to Diamond’s iconic music,...

Controversial wide receiver Antonio Brown took the field today with the New England Patriots in their game against the Miami Dolphins. How many more times that will happen is unclear.

Brown has been accused of assault and rape by former classmate and personal trainer Britney Taylor, charges that he denies. Representatives from the National Football League (NFL) are set to meet with Taylor on Monday to discuss her accusations.

A report by ESPN surfaced today that Brown declined to settle with Taylor on a $2 million-plus agreement to hush-up the alleged sexual assault. Brown had a deadline of last Sunday to agree to the terms before a civil suit was filed. He declined, and the suit was filed on Tuesday.

ESPN said settlement discussions were held last spring and included two mediations. The civil lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of Florida, with Taylor claiming Brown sexually assaulted her on...

Update: Antonio Brown was only unemployed for a few hours. The wide receiver has signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who spoke to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Brown reportedly will get a deal worth up to $15 million, Rosenhaus said, with a $9 million signing bonus, $10 million guaranteed, and $5 million in incentives.

He now plays with the all-time greatest quarterback, Tom Brady, and helps Bill Belichick pursue yet another Super Bowl title.

Earlier: Controversial Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown posted a rambling YouTube video of a private conversation he had with Raiders coach Jon Gruden on Friday, then demanded the team release him in an Instagram post on Saturday.

He got his wish, as the Raiders today released him, costing him more than $29 million in guaranteed money.

In the video, Gruden called Brown “misunderstood,” and practically begged Brown to just play football.

Isaiah Mustafa was a journeyman pro football wide receiver with a dream of becoming an actor. Then he landed the spot as the suave Old Spice spokesman who burst out of the shower wearing nothing but a bath towel and deodorant. The moment led to appearances in sitcoms like “Anger Management” and “Baby Daddy,” after which he landed a recurring role on Freeform’s “Shadowhunters.” Next up, he stars alongside Jessica Chastain as the adult Mike Hanlon in “It: Chapter Two,” opening Sept. 6. Here, Mustafa discusses career changes and his experience on the set of Stephen King’s killer clown franchise.

You had a big career switch.

I just take the opportunity that’s given to me. I love basketball. I played it all through high school, but I was vertically challenged as far as being in the NBA. I switched to something that I thought would be a little easier,...

It’s a Hard Knocks life for the Oakland Raiders. HBO and NFL Films’ annual preseason reality series will follow the Silver and Black as the team prepares for its last season in the Bay Area before it relocates to Sin City for 2020.

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Oakland Raiders will premiere August 6 on the premium cable net.

The 14th edition of the popular cinéma vérité series will track the daily lives and routines of the team’s established veterans, rookie hopefuls and free-agent acquisitions under Jon Gruden, who is beginning the second year of his second stint as head coach. Camera crews will head to the Bay area in the next few weeks to begin filming, HBO said.

“Everybody wants to be a Raider,” team owner Mark Davis said. “Now they’ll find out what it takes to become one.”

Among the intriguing story lines will be the...

The Oakland Raiders will be featured on the latest season of HBO’s NFL training camp series, “Hard Knocks.”

The upcoming season will be the Raiders’ last season in Oakland before the team moves to Las Vegas for the 2020 season. The new five-episode season premieres on HBO on Aug. 6 at 10 p.m.

“Since the Afl-NFL merger, the Raiders have been a part of some of the most iconic moments in League history,” says NFL Films senior executive Ross Ketover. “We at NFL Films have been thrilled and honored to showcase the mythology of the Raiders from the Holy Roller, Sea of Hands, Ghost to the Post all the way to today with Coach Gruden and this unbelievable cast of players and coaches. Needless to say, we’re very much looking forward to this season of Hard Knocks.”

Also Read: Michael Strahan Returns to Nickelodeon as 'Kids' Choice Sports...

It's over for Marshawn Lynch -- and this time, it's for good!  Beast Mode is reportedly hanging up his football cleats ... again ... retiring from the NFL after 11 seasons in the league, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.  The Oakland Raiders running back just turned 33 years old this week -- which is old for an NFL running back -- and "is not planning to play football again." The timing is interesting ... the 2019 NFL Draft kicks off...

Sorry Jon Gruden ... Antonio Brown is going to cause Massive headaches in Oakland -- so says Jack Del Rio, who says Ab "has clearly shown that he's going to be a pain in the ass." Of course, Brown's Steelers career was Filled with drama ... and it got so bad in Pittsburgh, it's the reason he's actually in the silver and black today. But, the trade from Pitt to the Bay Area hasn't quieted the NFL superstar -- in fact,...

After one season in the broadcast booth for ESPN’s Monday Night Football, Jason Witten is heading back to the field for the Dallas Cowboys.

The network had brought in an entirely new broadcast team for the 2018 season, which was the 11-time Pro Bowl tight end’s first as a color commentator.

“We thank Jason for his many contributions to Monday Night Football and to ESPN over the past year and wish him continued success,” ESPN said in a statement. “We have seen many former coaches and players go into broadcasting before eventually returning to the game they love, so we understand Jason’s desire to return to the Dallas Cowboys. In the coming weeks we will determine our Mnf plans for the 2019 season.”

Along with Witten, ESPN’s new-look 2018 Mnf announcing crew also included play-by-play man Joe Territore, analyst Booger McFarland and sideline reporter Lisa Walter. Witten replaced Jon Gruden,...

“Monday Night Football” had its strongest season in two years, wrapping up its 2018 campaign with an average viewership of 11.6 million over 17 games.

That represented an eight percent lift from last year (10.8 million) as well as a two percent increase from 2016 (11.4 million). For the second straight year, “Monday Night Football” was the most-watched series on cable in 2018, and made up nine of the top 20 most-watched cable telecasts this year. The most-watched game of the season was the Kansas City Chiefs-Los Angeles Rams shootout on Nov. 19 — which the Rams won 54-51 in the highest scoring contest in “Mnf” history — that averaged 16.7 million viewers, the most for “Mnf” in two years.

The improved ratings for “Monday Night Football” continue the NFL’s bounce-back season, following a couple years of declining viewership as the league weathered multiple controversies, including criticism from President Donald Trump over player protests during the national anthem. But, that...

I’d like to alert you to a medical condition I have made up called Obvious Sportscaster Syndrome (Oss), also known as Commentator Mouth. Movies that display symptoms of Commentator Mouth include broadcasters in sports movies delivering painfully obvious and exposition-laden dialogue during boxing matches, football games or the like. Oss most commonly affects genuinely talented, real-life sports journalists making cameos in otherwise good films. And the worst cases of Oss range from mildly irritating to completely taking you out of the moment. Not once has the presence of commentators actually added to a movie, and sadly, there is no cure. The latest to come down with the disease is “Creed II,” contracting it from the first “Creed” film and as far back as the “Rocky” sequels. If you or a movie you love suffers from Commentator Mouth, you may see it represented in the list below:

“Creed” and “Creed II...

It's bad enough the Raiders are terrible ... but now they're hurting Carson Daly!!!! Everyone knows the "Today" show star is a sensitive guy ... and he really cares about the Silver & Black.  So, when we asked how he was handling this dumpster fire of a season, Carson kept it real.  "Please don't get me started ... I don't want to cry. It hurts."  Are You Reading This Jon Gruden?! Do You See What you're Doing To Our National Treasure?...

Jon Gruden traded both Amari Cooper And Khalil Mack ... but Kurt Warner tells TMZ Sports the Raiders coach will Really regret things if he gives up on Derek Carr the same way. "It's so hard to find one of those guys that when you've found him, you better hold on to him," Kurt says. Of course, rumors of Chucky trading away Carr have been swirling for weeks ... and kicked up once again Sunday when the...

Deion Sanders is declaring the Oakland Raiders Unwatchable ... calling Jon Gruden's team straight-up Garbage after losing to the 49ers. And, He's Right -- They Were Trash Thursday Night!!! Someone Come Get Ya Raidas!! The Raiders fell to 1-7 after getting torched by San Francisco's 3Rd-string quarterback, Nick Mullens, 34-3 on "Thursday Night Football" ... and Prime says he couldn't find the TV remote fast enough. "I'm sorry, I can't take this no more. Please, could...

Too Short ain't exactly throwing Jon Gruden a vote of confidence ... telling TMZ Sports he's legit torn over the way the Raiders head coach is dismantling his favorite team. We got the legendary Bay Area rapper leaving Sirius in NYC on Tuesday ... and he made it clear right away -- he ain't pleased with what's going down in Oakland. "I'm really mad about 1-5," he says as he showed off all the silver and black...

The opening weekend for the 2018 NFL season received a mixed bag from Nielsen, with Sunday afternoon coverage on Fox and CBS improving from last year, while the primetime national games dipped from 2017.

ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” doubleheader saw drops for both the early and late windows, though the final scores could be blamed. The New York Jets’ 48-17 pasting of the Detroit Lions drew 10.3 million viewers, down more than 9 percent from last year (11.4 million). In the late game, the Los Angeles Rams ruined Jon Gruden’s return to the Oakland Raiders sideline with a dominating 33-13 victory, which drew 9.6 million viewers, down a slight 3 percent from last year (9.9 million).

Meanwhile, the Sunday afternoon results were much brighter for Fox and CBS.

Also Read: Nike Hit With Flood of Critical Tweets After Controversial Colin Kaepernick Ad

Fox saw increases in both its early and late-afternoon windows for its doubleheader on Sunday.

Raiders legend Bill Romanowski says he's got a bad taste in his mouth over the Khalil Mack trade ... telling TMZ Sports Oakland's gonna Really regret giving Mack away. "This is a guy that comes around, like a Lawrence Taylor, once in a lifetime," Romo says. Remember ... Khalil and Jon Gruden never even spoke after Chuckie took the head coaching job -- and Gruden decided to punt the All-Pro to the Bears instead of working with him earlier this month.

NFL legend Willie McGinest is confused by the whole Raiders-Khalil Mack drama ... and is seemingly placing most of the blame for the superstar's departure on Jon Gruden's shoulders. "If you're a coach coming into a new situation and this is a player that you covet and you really want on your team, there's no egos in this," the ex-Patriot tells TMZ Sports. "I think you call the player and express your...

Well, Jon Gruden hates Tom Cruise movies. The Oakland Raiders coach was asked about his reported $100 million deal with the team -- and while trying to explain his high salary ... he randomly took a shot at Tom Cruise. Here's the quote from his interview with Peter King ... "I’m not making $100 million, just so you know. Well, I never thought Tom Cruise, never thought his movies were any good but he’s making plenty of money.

The 2017 Oakland Raiders coach has some advice for the 2018 Oakland Raiders -- Pay Khalil MacK Already!!! Jack Del Rio -- who was fired after the '17 season and replaced by Jon Gruden -- decided to weigh in on the Khalil Mack holdout ... the biggest roster news in Raiders camp right now.  "Gotta pay the man!" Del Rio said ... "[Mack] is the total package. Great player and an even better person!" Del Rio coached Mack for 3 seasons...

Exclusive: Inside The NBA analyst and former NBA star Kenny Smith has inked a multi-series pact with director-producer Deon Taylor (Meet The Blacks), which includes a zinger out the gate in the shape of new reality TV show Ready For The League, showcasing 2018’s hottest college basketball talent.

The pact is formally between Taylor’s Hidden Empire Film Group and Smith’s Seg Productions and the duo are already underway on their first show, in which Smith, one of the most respected NBA analysts around, will profile a different draft prospect in each 30-minute episode. Taylor, himself a former college player at San Diego State and later a pro in Germany, will direct.

In a similar vein to Jon Gruden’s Qb Camp series for ESPN, two-time NBA champ Smith will sit down with college stars and discuss what it takes to make it in the pro league both on and off the court.

The NFL is coming off a rough season lowlighted by some ratings challenges and a president — and a big chunk of the league’s fan base — grumbling about players protesting during the national anthem. But after an off-season in which Fox spent a reported $3 billion for the Thursday Night Football TV rights for its 25th year airing the NFL games, spring has sprung and a new campaign looms, as the country’s most lucrative sports machine released its 2018 regular-season schedule today.

The league’s 99th season will stick with recent tradition and kick off with the defending Super Bowl champion in the Thursday night opener. The Philadelphia Eagles will host the previous year’s Nfc champions, the Atlanta Falcons, in a birds-of-prey clash on September 6. Fast-forward a few days, and the also neo-traditional opening doubleheader for Monday Night Football will see the New York Jets at the Detroit Lions, followed by a California clash,...

Following last week’s announcement that Sean McDonough will no longer be in the booth for “Monday Night Football,” the analyst had some surprisingly candid comments to make about ESPN’s biggest sports property on Thursday. McDonough told Weei’s “Kirk & Callahan” that “Mnf” was generally “one of the worst NFL games each week,” and said it was a challenge to make it sound “interesting and exciting.” Jon Gruden’s former partner left the “Mnf” booth after just two years, having replaced Mike Tirico in 2016. He has now signed a multi-year extension to his deal to rejoin ESPN’s college football team to call weekly games, as...

[[tmz:video id="0_24gmffhl"]] Al Michaels thinks the Pats have what it takes to beat the Jags and make it to another Super Bowl ... with or without their legendary quarterback. We got one of the voices of 'Sunday Night Football' at Madeo Restaurant in Weho Friday night, and talked shop about some NFL matters. Al suggests it's no sure thing Tom Brady plays Sunday due to his hand injury, but even if he's out New England can prevail ... because there's no 'Tom' in 'team.

The California Highway Patrol had a good laugh after they pulled over a driver who was using a Chucky doll from the Child's Play movies as his carpool passenger. The driver took the proper precautions and made sure to buckle Chucky up, which surely avoided another ticket for not having him strapped in. Apparently the dolls have found a new form of popularity in the Bay area since John Gruden has returned as head coach of the Oakland Raiders. Football fans believe that the head coach closely resembles Chucky and they bring the doll with the iconic scowl to games.

A California Highway Patrol officer pulled over a driver last Thursday around 4 Pm on Highway 4 after noticing something peculiar about the driver's carpool passenger. Many people have been wrongly pulled over due to officers not being able to see small children in the car, but the horror icon was clearly seen by the ticketing officer.

[[tmz:video id="0_ftotwj1d"]] Jon Gruden's first order of business in Oakland should be to cut Marshawn Lynch and upgrade the running back position ... so says Cris Carter.  "Marshawn is not the Marshawn Lynch he was 3 or 4 years ago," Cris said on FS1's "First Things First."  Beast Mode is a huge fan favorite in Oakland -- in fact, Marshawn came out of retirement last year specifically to play for his hometown team.  But Carter says the lovefest...

[[tmz:video id="0_4cgwlmpd"]] L.A. Rams head coach Sean McVay says he's flattered by comparisons to Jon Gruden -- saying Chucky is a "mentor of mine" ... but he ain't lookin' forward to playing against him next season!  McVay was at Poppy in West Hollywood on Tuesday -- hours after Gruden was officially announced as the new head coach of the Oakland Raiders. So, we had to ask about Jared Goff previously referring to McVay as "Mini-Gruden." "That's a compliment,...

Monday night’s 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship game had all the dramatic elements of a primetime hit: a genius defending his dynasty (Nick Saban and Alabama), scrappy (Georgia) Bulldogs who hadn’t won a national championship since 1980, a heartbreaking missed field goal, a dynamic young hero, and a thrilling overtime ending. Oh, and both President Trump and Kendrick Lamar were in the house. Also Read: Jon Gruden Set to Leave Espn for Oakland Raiders in $100 Million Deal While Alabama ultimately beat Georgia 26-23 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the first half of the game belonged to the underdog Bulldogs.

[[tmz:video id="0_cr3mqxut"]] With Jon Gruden signing a $100 Million contract ... we had to ask Kurt Warner -- would you ever leave the broadcast booth for an NFL coaching gig?  Guess what ... he didn't say no.  Besides having a Hall of Fame career on the field, Warner's had a 2nd life as an analyst on NFL Network and in the broadcast booth for Westwood One Radio. There's only one thing holding him back from taking a job on...

The modern voice of Espn’s “Monday Night Football” is heading from the broadcast booth back to the field. Jon Gruden is expected to sign a 10-year deal worth nearly $100 million with the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday, Espn’s Adam Schefter has reported. Gruden previously coached the Raiders from 1998-2001, before heading to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002 — where he ironically beat Oakland in Super Bowl Xxxvii. Also Read: Espn's Suzy Kolber on Why 'Monday Night Football' Is 'More Than a Game' Gruden will replace Jack Del Rio, who was fired after the regular-season finale on Sunday. The NFL guru...

[[tmz:video id="0_1yjfbeh0"]] Jon Gruden becoming the next Raiders coach ain't a done deal yet ... but if and when it happens, Raiders legend Charles Woodson says he might be open to joining his staff. We got Woodson at Lax ... and despite him doing analyst work for Espn, he told TMZ Sports there's no chance he'd replace Gruden on "Monday Night Football." But, he left the door open to coaching alongside him -- "Never say never." It'd be a...

[[tmz:video id="0_xr7niggv"]] Albert Haynesworth says his ex-teammate Tee Martin would be the perfect fit to take over as head coach at Tennessee ... but says it'll never happen because he's black. Martin isn't just a legend at Ut -- he's also been a rising star as the offensive coordinator at USC ... with both Yahoo! Sports and Sports Illustrated naming him on lists of best candidates for a head coaching job.  Haynesworth tells TMZ Sports ... the Qb who brought...

[[tmz:video id="0_g0n4qi7u"]] Jon Gruden's son is a competitive powerlifter -- he's jacked as hell -- and tells TMZ Sports his best numbers on the bench, squat and deadlift are Crazy impressive.  23-year-old Deuce Gruden is currently in Belarus where he took 1st place in the junior 183-pound weight class at the International Powerlifting Federation Classic. Deuce -- who's an assistant coach with the Washington Redskins -- says he credits his famous father for helping him become...

“Monday Night Football” went south of the border this week as the Oakland Raiders “hosted” the Houston Texans in Mexico City. Espn commentators Sean McDonough and Jon Gruden — along with reporter Lisa Salters on the sidelines and analyst Steve Levy showing off his flawless Spanish -- covered the first NFL regular-season game in Mexico City in 11 years on “Mnf,” and it was certainly eventful. After being neck-and-neck for four quarters, Derek Carr led Oakland to a 27-20 victory in what was considered a Raiders home game. Also Read: Why Thanksgiving NFL Game Isn't Streaming on Twitter Estadio Azteca! ???????????????????????? #HOUvsOAK #MiPartidoMiNFL...

Enjoy Mike Tirico while you can, football fans, because once the regular season starts on Sept. 9 he’ll be sidelined. The Espn veteran commentator, who moved over to NBC earlier this year, is calling the “Thursday Night Football” preseason matchup tonight between the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins. But he won’t be joining Cris Collinsworth in the analyst booth during the regular season because he wasn’t named in the network’s initial bid. That has sparked an outcry among fans who grew to love Tirico’s distinctive and enlightening play-calling when he shared duties with Jon Gruden...

[[tmz:video id="0_5jdgh0g2"]] What's the budget like when Jon Gruden and his wife go shopping on Rodeo Drive? Depends who you ask ...  Check out this funny moment when Gruden's wife, Cindy, told us she doesn't keep score when hittin' the shops in Bev Hills. Clearly, Jon does.  Btw, Gruden is reportedly the highest paid on-air personality at Espn -- with one insider claiming he rakes in roughly $6 Million per year!!!  So, budget?? Ha.  Read more...