New England Patriots

The NFL security team is taking the lead on the Tom Brady missing Super Bowl uniform case ... not the Houston Police Dept. At least that's the situation right now ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The Houston P.D. tells us they have been in contact with the NFL -- and are not launching an independent investigation at this point.

Our law enforcement sources tell us no one has filed a report with the Houston P.D. as of yet.

Several sports memorabilia dealers have told us the jersey is already being valued in the tens of thousands of dollars. So, if the jersey was stolen, it would be a felony grand larceny crime in Texas (anything over $1,500 is a felony). The more valuable the stolen item, the stiffer the punishment.

Brady says the jersey went missing after the game. He says he remembers putting it in his equipment bag but it wasn't there when he went back to his locker.

After stealing the Super Bowl from the Falcons, Tom Brady told Pats owner Bob Kraft HE was hit by a thief -- accusing someone of STRAIGHT JACKING his game jersey!!

Kraft was in the locker room handing out victory cigars to the players, when Brady voiced his issue to the boss.

Kraft didn't seem to care too much ... saying, "Well, you better look online!" Brady smiled.

Tom Leyden of FOX25 reported a Patriots equipment manager took the jersey and put it in a safe place for Tom -- it wasn't stolen!

But a new twist ... Tom just spoke at a news conference and said the jersey is STILL missing!

He also said he's concerned the jersey will end up on eBay.

The search continues ...

The Houston Police Department is expecting the worst outside the Super Bowl and is ready to combat a wave of Prez Trump protesters making noise about disrupting the game.

Our law enforcement sources say officers, in uniform and undercover, will monitor crowds outside NRG Stadium. We're told several online groups have popped up in recent days organizing protests -- some anti-Trump, some for Black Lives Matter, Standing Rock and refugees.

HPD has plenty of backup, having borrowed cops from around the country. As usual for the Super Bowl ... we're told SWAT will be posted nearby if protests turn into riots and get out of hand.

Anderson Silva just got one helluva compliment from Dana White -- who says the MMA legend is the "Tom Brady of the UFC."

Houston Texans star Whitney Mercilus is dishing out some advice to the Falcons AND the Patriots -- stay out of Houston's legendary booty clubs ... until AFTER the big game!!!

Whitney's great -- he says the nightlife in Houston is incredible (especially during Super Bowl week) but says the party scene can be super dangerous for the Super Bowl players.

By the way, it's not like this hasn't happened before ... a group of 49ers stars hit the strip club on the Thursday night before the 2013 Super Bowl. They lost that game to the Ravens.

When it comes to the greatest football coach of all time, IT AIN'T BILL BELICHICK ... not even close ... so says NFL Hall of Famer Dave Robinson, who says he'll never outshine Vince Lombardi.

Full disclosure ... Robinson is a Packers legend who won two Super Bowls under Coach Lombardi -- so, he may be a bit biased. But he's extremely passionate.

Two more reasons to watch the Super Bowl halftime show -- because, once again, you can BET on whether Lady Gaga will show cleavage ... and the smart money's on "Yes."

The guy who took the Atlanta Falcons game plan is adamant ... HE'S NOT A PATRIOTS SPY!!!

By now you've heard the story ... Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan lost his backpack with the game plans in it during Super Bowl Media Night on Monday.

Turns out, the bag was taken by longtime sportswriter Art Spander (he's covered 40 Super Bowls) who returned the bag a short time later.

Spander says the whole thing was just an innocent mistake ... but some hardcore conspiracy theorists aren't buying it ... suggesting the whole thing was a Patriots plot.

We spoke with Spander who says he ain't no double agent.

Attention, Patriots fans ... Tom Brady has given specific marching orders to ALL OF YOU to get ready for the big day.

The QB took the stage at a massive pep rally at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Monday and told fans how they should prepare for Sunday.

Thousands of people showed up to the event ... including the Greater Boston Firefighters Pipes and Drums group, which provided the tunes.

Meanwhile, over in Atlanta ... thousands of Falcons fans packed Atlantic Station to see the team buses off.

It was a crazy scene -- and it's clear both cities are FIRED UP!!!!

Guess Roger Goodell was telling the truth about him and Bob Kraft having a "healthy respect" for one another ... because they hung out in NYC Wednesday and TMZ Sports has the photo.

The NFL and the Pats owner were spotted leaving Rockefeller Center around 2:30 PM ET. Bob had a smile on his face as the two chatted away. We're told they were flanked by private security.

Earlier in the day, Goodell went on 'The Herd' where Colin Cowherd asked if Kraft was unhappy with him for the way he handled DeflateGate.

"I wouldn’t be doing my job if somebody wasn’t unhappy with a decision that you make or why you’re doing it," Goodell said.

"Robert and I can disagree about things. We have a healthy respect for one another. But that’s true with any owner. And that doesn’t affect my relationship or the fact that we work together to try to make the NFL better, ultimately."

So ... friends?

President Donald Trump has a message to his friends, Tom Brady and Tiger Woods, who have been getting crap for their friendship with the Commander in Chief -- HATERS GONNA HATE!!!

Trump's mouthpiece, Kellyanne Conway, went on "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday and directly addressed the "blowback" that came after the QB defended his friendship with Donald on a radio interview.

"President Trump is just so grateful that friends like Tom Brady are loyal and can ignore the shrapnel, the verbal shrapnel," Conway said.

She also said Trump appreciates Patriots owner Robert Kraft -- calling him a "good friend ... a fabulous man and leader in this country."

WWE legend John Cena says he's a HUGE New England Patriots fan ... not just because he loves to root for the team everyone hates ... but 'cause he's kinda like the Tom Brady of wrestling!

A sleeveless Cena was leaving Tapout Fitness in NYC Monday morning (it's 40 degrees, btw!) when we asked who he's got in the Super Bowl.

"I gravitate towards New England," Cena said ... "I like the fact that year after year, no matter what adversity they face, they always do well. And everyone hates that."

"So, I'm drawn to that ... I run kind of like a parallel life with Tom Brady."

Cena says he's got a lot in common with the guy -- especially the way they approach their jobs.

While the New England Patriots battle it out on the field for a spot in Super Bowl LI, their sexy significant others are battling it out off the field in the ultimate showdown ... the title of hottest WAG.

Rush through the gallery and vote for the gal you wouldn’t mind scoring with.

Donald Trump just took the stage at a big inauguration dinner -- called out Pats owner Robert Kraft in the crowd -- and told him not to worry this weekend because Tom Brady's gonna crush the Steelers.

It all went down Thursday night in D.C. -- Trump also said Brady called him to congratulate and told him he "feels good" for the playoff game.

Of course, Trump and Brady are tight and have been for years. Trump also gave props to Bill Belichick.

Julian Edelman's quasi-girlfriend, Adriana Lima, attended her first Patriots playoffs game this weekend ... and fit right in with the ridiculously good lookin' group of W.A.G.s.

First, the Edelman-Lima situation (or EdeLima) ... our sources tell us they're still dating but it's more casual than serious.

As one source put, "When they can see each other, they do. But it's not very often."

Still, they're tight enough that she went to the Pats vs. Texans game at Foxborough this weekend ... joining other wives and girlfriends like Kristen Rorie (Tyler Gaffney's GF), Ciera Liguori (D.J. Foster's GF), Camille Kostek (Gronk's GF) and Siggi Bennett (Martellus Bennett's wife).

And that doesn't even include Tom Brady's wife ... Gisele.

It's good to be a Patriot.

Antonio Brown would get his ASS CHEWED over that locker room video if he was on the Pats ... at least, that's what Tom Brady insinuated ... saying, "I don’t think that would go over well with our coach."

The Patriots QB appeared on "Kirk & Callahan" on WEEI 93.7 FM when he was asked about Brown live streaming his head coach's locker room speech without Mike Tomlin's knowledge ... a speech that included Tomlin referring to the Pats as "assholes."

It's clear Brady believes Bill Belichick wouldn't have let that crap slide.

As for the A-holes comment, Brady didn't address that specifically -- but said Brown's decision to live stream a private moment wouldn't fly with the Pats.

"What’s done in the locker room should stay in the locker room.”