New England Patriots

Sorry ladies, Rob Gronkowski is officially taken ... dating a super hot former New England Patriots cheerleader ... multiple sources close to Gronk confirm to TMZ Sports.

The object of Gronk's affection is Camille Kostek -- who was on the cheerleading squad in 2013 and 2014 ... before switching careers and becoming a TV reporter.

There have been multiple sightings of the couple out and about recently -- but now, our Gronk sources say it's official ... they're dating and they're not trying to hide anything.

Congrats!!

President Barack Obama went in way harder on the New England Patriots than Seahawks coach Pete Carroll did in in the Super Bowl -- unloading a ton of jokes poking fun at the champs.

Obama had his A-game working as he ripped Bill Belichick, Rob Gronkowski and even attempted a Boston accent. Fittingly, the joke that fell most flat ... his Deflategate material. The Pats did not seem amused.

Darrelle Revis was also at the event ... which could've been awkward since he left the team this offseason to sign with the rival NY Jets.

The New England Patriots just arrived to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. ... again ... only this time, they're without the team's biggest star Tom Brady.

Gronk, Edelman, Belichick, Bob Kraft and more were all suited up and fired up for their meeting with President Obama ... a meeting they earned by winning the Super Bowl.

So why no Brady? The QB reportedly had to pass on the White House trip due to a family obligation -- though, it's unclear what that obligation is.

Odin Lloyd's mother is moving forward with a wrongful death lawsuit against Aaron Hernandez AND the New England Patriots ... hoping to collect on the MILLIONS she claims the team was supposed to pay the former tight end.

Ursula Ward has re-filed docs in state court in Massachusetts that she originally filed back in 2013 ... claiming Hernandez should be held financially liable for the wrongful death of her son.

Of course, Hernandez was convicted of Lloyd's murder -- so, Ward has a pretty solid case against Aaron.

But in the suit, Ward also names the New England Patriots as "reach and apply defendants" -- meaning that if she wins ... she wants to be able to collect her judgment from the Pats.

Now, this is important because Ward claims that Hernandez has a right to collect $3.25 million of a signing bonus that she claims was due back in March 2014.

Odin Lloyd's mother tells TMZ Sports ... she's still deciding whether or not she will file a wrongful death lawsuit against Aaron Hernandez ... a lawsuit that could potentially be worth MILLIONS of dollars.

With Hernandez having been convicted of murdering the former semi-pro football player, the odds are extremely good that Lloyd's family would win a civil case against him.

And since Hernandez was an NFL star who made MILLIONS during his brief career ... there's real money on the line.

But when we spoke with Ursula Ward this week, she told us she had not made up her mind about whether she will go through with the lawsuit.

The family of one of the victims in the Aaron Hernandez double murder case says they will still root for the Patriots ... and will not hold Aaron's heinous crimes against the NFL team.

We spoke with Susan Vincente ... cousin of Safiro Furtado, one of the two people killed in a drive-by shooting outside a Boston-area nightclub back in 2013. Hernandez is the prime suspect.

"He needs to be brought to justice," Susan says ... "My cousin never had an enemy. He was calm and loving."

Susan says Safiro's mother is still devastated over the death of her son -- "It's still an open wound. It's been tough for her since day 1."

Officials say Hernandez plotted the attack because someone in Furtado's party accidentally spilled a drink on the former NFL star inside the club. Hernandez has been charged with murder and his trial is expected to begin later this year.

Aaron Hernandez will be on the receiving end of some serious prayers from Tim Tebow's parents ... so says a rep for the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association.

FYI -- Aaron and Tim were teammates at the University of Florida ... and Tim considered Aaron a good friend at the time.

We spoke with a rep for the BTEA who tells us the Hernandez trial has been a hot topic at the association headquarters in Jacksonville ... and the decision was made to pray for Aaron's soul.

"I can tell you that the situation has been mentioned by some people in the office the last few days and I know that Bob and Pam and the entire Tebow family haven't said much ... but they will absolutely be praying for Aaron Hernandez."

The rep continued, "We will actually dedicate a prayer to Hernandez on Tuesday."

The family of Odin Lloyd will also be a target for prayer -- with the rep saying, "We can be praying for [Hernandez] as well as all affected from the situation."

Aaron Hernandez has been placed on suicide watch at the prison where he is temporarily being held ... TMZ Sports has learned.

After Hernandez was convicted of murdering Odin Lloyd, he was transported to MCI Cedar Junction in Massachusetts ... where he will stay until he is transferred to his permanent prison.

We're told he has been isolated from the general inmate population -- not only for his own protection (since he's a high profile inmate), but so officials can evaluate him ... and determine where he will stay at the prison.

The prison that Aaron Hernandez will eventually call home is widely considered one of the most high-tech maximum security facilities in the country ... and maybe even the world ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We spoke with an official from the Massachusetts Dept. of Correction who tells us ... Hernandez will eventually end up at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster, Mass.

This place is insane (as far as prisons go) ... with 366 security cameras rolling 24/7 across 18 acres of land.

Officials say the computer system that operates just about every inch of the grounds is top-of -the- line stuff.

We're told the perimeter surveillance system includes taut wire and microwave detection systems ... and according to reports, no one has EVER successfully escaped from the prison.

There's more ... according to reports, inmates must wear white sneakers to avoid gang colors. They're also allowed to display photos of family members -- but NO NAKED WOMEN are allowed to be displayed ... which might be an issue for A.H. considering his penchant for nude art.

Before he ends up at SBCC, we're told Aaron will spend some time at MCI-Cedar Junction ... a transitional facility that's only a few miles from the stadium where the Patriots play.

The New England Patriots are continuing to distance themselves from ANYTHING connected to Aaron Hernandez -- which is why team officials tell us they will NOT be issuing a statement on Wednesday's murder conviction.

It's an interesting P.R. move for the team -- considering owner Bob Kraft was called as a witness during the murder trial. Kraft testified that Hernandez told him he didn't kill Odin Lloyd.

The team could have strongly condemned Hernandez -- and reiterated they knew nothing about what he was doing in his personal life during his time with the team.

Aaron Hernandez isn't just a murderer -- he's a stain on the city of Bristol ... so says the mayor.

We spoke with Mayor Kenneth B. Cockayne ... who tells us the entire community is disgusted with Hernandez, who grew up in Bristol.

"He was a role model for the kids and adults of Bristol -- and now the hearts of those children are crushed."

"We're sick of this case, and I'm glad it's over. It puts a bad light on our whole town. He shed a lot of bad light on all of us."

Aaron Hernandez has just been found guilty of 1st degree murder in the killing of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd ... and has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Several people inside the courtroom began crying as the verdict was read ... including Aaron's fiancee and mother.

As the verdict was read, Hernandez was shaking his head in disbelief. At one point, Hernandez turned to his fiancee and mouthed the words, "Be strong."

25-year-old Hernandez -- a former superstar tight end for the New England Patriots -- killed Lloyd on June 17th, 2013. Lloyd was shot 6 times.

Aaron was also found guilty of illegal gun possession and illegal ammunition possession.

After sentencing in the Lloyd case, Hernandez will still stand trial in the shooting deaths of two people in Boston in 2012. That trial is scheduled to begin in May.

8:47 AM PT -- Hernandez has been ordered to serve time at MCI Cedar Junction at Walpole -- which is just under 4 miles from the stadium where the Patriots play.

8:39 AM PT -- Hernandez has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

8:18 AM PT -- Odin Lloyd's mother Ursula Ward is now addressing the court -- and explaining how Hernandez destroyed her life.

"I felt like I wanted to go into that hole with my son."

"I miss my baby boy Odin so much. But I know I will see him again some day. At that gives me the strength to go on."

Two things ...

1) Tom Brady took some batting practice off Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez today.

2) He bats lefty?!

The New England Patriots QB was a pretty good baseball player back in the day -- in fact, he was drafted by the Expos in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB Draft (as a catcher, not a pitcher).

But at Fenway Park on Monday, #12 proved he's handy with the wood as well ... from a lefty stance ... even though he throws with his right hand on the football field.

The person selling Aaron Hernandez's official jail I.D. card from Suffolk County jail in Mass. says eBay has shut down the auction ... so he's moved it over to Craigslist.

We broke the story ... the seller says he "happened to come across the I.D." while he was locked up in jail with Hernandez ... and managed to smuggle the item out of the clink. Starting bid was $500.

But now, the seller says his plan hit a speed bump ... when he got an email from the auction site saying they suspended his account.

We reached out to eBay for comment -- but haven't heard back.

The seller tells TMZ Sports he's still optimistic about making a deal ... and has upped the asking price to $5,000.

So far, no word from Hernandez either -- since he's still on trial for murder.

Seems Aaron Hernandez got jacked for his official jail I.D. card during his stint in the slammer -- 'cause it just surfaced on eBay ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... the item appears to be a legit identification card from Suffolk County Jail in Mass where Hernandez arrived in July 2014.

Starting bid -- $500.

As for the seller -- that person has not revealed his own identity ... but explained in the eBay post, "I was in jail with Arron Hernandes [sic] the for patriot super star.. I happen to com [sic] across his jail id."

Wonder how that happened?

We reached out to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department -- but they're not saying jack squat about the situation.

Shocking moment in the Aaron Hernandez case -- the ex-NFL star's lawyer just suggested that Aaron was a WITNESS in the Odin Lloyd murder ... and the killer was someone he knew.

Hernandez's attorney just wrapped up his closing statements -- and while once again denying Aaron pulled the trigger ... told the court that Hernandez was merely a witness.

"He was a 23-year-old kid who witnessed something, a shocking killing, committed by someone he knew," Aaron's lawyer said.