New England Patriots

Rob Gronkowski is putting the rumors to rest once and for all ... saying he is NOT coming out of retirement to return to the New England Patriots.

There have been rumblings for weeks that the All-Pro tight end was considering a comeback after retiring last season ... with the 30-year-old himself even teasing he'd be back in Week 14.

But, Gronk has finally put the speculation to rest on WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show" on Tuesday ... when one caller asked to give a definitive "yes" or "no" to whether there was a chance he could throw on the #87 jersey again.

"When I retired, I retired for a reason: because I needed to step away," Gronk said. "So, it would be a 'no.' There it is."

"I never say 'no,' because I've said 'no,' and everyone's like, 'Yeah ... he's kidding. He's coming back,' ... But it's a 'no.' In my mind, that's how it is. It's a no."

Of course, Gronk has moved on to promoting CBD Medic and has explained how it has kept his body finally pain-free after years of wear and tear.

He's also said he's had probably 20 concussions and 5 blackouts throughout his football career, so it shouldn't come as a surprise he's ready to put that behind.

Barstool Sports honcho Dave Portnoy is officially OFF the Antonio Brown bandwagon ... telling TMZ Sports he hates the WR now -- but he's open to change!!!

Remember, Portnoy sort of defended Brown after the Raiders cut his ass back in Sept. and then sung his praises once Dave's beloved New England Patriots brought him on board.

But, now that Bill Belichick and company kicked AB to the curb, how does Dave feel about the embattled wideout now?!?

"Hate him now," Portnoy says ... "when he's on the Patriots, I love him. When he's not on the Patriots, I hate him."

But, Portnoy admits he's not really trying to judge AB's character -- he's a fan of anyone who can help his team win. And, it seems obvious Dave thinks Brown can help (let's face it, the guy's a monster on the field).

Brown -- who recently filed a grievance against the Patriots and Raiders -- went on social media last week and suggested the Pats give him a second chance since he believes New England is gonna be on the hook for paying him roughly $10 mil in salary anyway.

Dave ain't opposed to the idea ... but says if Pats management makes it clear they want no part of AB, Portnoy will "fall in line" and swear off the WR too.

Tom Brady just took his first L of the season ... the Patriots quarterback was forced to slash the price of his mansion that's been up for sale -- cutting $5.6 MIL from the price tag!!!

If ya missed it ... Tom put his epic 5-bedroom, 7-bathroom New England-area palace on the market back in August -- and listed it for $39.5 MILLION.

Didn't seem the G.O.A.T. would have too much trouble unloading it ... the place is sick, with a rec room, gym, wine room, spa AND an outdoor organic herb/vegetable garden.

Plus, it's got all the history of maybe the best football player EVER in it!!!

But, it seems Tom's having trouble finding a buyer ... 'cause he's now dropping the price all the way down to $33.9 million.

Antonio Brown says the Patriots are gonna have to cough up the money he believes they owe him ... and he wouldn't mind catching some TDs for them in the process.

The controversial NFL superstar has made it clear that he wants back in the league after getting cut by New England last month ... and on Wednesday, he told his followers to "tell [the Patriots] to call me" during a mid-workout live stream on IG.

"They still gotta pay me, might as well let me earn it," Brown said.

Of course, Brown filed grievances against the Patriots earlier this month in an attempt to get his $9 million signing bonus and remaining guaranteed salary from New England.

Prosecutors ain't going down in their case against Robert Kraft without a fight ... they just filed docs saying a judge was wrong to bar them from using the graphic sex spa video in court.

78-year-old Kraft scored a huge victory in the case last May, when a judge ruled police surveillance video of him allegedly receiving sex acts inside the Orchids of Asia spa in Florida could NOT be used in the case.

The judge claimed when cops executed their search warrant and planted cameras inside the spa ... they didn't do enough to protect people who were inside the spa getting perfectly legal massages.

In court docs filed this week ... prosecutors are firing back at that ruling, saying the judge was DEAD WRONG -- and want the video to be allowed in the case against Kraft.

In the docs, they argue cops handled everything the right way in the investigation ... saying if police had taken bigger steps to protect potentially innocent people, it would have "frustrated the objectives of the search."

They claim that of the 39 massage recordings ... only 4 didn't capture illegal activity.

Prosecutors are asking the court reverse the suppression order ... and if it's granted -- it would mean the Kraft video has a chance to go public once again.

It's unclear when the Courts of Appeal is expected to make a ruling ... but it could be soon.

Sorry, Khalil Mack ... the Chicago Bears do NOT have the best defense in the NFL -- so says Patriots DB JC Jackson, who tells TMZ Sports that honor belongs to New England!

"I feel like we've got the best defense so far," Jackson says ... "I feel like we've got the best defense in the league."

The Pats have steamrolled to a 4-0 start ... and a big reason for that is the 11 dudes NOT on Tom Brady's side of the ball.

Through the first quarter of the season, the Pats are allowing a league-best 243 yards per game ... and have TEN interceptions -- at least 5 more than every other squad in the NFL.

For those reasons, JC -- who had two picks against the Bills on Sunday -- says the Pats deserve the NFL's top D title ... telling us, "Right now, we the best defense in the league."

Dwayne Haskins needs to go back to the bench now ... 'cause Redskins legend Joe Theismann says the rookie QB ain't ready to face Bill Belichick and the Patriots.

The 22-year-old rookie out of Ohio State -- the 15th pick in this year's draft -- was thrown into the Skins-Giants game in the 2nd quarter ... and things didn't exactly go smoothly.

Haskins was 9 of 17 for 107 yards ... and he threw 3 interceptions. The Redskins lost 24-3.

That was against the mediocre New York Giants ... with the undefeated New England Patriots -- and their hellacious defense -- coming into town this week, Theismann says DH can't start at QB.

"You cannot start him against the New England Patriots. You can't start Dwayne Haskins against the New England Patriots. I mean, it can't happen. It wouldn't be good for him, it wouldn't be good for the franchise, it wouldn't be good for football for crying out loud."

Joe says he's seen all-time greats play bad in the beginning ... so just 'cause Haskins struggled, doesn't mean he won't be a star in the future.

"I go all the way back to Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning's rookie season, he threw 29 interceptions. And, you just have to be committed to somebody and realize that it takes time to be able to play this position."

Joe also says the Redskins problems go a lot deeper than QB.

"What bothers me more than anything was the undisciplined nature," Theismann says.

"The penalties that we got. The offsides. The continuing holding by the offensive line. Those are my concerns, besides Dwayne."

"So, if you're a Redskins fan, it isn't just the quarterback position, case missing people open, Dwayne having to go in and play and not really looking like he'd be able to handle it at this moment. But, it's those other things that really have got me concerned."

Antonio Brown DEFINITELY ain't retiring from the NFL ... the troubled wide receiver says he still wants in the league, saying Thursday, "I'm still the best why stop now."

The wide receiver's future has been in doubt for the past week ... 'cause after the Patriots cut him Friday -- he tweeted, "Will not be playing in the @NFL anymore."

But, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Wednesday AB still wants to play ... and on Thursday, Brown echoed those comments.

"The game need me I'm like test answers," Brown said.

Of course, now the question is, does anyone in the NFL want HIM?

Think Bills fans will continue their tradition of throwing sex toys at Tom Brady and the Patriots??

New betting odds will reward you if you're right ... 'cause TMZ Sports has learned you can actually make money off this ridiculous thing!!!

A rep for BetOnline.ag says Bills fans are actually favored to NOT throw a fake phallus this weekend when the Pats come to New Era Field ... putting the odds at -130.

If you want to throw down cash saying a rubber dong will come flying in when the Bills take on New England on Sunday ... the odds are -110.

Of course, Buffalo fans have been inexplicably throwing sex toys onto the field every time the Pats have come to town since 2016 ... but the act hasn't come without a cost.

Bills officials have imposed LIFETIME BANS for people who are caught throwing the sex toys ... which is why this bet is so damn intriguing.

Kickoff between the two teams is set for 10 AM PT ... keep your slips handy!!!

Another allegation of sexual misconduct has come up against Antonio Brown ... this time, the artist who was hired to paint a mural in his home says AB had sex with another woman in front of her while she worked.

The artist, who has not gone public with her identity, was previously featured in a Sports Illustrated article about Brown, in which she claimed the WR got naked and hit on her while she was working at his home in 2017.

In the article, the woman says she declined his advances and felt he was being completely inappropriate ... but never went to cops or took any legal action against him.

After she went public, Brown allegedly sent her a series of menacing text messages as part of a group chat ... instructing associates to look into her personal life. AB included a photo of the artist's children, which she took as a clear threat.

In fact, the artist's attorney, Lisa J. Banks, sent a letter to the NFL saying her client is "understandably frightened by these text messages, which are clearly intended to threaten and intimidate her."

In the letter, Banks rehashes the initial sexual misconduct allegation featured in the SI article ... but then drops this additional allegation.

"What is not detailed in the story is that Mr. Brown engaged in other forms of sexual misconduct during the two days that she worked in his home, which included Mr. Brown having sex with another woman while the artist was working in the same room."

The NFL immediately launched an investigation into Brown -- who was cut the by the New England Patriots a short time later.

Here's Tom Brady doing his best DB impression ... the G.O.A.T. is backpedaling on his public support for Antonio Brown after the WR went after Patriots owner Robert Kraft over the weekend.

Tom -- who's fully backed AB on social media even after rape allegations -- went on WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show" on Monday morning and declined to throw his weight behind AB again.

"I do have a lot of personal feelings, none of which I really care to share," the QB said. "That is about it. It’s a difficult situation. That’s kind of how I feel."

Of course, Tom was singing a very different tune earlier this month ... he was reportedly "one million percent" in on the Pats signing Brown -- and even reportedly offered the guy a room in the Boston-area mansion he shares with Gisele.

Tom also let AB into his personal gym ... and after Brown was cut from the Pats on Friday -- he left heart emojis on AB's Instagram post.

So, what happened to 'cause Brady to change his public gears? Unclear exactly ... but it seems like a safe bet to assume it had something to do with Brown's weekend attack on Kraft.

In a Twitter rant Sunday morning, Brown brought up Kraft's famous solicitation case, writing, "Kraft got caught in the parlor AB speculations fired different strokes different folks clearly."

The New England owner obviously didn't love the move ... because ESPN's Adam Schefter reported there's no way AB is getting his guaranteed money from the Pats now.

As for Brown, he continued to attack a lot of people on social media ... going after his ex-teammate, Ben Roethlisberger, and TV personality Shannon Sharpe.

Just when you thought Bill Belichick couldn't be a bigger jerk to the media, here's the New England Patriots coach giving a death stare to a reporter who dared to ask about Antonio Brown.

The reporter ain't some scrub ... she's respected journalist Dana Jacobson -- whose resume includes everything from CBS News to CBS Sports to ESPN. She's a pro.

On Sunday, her assignment was to get a quick interview with Belichick before the Pats took on the NY Jets ... and she asked an obvious and appropriate question about Antonio Brown, who just got cut days before the game.

"I think I'd be remiss if I didn't ask what was the final straw with Antonio Brown?"

Belichick responded with a classic deflection, "Yeah, we're focused on the Jets today."

Dana thanks Bill for the interview, but he doesn't thank her back -- instead staring through her with a furious, silent anger you can feel through the screen.

Dennis Rodman says Antonio Brown is a case study on self-sabotage ... telling TMZ Sports the guy basically ran a clinic, "The school of how to ruin your career 101."

Rodman was leaving the Javits Center in L.A. on Sunday with his good friend, Dr. Drew -- when the topic turned to AB's social meltdown over the weekend.

As we previously reported, the troubled WR let his Twitter fingers loose ... saying he's done playing in the NFL while taking shots at his former boss, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Even Rodman was shocked by AB's antics ... and that's saying A LOT. He tried to break it down to us.

"Antonio Brown ... he wasn't focusing enough on his career."

Rodman says Brown tried to be clever but "outsmarted himself" and now HAS to quit the NFL because he basically "has no choice right now."

That said, you can tell Rodman and Dr. Drew hope Brown can get his life back on track -- with Rodman noting, "We all make mistakes."

Antonio Brown says he's quitting the NFL because the league is corrupt and has screwed him out of millions of dollars.

Brown just tweeted up a storm, saying, among other things, "Will not be playing in the @NFL anymore these owners can cancel deals do whatever they want at anytime we will see if the @NFLPA hold them accountable sad they can just void guarantees anytime going on 40m 2 months will see if they pay up!"

What he's saying ... the Patriots signed him to a $15 mil deal with a $9 mil guaranteed signing bonus. But, here's the catch. The $9 mil was reportedly spread out over the season, and he was cut after just one week, and he's not gonna see most of that cash.

But, Brown went further and took aim at the Patriots' owner, Robert Kraft, firing this shot ... "Kraft got caught in the parlor AB speculations fired different strokes folks clearly." In other words, he's saying there's a double standard for him and the NFL bigwigs. Brown saying Kraft was charged with a crime and he was not, and the NFL hasn't punished Kraft.

He's also pissed because the NFL is investigating, and while that probe continues, he's poison to every team in the league.

Ex-Patriots receiver Malcolm Mitchell says he's turning to poetry to help his mental health after retiring from football ... saying the art form is "soothing."

Mitchell signed a 4-year deal in New England back in 2016 and helped the team win a Super Bowl that season. But, the 27-year-old battled injuries every year after that, and eventually retired last March.

Now, he's telling TMZ Sports he's become a writer ... and poetry has helped him transition from being a violent football player to an artist.

"It's soothing," Mitchell says. "I was talking to a reporter the other day about the mental health aspect of retiring from something you've been doing your whole life."

"Like, imagine if you couldn't do this anymore? You'd be stuck, right?"

Mitchell is currently finding HUGE success in the writing world ... he helped author the popular children's book "The Magician's Hat" -- and he's got a picture book on the way too.

But, he says poetry has become a real passion for him ... telling us, "Introducing that in a creative way is something that entices me."

Antonio Brown is back home after a turbulent past few weeks and an effective firing from the New England Patriots -- and he doesn't look too happy about it

The embattled wide receiver was seen exiting his private jet Saturday as he touched down in Miami -- where he owns a home. As he walked the runway, AB had an incredibly pained look on his face ... which is understandable after everything that's happened.

BTW, he was wearing Supreme gear here up top -- not Nike, which just dropped him this past week amid the mounting allegations. He also carried a Louis Vuitton briefcase.

While he looked pretty down in the dumps when he got back to Miami, AB was trying to put on a brave paid face before leaving the airport in New England ... posting a photo of himself sitting on top of a Rolls-Royce with the caption, "The Journey #Iknowimspecial #Whytheyplaying." Looks like he snuck in some Nike after all in his footwear.

As we reported ... Antonio was released by the Patriots Friday after a whirlwind of bad news for him, including a lawsuit alleging rape and sexual assault ... a Sports Illustrated story detailing more alleged sexual and behavioral misconduct ... as well as a reported attempt to contact one of his accusers with menacing texts.

Despite one good outing, it looks like the Pats had seen enough ... cutting him loose before Sunday's game against the Jets. AB's an unrestricted free agent now, and the NFL is still investigating the claims against him, not having come to a conclusion yet.