New England Patriots

"I felt like I was just left to die."

That's Cam Newton opening up after a Saturday night workout session -- saying he felt abandoned by the NFL after parting ways with the Carolina Panthers ... and now he's promising an epic comeback.

Cam was dropped by Carolina back in March after basically missing the 2019 season due to injury. His 2018 campaign wasn't great either.

The market wasn't exactly scorching hot for the QB despite his insane potential. The 31-year-old finally signed with the Patriots in late-June in a shocking 1-year deal that only guarantees him $550k for 2020.

Cam seems pissed about the way things went down -- saying he feels "sh*tted on" ... and vows to change the way he's treated in the NFL by seizing his new opportunity with Bill Belichick.

"You know what makes this sh*t different is they ain't never seen this Cam," Newton said.

"They ain't never seen him. You want to know how I know? Sh*t, I ain't never seen him -- the forgotten Cam. The sh*tted on Cam. The tired of being sick and tired Cam. I felt like I was just left to die. It's over with for him. He ain't the same player."

Newton continued his rant by insisting he's more motivated than ever -- and even referenced a conversation he recently had with his son, Chosen.

"[My son] Chosen say, 'Daddy, daddy, daddy? We going to Charlotte?' I say, 'No, son, it's over with. We got another place we going to. We're going north.'"

Terrelle Pryor tells TMZ Sports his NFL career ain't done yet ... the wide receiver is gearing up for a comeback, and says he's already spoken with the Patriots about a possible signing.

The 31-year-old hasn't played in a regular-season game since 2018 ... and after he nearly lost his life in a stabbing incident back in Nov. -- some thought his career was done.

But, Pryor tells us he's been working like a maniac to get back on the field ... and says he and his reps have already been in contact with several teams -- including New England.

"There have been conversations with a couple -- five teams," Pryor tells us.

But, TP says because of the COVID-19 pandemic ... he hasn't been able to get a tryout with anyone just yet, but he's confident that'll change soon.

Pryor says he's fully healthy now ... and would really love a shot to catch passes from either Cam Newton in New England or Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh.

"Those two are very intriguing," Pryor says. "Especially Cam. I've been a big fan of him throughout the years ... And, obviously, Big Ben, that's my hometown of Pittsburgh, so that's just two teams that I really want to play for."

Pryor, though, says he's open to everybody ... and claims he's found the solutions to stop injuries that have plagued him ever since he left Cleveland after his breakout year in 2016.

Did you know the Patriots gave Josh Gordon a Super Bowl ring for his small role on the 2018 championship team??

It's true ... and now, the embattled wide receiver's victory bling can be all yours -- if you've got some SERIOUS cash lying around.

Officials at Heritage Auctions say they're putting JG's title drip on the auction block next month ... and they expect it to sell for somewhere in the area of $100,000!!!

Unclear how the ring made its way to the auction house ... but we're told Gordon himself is NOT selling it. Rather, officials tell TMZ Sports it's being sold by a dealer.

But, the ring is insane regardless ... it's the last one of Tom Brady's Patriots tenure -- featuring a gem carat weight of 9.85. The bling also features 10 karat gold, according to auction officials.

Of course, Gordon only played in 11 games for the Pats in the '18 season after they traded the Browns for him ... he ultimately stepped away from New England before its playoff run, saying he needed to focus on his mental health.

Gordon ended the season with 40 receptions for 720 yards and 3 TDs ... famously catching Brady's 500th career touchdown pass.

Gordon returned to the Pats the following year ... but was placed on injured reserve just a few games into the season and was later cut.

"There's one motherf***er in the jungle -- when he roar everything stops ... and I'm about to motherf***in' ROAR!"

You fired up yet?!

Cam Newton sure as hell is -- the Patriots QB just WENT OFF in a new gym session video .. and seemingly took a shot at his old team!!

While stomping around his gym, a shirtless, jacked Newton looks directly into the camera and says, "You gonna choose THAT over THIS?!"

Is it a message to his former team the Carolina Panthers -- who released Cam to later sign Teddy Bridgewater?!

Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, Cam's definitely got a chip on his shoulder ... and he's ready to show the world he's still dominant.

"I'm getting tired of being humble now," Newton said.

"I'm really a killa. I'm really a killa ... You feel me? I'm getting tired of all this humble sh*t. Because, when you humble, they start taking advantage of you."

"When you don't say nothing, they start taking advantage of you."

Cam then described himself as a LION -- the kind of king who isn't bothered by the rest of the animal kingdom.

"The hyenas can be doing all that he do, the elephants can be doing all he do, the giraffes, the antelopes, the chimpanzees, even the gorilla. But there's one mother**ker in the jungle -- when he roar, everything stops. And I'm about to motherf**kin' roar!!!"

Newton just signed a 1-year, $1.05 million deal with New England -- with just $550,000 in guaranteed money.

The deal is incentive-based -- meaning if Newton balls out like he's hoping to ... he can make up to $7.5 million.

After signing the contract, Newton said it's not about the money -- "it's about respect."

Cam's only 31-years-old and a former NFL MVP -- and when he's healthy, he's a BEAST!

Justin Rohrwasser has delivered on his promise ... the Patriots kicker has removed a controversial tattoo from his arm after a public outcry, TMZ Sports has learned.

The tattoo in question is the logo for the "Three Percenters" -- a group some experts have described as a dangerous right-wing militia. Some chapters reportedly associate with "extreme racist groups."

The 23-year-old kicker claimed he got the tat when he was 18 because he thought it was a patriotic tribute to the military -- not knowing the group has been associated with some pretty bad stuff.

After the Patriots selected Rohrwasser with the 159th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft back in April, he received some major blowback online ... and later vowed to remove it from his body,.

"It's shameful that I had it on there ignorantly," Rohrwasser told WBZ-TV ... "That's not who I am."

Now, multiple sources confirm ... the tat is gone for good.

We're told the former Marshall kicker began the removal process almost immediately after the NFL Draft ... and described the process as physically painful.

Rohrwasser has apologized for the tattoo multiple times -- and told WBZ-TV, "I’m sorry for all my family that have to defend me. Putting them in that compromising position is one of the biggest regrets I’ll ever have, so to them, I’m sorry.

Well, that didn't take long ... Cam Newton and Mohamed Sanu hooked up in L.A. on Tuesday to get in their first workout as Patriots teammates -- and the dudes are JACKED!!

The Sideline Hustle documented the sweat sesh -- which all went down at UCLA -- grabbing footage of the new Pats QB1 with New England's WR2.

Unclear how long the duo worked out together ... but check out the vid of the two afterward -- Sanu is ripped, and Newton is still big as hell!!

Of course, Newton and Sanu have a relationship dating back YEARS ... they were rivals during their times in Carolina and Atlanta -- and they had already been spotted working out together earlier this year before Cam signed with Bill Belichick's squad.

But, it's clear the workouts mean more now ... Cam's expected to be the starter in New England, while a finally-healthy Sanu is slated to be the team's No. 2 WR target behind Julian Edelman.

By the way, this also helps explain why Cam touched down in Los Angeles rather than New England earlier this week after signing his contract ... gotta build that rapport early!!

"You fittin' to get a monster!"

Former Patriots Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch says Cam Newton is going to go OFF in 2020 ... telling TMZ Sports the QB is poised for a huge season as Tom Brady's replacement.

"I think this guy's going to erupt, man," the ex-Pats wideout says. "I think this is going to be a crazy season for him."

As for why ... Branch tells us he believes Cam's going to come into New England motivated -- and says that should be a scary sight for the rest of the league.

"Right now, Cam feels like everybody is doubting him," Branch says. "That's a place you never want to see a true competitor, because you fittin' to get a monster!"

Of course, Cam hasn't been quite the same QB since his MVP season in 2015 ... mostly because injuries have hampered him throughout the last four seasons.

But, Branch says if Newton's healthy -- which he reportedly is -- the Patriots might find a seamless transition from TB12.

"This isn't fake, man," Branch says. "This guy is out here grinding. And, he's trying to show teams, 'Hey, I know what I can do. Just give me the opportunity.'"

Cam Newton has landed in L.A. just one day after signing with the Patriots ... and his new squad outfit is straight FIRE!!!

The 31-year-old QB was decked out in a plaid shirt with pink pants and a pink sweater around his neck ... lookin' like Easter in June -- but man, HE LOOKS GOOD!

While Newton didn't have much to say at LAX, he's gotta be stoked to sign with Bill Belichick's squad ... where some experts are now saying he puts NE back in legit playoff contention.

One more thing ... Cam was also sporting a mask and even though he forgot to cover his nose, it's more than Tom Brady seems to be doing with his new teammates out in Tampa Bay.

As we previously reported, Cam signed a 1-year incentive-based deal with the Patriots that's worth up to $7.5 mil if he hits all of his bonuses.

We'll end this post with a relevant quote from NFL legend Deion Sanders ... who famously dropped this pearl of wisdom back in the day:

Cam Newton is getting a new lease on football life -- for at least a season, anyway -- 'cause the New England Patriots have signed the veteran quarterback to a deal.

The ex-Carolina Panthers star -- who took his team to the Super Bowl in 2015 -- has agreed to a one-year contract with the team, which is said to be incentive-based ... so not a whole lot of money upfront. Definitely a ton of opportunity though for the former starter, especially if he performs well. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says the contract is worth up to $7.5 mil if he hits all his bonuses.

Cam will presumably get some decent playing time and the chance to become the first-string QB for the Pats -- seeing how they got a relatively new guy in Jarrett Stidham in that spot right now ... this, of course, after Tom left the team this past off-season to head to Tampa.

Long story short ... the top spot is kinda up for grabs in New England, and if Cam can prove he's capable of performing again at a high level, he may very well fill in as the team's new franchise quarterback. Granted, he's had an up and down trajectory since his SB year -- mostly due to injuries. That said, we've all seen what Cam can do when he's healthy ... the guy was the league's MVP in 2015.

The bright side ... the dude looks like he's been staying in great shape, as he's been posting a ton of workout videos lately after being released by the Panthers. Seems like he's ready to step in and play -- and it would appear Kraft, Belichick and co. agreed.

Tom Brady just SNAPPED over a report he had beef with Josh McDaniels in New England ... calling the whole thing "nonsense" and pleading with journalists to "be more responsible."

Brady is alleged to have left New England for Tampa, in part, because of a "deteriorating relationship" with McDaniels, this according to longtime NFL reporter Gary Myers.

Myers claimed per an "excellent source" that TB12 was "worn out" from playing under Josh the past decade-plus ... and wanted a change of scenery.

But, Brady went scorched earth on that notion Monday ... writing on social media, "Please stop this nonsense!"

"Please be more responsible with reporting," the QB added. "19 years together and brothers for life."

McDaniels has held some sort of role on the Patriots staff for all but 3 years since 2001 ... and has been Brady's offensive coordinator for most of those seasons.

And, Tom's sure making it known he didn't hate the guy when he finally broke away from the Pats in March.

James Harrison might be the only man in America who wasn't surprised to see Rob Gronkowski return to the NFL -- he tells TMZ Sports he knew a Gronk comeback was in the works since at least November!!!

The former Steelers star says he and the future Hall of Fame tight end filmed a TV ad together more than six months ago ... and he could tell then Rob was gearing up to play again.

"I knew then that he was going to come back," Harrison says. "He was talking about it. He was itching then. He was feeling a lot better."

Harrison says taking 2019 off allowed Rob's body to heal up ... so Harrison could see the writing for a return on the wall.

But, James admits he NEVER saw Tampa Bay coming ... "because of course Tom [Brady] wasn’t there at the time, but once he got there it was like, 'Yeah, it makes sense.'"

As for Tom's departure from New England ... James says he WAS surprised to see his former teammate leave the Pats!!!

By the way, James is finding success in life after football ... he's set to have a role on Starz's new wrestling drama "Heels" -- and he says it's got him thinking about a possible WWE future!

Asante Samuel says playing for Bill Belichick and the Patriots was NOT fun ... and he tells TMZ Sports he believes the reason Tom Brady bolted was 'cause he just couldn't take it anymore.

"He probably just got fed up with it at the end of the day," the former New England cornerback says.

Samuel played with Brady and Belichick from 2003 to 2007 ... and he had a TON of success -- but he tells us he had ZERO fun along the way.

"It worked out for me, man. It made me a better man, but it's not something I enjoyed," Samuel says.

As for why Samuel says playing for The Hoodie is a grind ... it's because of the coach's strict rules and no-mercy personnel decisions.

In fact, Samuel says it was so tough ... he believes that's why Brady will head into the 2020 NFL season with a Buccaneers jersey on.

"He probably just got tired of it," Samuel says of TB12. "He probably got tired of some inner-circle things that he wanted. Maybe, he wanted receivers and tight ends to stay there with him and maybe Bill tried to trade them. Who knows what happened?"

Don't get it twisted, though ... Samuel still seems to respect the hell out of what Bill did for his career -- telling us he just didn't love the route it took to get there.

"He goes to Tampa Bay and that's what he gets getting thrown out of the park! So, it serves him right!"

That's Boston Mayor Marty Walsh clowning Tom Brady over his closed Tampa park incident ... and the shade he threw at ex-Patriots QB for the snafu after leaving New England was hilarious!!

The head of the Massachusetts city joined WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show" on Tuesday ... and when Tom getting booted for illegally working out in a Florida park was brought up -- the mayor didn't hold back on the jokes.

"See, if Tom Brady stayed, there's some exceptions I would make," Walsh said. "And, having Tom Brady throw a football, I probably would have maybe looked the other way on that one."

"But, he goes to Tampa Bay and that's what he gets!"

Of course, Tom famously bolted from the Patriots for the Buccaneers in March ... and he hasn't exactly had the smoothest transition to his new home.

After the 42-year-old was kicked out of a park that was closed due to coronavirus concerns earlier this month ... he accidentally trespassed a few days later when he was trying to find his new offensive coordinator's house!!

WHO'S A GOOD -- AND NOW VERY POPULAR -- BOY?!?!?

Bill Belichick's girlfriend says their dog, Nike, is!!!

Linda Holliday said on "The Adam Schefter Podcast" this week that the pup was so adorable during its viral moment at the NFL draft ... the dog's fan base has grown from a couple hundred to nearly 20,000!!!!

If you missed it ... Nike stole the show at the Patriots' draft last Friday -- when it took Belichick's seat just seconds before New England made its 2nd-round pick.

Cameras caught the pup staring at The Hoodie's monitors ... and the scene couldn't have been cuter.

Linda says within minutes of Nike's unexpected cameo -- her phone blew up ... with people hitting the follow button on the dog's IG like crazy!!!

"Nike went from 1,000 followers to about 10,000 followers," Holiday says, "and my phone was just blowing up."

Nike is now up to over 16,000 followers on his social media account since the draft ... this despite Linda saying she's only put a handful of pics on the page!!

As for how the dog did captaining Bill's ship during the weekend? The coach and Linda have got a lot of belly rubbing to do ... 'cause most pundits gave the Patriots' picks an A grade!!!

"I want to get it removed from my body. It's shameful that I had it on there ignorantly."

That's Patriots rookie Justin Rohrwasser fighting back tears and apologizing for the "3 Percenter" tattoo on his arm ... saying he'll now have it removed because "that's not who I am."

You've probably heard by now ... the 23-year-old has been under fire over the tattoo since he was drafted by the Pats in the 5th round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Why? Well, Justin claims he got the tat when he was 18 as a tribute to the military -- but some experts and watchdog groups say the "3 Percenters" are actually a dangerous right-wing militia ... some chapters reportedly associate with "extreme racist groups."

3 Percenters' leaders have disputed the claims -- claiming they're just patriots trying to protect American liberties.

Still, Rohrwasser has been getting crushed on social media by people calling him racist, a white supremacist sympathizer and more.

So, the former Marshall kicker did an interview with WBZ-TV's Steve Burton (who is black) to explain why he's JUST NOW having regrets about the ink.

"When I was 18, I got it. [3 Percenters were] described to me as the percentage of colonists that rose up against the authoritarian government of the British, and I was like, 'Wow, that's such an American sentiment. A patriotic sentiment. And coming from a military family, I thought that really spoke to me and I always was proud to be an American. I'm very proud to be an American."

"The first time I found out what it was linked to was on Saturday. That's why it was so surprising."

Shocking statement considering the 3 Percenters made national headlines back in 2017 when several 3P members showed up at the violent Charlottesville protests in military fatigues while carrying weapons.

"As soon as I saw what it was linked to on Saturday, it's exactly that time I knew I had to get it totally taken off my body. I said cover it up, but I want to get it removed from my body. It's shameful that I had it on there ignorantly. I'm sorry for all my family that have to defend me.

Rohrwasser says putting his family and friends in the "compromising position" of having to defend his character is "one of the biggest regrets I'll ever have."

"I'm sorry I'm going to learn from this ... this is not who I am ... no matter what, that 's not who I am. Hopefully, you will all find that out."

For his part, Burton believes him ... tagging his report, "I did not find him to be a racist whatsoever. I found him to be very authentic and very apologetic. This kid deserves a chance."