New England Patriots

Jonathan Casillas is putting his former teammate, Tom Brady, on the highest pedestal possible ... even though he doesn't think TB's a shoo-in to beat the Eagles.

We got the former New England Patriots linebacker (and current Giants starter) Sunday in Minneapolis ahead of Super Bowl LII, and asked if Tom had this game in the bag.

Von Miller almost didn't make it Super Bowl LII because his Uber ride broke down before he could even hit the road ... but luckily, the crisis was averted.

We got Von boarding an Uber Sunday in Minneapolis ahead of the big game between the Pats and Eagles, and his driver's car wouldn't start. The Broncos star wasn't about to sit around and miss the kickoff -- he bolted from the car and ordered himself a new one.

Super Bowl LII is shaping up to look a little bit like a militarized zone based on all the armed security running around Minneapolis ... with Humvees and whatnot.

Homeland Security's got their Special Response Team on the ground in and around U.S. Bank Stadium -- where the big game will be played Sunday night.

From the looks of these pics, HS staffers are strapped and ready to respond to anything ... with bulletproof vests, walkies and Humvees at their disposal. Makes sense ... big events like this have become targets for attacks as of late -- think Vegas, Manchester, etc.

Better safe than sorry.

Hollywood seems torn about who they'll be rooting for this Super Bowl Sunday ... literally, this thing's split right down the middle.

We got a handful of celebs and athletes this weekend and asked them the same thing that's on everyone's mind for Super Bowl LII -- Pats or Eagles?

Anthony Scaramucci doesn't hesitate with his pick. Meanwhile, Donnie Wahlberg appears to waffle a bit before confirming his prediction ... no real surprise there.

Other stars who weighed in include Seahawks OT Duane Brown, ex-Pats defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, Joe Walsh ... and, of course, Lil Uzi Vert.

Turns out Tom Brady still balling at 40 is NOTHIN' ... that's according to Mark Ingram who says his 39-year-old QB Drew Brees can play for 5 or 6 more years.

Do the math, that's until Brees is 44 ... at least.

We got Ingram at the EA party in Minneapolis and asked him how long he thinks his signal caller can slang the rock ... being that he still looks as sharp as ever.

"At least 5 or 6 more years."

Ingram told our guy Brees' preparation and recovery efforts put him in a class by himself, and he totally thinks DB can be like TB, that is being elite well into his mid-life crisis years.

BTW ... we also got Drew out and he seems to agree.

Listen up Gisele -- legendary boxer Bernard Hopkins has some advice on how to deal with those unruly Philly fans when you get to Minnesota ... and it's basically not to be Gisele.

We got Hopkins -- a Philly legend -- out at LAX and asked him how the notoriously outspoken Mrs. Bündchen should handle herself Super Bowl weekend around his Eagles people.

NOTE: Eagles fans are freakin' crazy, having actually assaulted Santa Claus on one occasion.

B-Hop had a very simple idea for Gisele, utilizing a skill she's used to ... playing dress-up.

"You got to camouflage yourself so you won't be noticed. Cause Philly, no matter where we go we make that Philly."

Should Patriots and Eagles players have sex before the Super Bowl??

"GO FOR IT," says Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis ... who's debunking the myth that bangin' before the big game can mess with your mojo.

It's pretty simple -- if you're a studly NFL star, chances are you're getting PLENTY of action during the season.

So, TD advises not to break routine -- "Keep doing that, don't change."

He would know -- Terrell's a former Super Bowl MVP and 2-time SB champ with the Broncos.

JuJu Smith-Schuster is playin' with fire!!!

The Pittsburgh Steelers rookie WR was asked to take a pic with a fan who happened to be wearing a Tom Brady jersey ... and he obliged.

BUT, HE SNUCK IN A MIDDLE FINGER AIMED RIGHT AT #12!!

JuJu posted the pic on social media with the caption, "rt when you see it."

Yeah, we see it!!

It's funny -- gotta wonder if Mike Tomlin's laughing about it, too (hint: no).

BTW, JuJu lit up the Patriots when they played in Week 15 -- racking up 6 catches for 114 yards including a 69-yard crossing route that ALMOST won the game for the Steelers.

They ended up losing 27-24 when Big Ben threw a pic from the 7-yard line with time running out in the 4th quarter.

I, Nancy ... am now a New England Patriots cheerleader!!

The figure skating superstar dusted off her skates and hit the ice with the Pats cheer squad Tuesday in Minneapolis ... teaching the ladies how to nail some of the basic moves right before the Super Bowl.

We gotta admit ... it's an accomplishment in itself that nobody busted their ass. Then again ... they have a 2-time Olympic medalist showing them the ropes.

But the teacher turned into the student when Kerrigan was handed a set of pom poms and joined the girls for a "Let's Go Pats" chant ... ON ICE!!

Don't think for a second that Tom Brady's gonna be distracted by that radio guy calling his daughter an "annoying little pissant" ... 'cause TB12's heard a lot worse in his career -- so says Todd Gurley.

Don't get it twisted -- Gurley told TMZ Sports the WEEI radio personality was outta line for blasting Tom's 5-year-old girl ... but at the same time, he doesn't think the QB's losing much sleep over it.

"Pretty sure he's heard worse than that," the Rams RB told us at LAX. "Words can't kill you."

FYI, Brady clarified he doesn't want the radio personality, Alex Reimer, to get canned over his comments ... but still no word on whether he's gonna keep choppin' it up on WEEI's "Kirk & Callahan" every Monday.

Terrell Owens has some savage Super Bowl advice for the Eagles before his former team squares off with Tom Brady and the Patriots.

"Don't ever think you got 'em beat -- gotta put your foot on the throat," Owens told TMZ Sports.

T.O. knows what he's talking about ... the 6-time Pro Bowler balled out against the Pats at Super Bowl 39, but the Eagles let the game slip away after a back-and-forth battle.

So, when their big day arrives ... Owens -- who played his Super Bowl on a broken leg -- says they gotta go in with the mentality to kill or be killed.

Alright, guys ... this might actually be a thing.

Tennis superstar Genie Bouchard and the guy who won a date with her by betting on last year's Super Bowl are going back to the big game ... after NFL Canada (Genie's home country) offered to take them as guests.

The best part -- SHE ASKED HIM!!

"OMG. Back to where it all began?! And with the Patriots too?! I’m in! What do you say?" Genie tweeted at Missouri University student, John Goehrke.

Of course, John accepted -- "This keeps getting better. I’m in!"

You know the story -- Genie made a bet with John last year when the Falcons were up big on the Patriots ... agreeing to a date if the Pats pulled off a comeback.

They did ... and they've since gone on (at least) a few dates -- including a bikini beach sesh in Miami.

There will be no Jerseygate 2 at Super Bowl LII -- with law enforcement putting together special plans to watch Tom Brady's jersey LIKE A HAWK in the wake of last year's theft, TMZ Sports has learned.

First off, the guy who jacked Tom's jersey out of the locker room in 2017, Mauricio Ortega, has been banned from all Super Bowls (and all NFL games) for life ... an NFL spokesperson tell us.

Law enforcement directly involved with the SBLII protection in Minneapolis says the protection of player property -- especially game-used memorabilia -- will be a major priority this time around.

As one source put it ... "One of the main goals is to keep people and property safe. We do not want a repeat of last year and we have learned lessons from other major sporting events."

We're told the overall security plan involves federal agencies, multiple state agencies and private security plus "surveillance everywhere."

Still, Tom might wanna have a designated "jersey guy" just in case ...

With Tom Brady nursing a mysterious hand injury just days before the AFC Championship, a reporter asked Bill Belichick if he regrets trading away Jimmy Garoppolo.

Holy God, does Bill look angry.

Belichick was at the podium talking to the media Friday morning ... when he was asked multiple questions about how the Patriots are preparing for Sunday with regard to Tom's injury.

Bill wasn't having any of it ... especially when the Jimmy G question came up.

Of course, Tom's super talented backup QB was traded away to the 49ers toward the end of the season. Now, Brady's #2 is Brian Hoyer -- who's just not Garoppolo.

This is a first ... a star athlete with his own CUSTOM AK-47!!

That athlete would be Patriots LB James Harrison -- who showed off his new piece on social media on Tuesday.

He's dubbing it the "Deebo Draco" ... Draco being a smaller version of the classic AK.

Ain't the first time we've heard about Harrison's love affair with guns ... remember that 'Confessions of an NFL Hitman' feature back in the day??

Unclear if this is a scare tactic for the Jaguars ... but, the bottom line -- don't mess with Deebo.

Here's some Super Bowl real talk, courtesy of Steelers legend, Pro Football Hall of Famer and SB40 champ Jerome Bettis -- who we got outside Poppy in L.A.

Fact -- Tom Brady and the Patriots are heavy favorites to win it all.

Also fact -- There's 1 team in the field that's got the goods to pull off an upset ... but "it's gonna take a big effort," according to The Bus.