New England Patriots

OK, so it's not exactly Patriots practice ... but Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski are back at Gillette!

The two showed up at Patriots Fantasy Camp -- in which team members put paying fans through the paces of a regular day in the life of a Pats player. The money raised goes to charity.

Nobody really knew if Brady and Gronk would show up -- since they've been absent from New England's voluntary workouts the past couple weeks ... leading Bill Belichick to throw some not-so-subtle shade on his Hall of Fame QB.

But, when the event began Monday morning, the two most famous players were there.

Both players are expected to return for mandatory minicamp on Tuesday ... and their attendance at Monday's annual Patriots Fantasy Camp is a good sign that'll actually happen.

Deion Sanders has a message for people worried about Tom Brady skipping organized team activities (OTAs) this week ...

WHOOOOO CARES!?!?!?

TMZ Sports asked Primetime -- who claims to have only attended OTAs twice during his Hall of Fame career -- about TB12 no-showing at the voluntary practices ... and he says it's NBD because Brady's already proven what he can do.

ICYMI -- Bill Belichick seemed pissed about Tom's absence from Patriots OTAs ... telling reporters, "I'm not gonna talk about the people who aren't here," on Tuesday.

Sanders ain't looking into that either ... saying that's always how the coach acts.

Brad Stevens might be the best young coach in the NBA ... but is he on the level of Bill Belichick?

He's certainly on the way ... according to Celtics and Patriots superfan Mark Wahlberg ... who told us "that's a very, very good comparison."

TMZ Sports saw Wahlberg in L.A. ... and asked if the Celts head coach was "the new Belichick of Boston."

(Yeah, we know Boston is a part of New England -- but you get the point.)

It's high praise for a guy who's only been on the job for a few years ... considering B.B. has 5 'chips and is believed by some to be the best damn football coach ever.

But, Mark says there is still 1 thing Stevens has left to do.

His relationship with Tom Brady might be over, but Donald Trump's still cool with Bill Belichick -- with POTUS appointing the Patriots coach to his new Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.

Trump will be appointing a handful of his pals to the council including Herschel Walker, golfer Natalie Gulbis, beach volleyball star Misty May-Treanor and Mariano Rivera ... according to Axios.

Remember, Belichick has been friends with Trump for years and famously wrote him a letter back in 2016 congratulating him on a "tremendous campaign."

Gulbis and Walker have both appeared on "Celebrity Apprentice" with Trump.

The point of the council is to help find ways to motivate kids to be more active.

Belichick spoke about the new position, saying "The Council's mission aligns with my beliefs and several of the Bill Belichick Foundation's goals and values as they relate to sports, youth athletics and personal health and wellness."

"The physical fitness of children in our country is an apolitical issue that is extremely important to our future. When I was contacted by Ivanka Trump and asked to participate, I was humbled to be asked and honored to accept, as I would have done for any administration."

Here's a couple of VERY rich guys hanging out -- Patriots owner Robert Kraft taking in the Boston Celtics game Monday night with team owner Wyc Grousbeck.

Kraft and Grousbeck have been hanging out a lot lately -- they were also together at the Celtics game Saturday night with another member of the Boston Billionaire's Club ... Red Sox owner John Henry.

The Celtics beat the 76ers on Monday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals -- Kraft and Grousbeck were high-fiving on the court during the end of the game.

So, who's got the biggest bank between the three? According to Forbes, Kraft's worth $6.2 billion and John Henry's valued at $2.5 billion ... but Grousbeck's net worth isn't listed.

With the Celtics valued at more than $2 billion, he ain't poor either.

Tom Brady says Bill Belichick is the "best coach in the history of the NFL" -- and confirmed he will be BACK playing for the New England Patriots in 2018.

Brady addressed the alleged rift between himself and Belichick at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills during a Q&A with Jim Gray.

"He's very respectful to me," Brady said ..."We've had a great relationship. A very respectful relationship for a long time and I feel like he's the best coach in the history of the NFL."

Brady admitted Belichick's "not the easiest coach to play for" ... but added, "he's the best for me."

Tom Brady just did a live Q&A with Jim Gray at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills ... and talked about everything from his NFL future to kneeling during the national anthem.

Brady says the kneeling debate sparked a lot of "great conversations" in the locker room and meeting rooms.

"I have a lot of friends that I've played with and everyone's from different backgrounds. Everyone's from different parts of the country. Everyone has different stories ... and you gotta have respect for everybody."

"You gotta have respect for everybody's opinion and the way that they want to present themselves. And the opportunity that they have to make a difference."

Brady also said sports, for him, have been the most "unifying part of my life" and said it's important that the NFL should bring people together.

Gronk ain't done with the Patriots just yet!!

After months of speculation, Rob Gronkowski just officially announced he's returning to the New England Patriots for the 2018 season ... and NOT retiring.

"I met with coach today and informed him I will be back for the 2018 season with the Pats," Gronk said.

"I have been working out, staying in shape and feel great. Looking forward to another championship run. #bandsamakeherdance."

Remember, Gronk said he was going to contemplate his NFL future after the Pats lost the Super Bowl to the Eagles back in February.

There was some talk he would leave football and pursue a career in Hollywood or the WWE.

Rob Gronkowski celebrated Avicii's life EXACTLY the way the DJ would've wanted ... so says another world-famous DJ, who tells TMZ Sports Gronk put a little happy into a terribly sad situation.

We got Gianluca Vacchi (yes, he's Italian) -- the dude GQ once called "The Coolest Man On Instagram" -- and asked him what he thought of Gronk turning up to Avicii's song in Austin this weekend.

You can tell Vacchi (who's remixed Avicii's music in the past) was moved by the tribute, telling our camera guy having fun is the whole point of EDM, and the perfect way to honor the late DJ.

Sad story, but you know what's not sad? Vacchi's Instagram. Dude has over 11 million followers and we gotta say his lifestyle makes Gronk look like Peyton Manning.

Tom Brady shot down retirement rumors and insisted he would play football in 2018 when talking with his buddy Jim Gray ... but there's a catch.

Tom and Jim have been friends for years -- Tom does his radio show every week during the NFL season ... so when we spotted Jim at LAX, we had to ask about the great "Will Tom retire?" debate.

That's when Jim reminded us what Brady told him right before the Super Bowl in February.

"I asked him a question on the air ... I said, 'Regardless of the outcome are you going to return and play football next year?' And he said, 'You WILL see me playing football in 2018.'"

"So those are the words out of his mouth."

Skip Bayless says reports of Patriots infighting are VERY real -- claiming Bill Belichick "sold out" Tom Brady and then sabotaged the organization ... and it's all over Jimmy Garoppolo.

“I think Belichick sold him out and wanted to give Garoppolo the job next year and I think Brady knew it," the star of FS1's "Undisputed" tells us.

"[Robert Kraft] had to step in and intervene and say ‘Nope, I’m going forward with Brady. You have to trade Garoppolo.’ And then it felt to me like Belichick sabotaged the organization."

Skip says the Garoppolo drama could be the reason for all of the recent Brady retirement talk -- which Bayless added was weak -- since the 40-year-old still has AT LEAST 3 more years left in him.

Johnny Manziel has made it clear he wants to play for the New England Patriots -- and on Wednesday night, he sent the team a reminder ... via his sweatshirt.

Remember ... Manziel previously told TMZ Sports he'd love to play for Bill Belichick, "I'll go to New England in a heartbeat."

Then, the Patriots reportedly met with 25-year-old Manziel at the Texas A&M Pro Day at end of March.

Next came the Spring League where Johnny put on a solid performance which left some NFL execs raving about his potential.

Fast-forward to Wednesday night ... when Johnny rocked the Patriots hoodie while his wife, Bre Tiesi, snapchatted away.

Now, with rumblings Tom Brady might retire (yeah right) the Patriots could be in the market for a QB ... and Manziel wants to make sure he's top of mind.

James Harrison just hung it up, but could Tom Brady be next??

With rumors swirling on Brady potentially not playing this season, we asked Deebo himself -- Tom's teammate last year -- and he told us it would NOT surprise him ... given the sacrifices TB, Gisele and the kids make so he can play ball.

“That’s up to Tom and what decisions he and his family make as far as what he wants to do, and if he does want to continue to play, what he’s willing to sacrifice and the family is willing to sacrifice,” Harrison told TMZ Sports.

James would know -- telling us that's why he decided to retire earlier this week.

Specifically, the Pro Bowl LB says he's interested in introducing his 2 sons to tackle football -- and possibly even coaching them!

Deebo says it's a tough decision for any parent to make given everything that's out on CTE -- but explained why he wants his sons exposed to it before they hit their teens.

"Everything in life has dangers ... I'm not gonna live in fear of things that could possibly happen."

Tony Gonzalez says Dez Bryant would have fun hangin' with Odell Beckham in the Big Apple ... but if he wants to win Super Bowls, there's only one place to consider in free agency -- the Patriots!!

TMZ Sports spoke with the NFL legend about Dez's possible new homes now that he's no longer a Cowboy ... and T.G. says teaming up with Tom Brady in Foxborough will guarantee him a ring.

Bryant recently said in an interview it would "be crazy" to play alongside OBJ ... and Gonzalez agrees, but says it's all about gettin' 'ships.

What's better than Patriots offseason workouts?

If you're Rob Gronkowski, the answer is a pool day with your smokin' hot model girlfriend!!

FYI, things have been heating up between the Patriots star and his lady friend, Camille Kostek -- an ex-Patriots cheerleader who SLAYED the Sports Illustrated swimsuit mag earlier this year.

On Tuesday, Gronk and his GF hit up Camille's grammy's house somewhere that's not Boston ... and the Pro Bowl tight end went full Optimus Prime, transforming into her HUMAN WATER SKI!

Yeah ... Camille likey.

The hot-bod couple also got in some canoodling with a cute-as-hell puppy belonging to Gronk's little bro, Glenn -- and we're starting to get the feeling this is a lot more than a spring fling.

Whoa.

Here's the man Stormy Daniels says threatened her and her daughter back in 2011 ... and he looks just like Tom Brady.

The backstory ... Stormy says this man approached her in Las Vegas 7 years ago and told her to "Leave Trump alone" and to "forget the story" ... or else.

Stormy gave her description of the man to a sketch artist last week who came up with this drawing.

Even if it's not Tom Brady ... dude's handsome.