New England Patriots

Greg Hardy believes he can be a 2-sport athlete -- and says he's convinced he's exactly what the New England Patriots defense needs to get back to the Super Bowl.

In fact, Hardy -- who's been dominating in MMA -- is making his case to Bill Belichick as to why the organization should take a chance on him.

"Mr. Belichick, I would be under your regime, boss man. Following orders, doing whatever you need me to do, baby. I'm the ultimate team guy!!"

Hardy's NFL career was sidelined after his 2014 domestic violence case. His conviction was overturned but many people believe he got off on a technicality. Hardy has maintained his innocence.

He hasn't played in the NFL since the 2015 season -- but insists he's ready to go RIGHT NOW.

30-year-old Hardy says he's had a major impact on every team he's played for -- and he'd do the same exact thing for the Pats.

He also believes Tom Brady could use the help on the other side of the ball -- and wants to prove he's worthy of another shot in the league.

Is Tom Brady the greatest NFL player of all time? Tim Tebow thinks so ... but this clip just set off a firestorm in the TMZ office.

Jim Brown. Joe Montana. Jerry Rice. Lawrence Taylor.

You could make a case for all of 'em -- but some people feel TB12's resume is the most impressive.

5 Super Bowl rings. 8 AFC championships. 3 NFL MVPs. 4 Super Bowl MVP. 13 Pro Bowls.

Jim Brown posted 12,312 yards in just 9 seasons -- and remember, the NFL season was significantly shorter back when he played. He was a 3-time MVP and made the Pro Bowl every year he played. He was an 8-time All-Pro.

Lawrence Taylor was a monster who changed the game forever. He was also the last defensive player to win the NFL MVP award (1986).

Jerry Rice is easily the greatest WR of all time. He still holds the record for all-time receiving yards and TDs ... and he leads the TD category by a mile.

Peyton Manning's single-season passing TD record is TOAST ... 'cause Patrick Mahomes is driving his Chiefs bus straight through it -- so says K.C. legend Tony Gonzalez.

Mahomes has lit up the league so far ... chucking 13 TDs in 3 games -- and Gonzalez tells TMZ Sports he thinks Pat will catch Manning's all-time mark of 55 in a single season.

"Right now, I'm looking at it, yeah," Tony tells us. "He's on his way!"

In fact ... the legendary tight end's been so impressed with Mahomes -- he's got him as MVP of the league for now ... with two other hot QBs right in the hunt.

By the way ... Tony also shared his thoughts on another Tony -- saying there's no way in hell Romo should make a comeback to the league.

You've seen Tom Brady's dad bod ... but have you seen his dad dance moves?!?!

Well -- here they are ... straight from the stretch line at New England Patriots practice Friday.

There's some wrist rolls, a little body wiggle, some ass droppin' ... and then it's all capped with a pose-off with backup QB Brian Hoyer.

The song?? Migos' "Handsome and Wealthy" ... the perfect TB12 tune.

Not too sure what the occasion for the turn up is ... Tom's squad is off to a 1-2 start and has a HUGE game with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Rob Gronkowski says he's ain't mad at his big bro for stirring up drama with the Patriots -- claiming Chris Gronkowski just got caught up in the moment when he shaded Rob's team on the radio.

Backstory ... Chris appeared on "Kirk & Callahan" on WEEI this week and told the guys Rob had issues with the team during the offseason that seemed to center on his contract.

Essentially, Chris said Rob wanted more freedom, more respect ... and more money!

"He wanted to get what he deserved. He was being paid like he was just a mediocre tight end, and just wanted to get some respect on that end."

Enter Rob, who faced the media Wednesday and was asked if what Chris said was true. Short answer ... no.

"He doesn't speak for myself and he knows he doesn't. He probably just got caught up a little bit," Rob said.

"To tell you the truth, I feel like he probably was going on for a promotion thing for his ice shaker. No lie."

It's true ... Chris' ice shaker business is kind of a big deal -- Rob pointed out he's even been featured on "Shark Tank" with Alex Rodriguez.

"So, I guess buy his ice shaker is what he was trying to get to ... and he probably got caught up in all that nonsense."

Dolphins legend Bob Griese says he still pops champagne every time the last undefeated NFL team racks up its first L ... and he'll do it again this year, even if the last 0 standing belongs to Miami.

Remember, Griese was the star QB during that legendary 1972 Dolphins season -- when they ran the table and won the Super Bowl ... the ONLY team to make it through the regular season and playoffs without a loss.

Griese notes that the Patriots got close back in 2007 -- but couldn't close the deal in the Super Bowl ... losing to Eli Manning's New York Giants in one of the greatest upsets ever.

Right now, the Dolphins are 3-0 and playing Tom Brady this weekend -- so, does Bob think his squad has what it takes to make history again?

"No."

"They can play well," Bob told us at the Buoniconti Fund’s 33rd annual Great Sports Legends Dinner Monday night ... "but they can't do the unexpected."

"I think everybody's gonna get beat."

The NFL. MLB. The NBA ... Quidditch?

Hey, it's possible for the "Harry Potter" inspired sport to join those massive leagues -- but only if black people start playing ... at least according to Martellus Bennett.

FYI, Quidditch is a fast-paced field game that's been described as part rugby, part dodgeball ... and involves putting a ball through 3 different rings while running with a broom between your legs.

We know what you're thinking ... but Marty B gave the sport a try recently (destroying his opponents) and told TMZ Sports it's actually super fun!

In fact, Bennett says the game has real mass appeal -- "If they took it to the urban community it would be [a national sport]."

He also notes the upside is huge because "there's more Harry Potter fans than there are NFL fans."

He may have a point, the NFL is primarily an American thing. Harry Potter is a global sensation.

There's more ...

Since Bennett won a Super Bowl with the Patriots, we asked if he thought New England could be a good landing spot for Colin Kaepernick ... since Colin's attorney recently suggested the Pats had an interest.

Josh Gordon seems to be making a good impression on his new boss -- with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick saying the WR is a "smart kid" who's been busting his ass.

Gordon was traded to the Pats on Monday after a rocky 6-year stint with the Cleveland Browns that included multiple suspensions stemming from substance abuse. The last straw for CLE was when Gordon said he injured himself last week during a promo shoot.

So, how's it going for Josh in New England? Not bad, according to Belichick.

"Josh is a smart kid. He's worked hard. He's picked up a lot," Bill said during Friday's press conference.

Bill noted Josh hasn't been in town for very long -- but noted that he's "done about as much as [he] can in the few days [he's] been here."

Colin Kaepernick and Tom Brady ... on the same team???

That seems to be the suggestion coming from Colin's attorney, Mark Geragos -- who's teasing to TMZ Sports that two NFL teams could be interested in signing the QB.

"I would just say, 'Stay tuned' ... that next week there may be some news."

Our guy pushed to get more information -- and Geragos started dropping hints about the 2 teams.

The first clue obviously points to the Oakland Raiders.

"I'll say this ... if Al Davis was still alive."

The interesting part of that comment -- Al's son, Mark Davis, took over the Raiders when his father passed away ... and Mark recently told us he thought it was a good idea for Nike to sign Kaep.

The other clue was a little more abstruse, but he suggests Patriots owner Robert Kraft could be interested in Colin.

There's more to the clip ... Geragos also says Colin and his girlfriend, Nessa, are NOT boycotting the NFL. They're watching games (they're fans) and they're supporting players like Kenny Stills.

If Josh Gordon wants to be the next Randy Moss in New England ... Vince Wilfork is giving TMZ Sports the blueprint J.G. NEEDS to follow.

FYI ... Vince played 11 seasons under Bill Belichick -- including the three years Moss revived his career in N.E. -- so he's the perfect man for the ex-Browns superstar to listen to.

So ... what's the sage advice the Pats legend is offering Gordon for how to be the next Moss??

"Come there ready to work every day, play your role and do your job!" Wilfork tells us.

OK, not exactly chin-scratching wisdom ... but Vince says it's just simply that easy to succeed with The Hoodie and Tom Brady in Foxborough.

"The No. 1 motto that we always had was, 'Do your job,'" Vince says.

"It sounds so simple, but people make it complicated. All you gotta do is just do your job, and you'll be OK."

By the way ... remember that sweet outfit Wilfork rocked on "Hard Knocks" back in the day??

The biggest Patriots fan on the Hill is straight-up PUMPED for Josh Gordon in Foxborough ... and tells TMZ Sports having Tom Brady and Bill Belichick around will help keep the troubled WR in check.

We spoke with Senator Elizabeth Warren about the Pats' newest addition ... and to say she's stoked would be an understatement, even though some fans are cautious with all his off-field issues.

But, Sen. Warren ain't sweatin' it one bit ... saying having TB12 and coach in a players' corner has worked wonders for players in the past ... and Gordon won't be any different.

The Patriots got rocked by the Jaguars on Sunday ... and for that reason, Kevin O'Leary is OUT on them -- at least, that's what the "Shark Tank" star is telling TMZ Sports.

ICYMI -- the Pats got demolished by a team in the regular season for the first time in a long time, laying an egg in Jacksonville, 31-20.

Well ... O'Leary -- who's a huge New England fan -- sat through that whole loss ... and wasn't happy with ANYTHING he saw.

"Tom, listen to me buddy," O'Leary said of his message to the Pats Hall of Fame QB. "Pull it together, man. We can't watch that sh*t anymore. That's bad."

It wasn't just the G.O.A.T. that drew O'Leary's ire ... 'cause the businessman also had something to say about the defense Blake Bortles shredded for four quarters.

"Defense, you guys sucked!" Kevin says. "Pull it together!"

Talk about an upgrade -- Josh Gordon just got shipped from Cleveland to New England where his new quarterback is TOM BRADY!!!

The Browns announced they were parting ways with the embattled WR on Saturday -- after he injured his hamstring in a photo shoot.

The Browns had felt they had reached their breaking point with Gordon -- after sticking with him through multiple suspensions stemming from substance abuse issues.

Cleveland had initially (reportedly) planned to cut Gordon but then realized there was a market for the superstar wideout ... and eventually hammered out a deal with the Patriots.

In exchange for Gordon, Cleveland will get a 5th round draft pick.

As for Gordon's hamstring -- ESPN's Adam Schefter says he's healthy enough to play THIS SUNDAY if needed.

Governor, Senator, Congressman, Mayor ... Peyton Manning could be any of these things in Tennessee, this according to a representative from the state who says PM would win any office by a landslide.

We spoke with John Duncan, a 15-term incumbent representative from Tenn's 2nd district, and asked him how Manning would fare if he ever jumped into politics.

"If Peyton Manning ran for any office in Tennessee, he could win by a landslide."

BTW -- Duncan is serious, and it's not out of the question. There were big-time rumors last year that Peyton was thinking about running for a Senate seat, but Duncan isn't sure it'll happen.

"I think he's made so much money off his football career and his advertising and so forth that it'd be a step down for him to be elected to some office."

Camille Kostek is channeling her inner Tammy Wynette ... 'cause she's standing by her man in a BIG way, firing back at Jalen Ramsey, who she says is less of a man than Gronk in both talent and hotness!

Ramsey -- a star cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars -- went after Gronk in a scorched-earth attack on a bunch of NFL stars ... saying the Pats tight end is "not that good" and struggles when defended by a true corner.

We got Kostek out -- she's incredibly attractive, which has nothing to do with this post -- and when we asked her for a rebuttal to Ramsey's trash talk, she wasn't shy at all.

"Rob's sexier than you, and he's a better football player," the S.I. Swimsuit Edition model told us.

Kostek also says she can't WAIT to watch her man dominate Ramsey in person -- telling us she'll be at the game when the Pats take on the Jaguars on Sept. 16.

Getcha popcorn ready!!!

Tom Brady was definitely not cool in the pocket when asked about his controversial personal trainer during a radio interview Monday morning -- and got so irritated, he hung up on the show.

Brady called in to the "Kirk & Callahan" show on WEEI in Boston when he was asked about reports that his personal trainer's relationship with the Patriots has gotten better.

Background ... Brady's been working out with Alex Guerrero for years, which has reportedly caused a rift with coach Bill Belichick.

According to multiple reports, Belichick isn't a fan of Guerrero's treatment plans -- and blocked him from traveling with the team and having sideline access in 2017.

So, when Brady appeared on the radio show Monday morning, he was asked if there was truth to reports the relationship is thawing ... and if Belichick has unblocked him from team privileges.

"I said that I don't wanna get into it," Brady said ... clearly upset.

"It's well documented the work that he and I do together."

When the radio hosts tried to ask some follow-up questions, Brady tried to politely pull the plug.

"Yeah, alright guys. Have a great day. I'll talk to you later."