Super Bowl 2013

San Francisco 49ers player Chris Culliver says HE's not really a homophobe ... but the voices inside his head sure are.

Culliver has released a nonsensical, insincere statement to save his ass after saying gay players are not welcome in his team's locker room and should stay in the closet until 10 years after they retire.

"The derogatory comments I made yesterday were a reflection of thoughts in my head, but they are not how I feel," Culliver said.

"It has taken me seeing them in print to realize that they are hurtful and ugly. Those discriminating feelings are truly not in my heart. Further, I apologize to those who I have hurt and offended, and I pledge to learn and grow from this experience."

So the following questions are raised:
1) Is Chris' head disembodied from the rest of him?
2) Will he say or do anything to play in the Super Bowl no matter how detestable he is?
3) Doth he protest too much?

Reggae superstar Sean Paul -- a native Jamaican -- is 100% cool with Volkswagen copping his homeland's accent for its new Super Bowl ad because it's funny as hell ... and not the least bit offensive.

Current Grammy nominee Sean tells TMZ he doesn't understand why VW's catching heat for the spot -- featuring a white guy speaking in a Jamaican accent -- because it's "just entertainment."

SP added it's in good taste, and "to me it's no different than the Italian accents in 'The Sopranos' or the English accent in Guy Ritchie's movies."

VDub also got an irie review from Inner Circle -- aka the "Cops" theme guys -- who told us "duplication is the highest form of flattery, and our culture is a happy culture with good vibes."

Proving that point, they said ... "We say to VW: ONE, ONE, ONE LOVE. Anyone who say dat racist better ask themselves...whatchu gonna do when we come for you?"

While Beyonce's busy rehearsing her halftime performance -- we're pondering one huge Super Bowl question! Nachos or wings? Oh, also ... is B gonna sing for reals? Activate over-analysis powers ...

3:15 PM PT -- The 49ers organization is speaking out AGAINST Culliver ... saying the team "rejects" Chris' comments.

A rep for the 49ers says the team has already addressed the matter with Chris ... and adds, "There is no place for discrimination within our organization at any level."

"We have and always will proudly support the LGBT community.”

Gay football players are NOT welcome in the San Francisco 49ers locker room ... at least according to one current 49ers player.

Chris Culliver -- who started 6 games as cornerback for the team this season -- made the homophobic comments to Artie Lange during a radio interview at a Super Bowl media event earlier this week.

When asked if gay players would be welcome on the team, Culliver said ... "I don't do the gay guys man. I don't do that."

Artie then asked if Chris knew of any gay players on his team ... to which Culliver answered, "No, we don't got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do."

He continued, "Can't be with that sweet stuff. Nah … can't be … in the locker room man. Nah."

Culliver also said ... if a gay player were to make it in the NFL, he should not only keep his sexuality a secret from the other players ... but stay quiet for 10 YEARS after that.

Culliver and the 49ers will take the field on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens -- a team which features a very outspoken pro-gay rights advocate Brendon Ayanbadejo.

Culliver's feelings are NOT shared by his entire team ... earlier this week, several members of the 49ers spoke in SUPPORT of gay players ... including coach Jim Harbaugh.

“I ask all players to play through their own personality and be who they are. What you ask of a player is to be a great teammate and be a good player. My expectations would be the same,” Harbaugh said. “Personally, there’s no discrimination in my heart.”

Linebacker Larry Grant echoed Harbaugh ... saying, "At the end of the day, we are all family in this locker room, and we accept each player for whoever they are."

Ditto for cornerback Tarell Brown ... who said, "Whatever makes you happy, do it. I just feel like, you shouldn’t hide it. At the end of the day don’t be embarrassed with what you are, or what you do. If you are that way, that’s you.”

Earlier this year, several members of the team participated in a video for the "It Gets Better" campaign to provide support for the LGBT community. Culliver was not featured in the video.

Beyonce Knowles is a frickin' saint ... and NOT the demanding, complaining Super Bowl Halftime diva that she's been made out to be in recent reports ... this according to the NFL.

Beyonce has been under fire after reports surfaced saying she's been "difficult" towards the people putting together her Super Bowl Halftime performance ... making ridiculous requests including a demand that Blue Ivy's backstage nursery be kept at EXACTLY 26 degrees celsius.

But Brian McCarthy, the NFL's Vice President of Communications, tells TMZ ... the reports are "pure pulp fiction" ... noting that Beyonce has been nothing short of a pleasure.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has arrived in New Orleans for the Super Bowl ... and spent the day hanging out with his family ... well, most of his family.

Harbaugh -- along with his wife and some of his kids -- dropped by the famous Cafe du Monde ... sportin' some 49ers gear.

Fun Fact -- Jim isn't just taking on his brother ... his OWN SON Jay Harbaugh works for the Baltimore Ravens organization.

UFC wrecking machine Jon Jones isn't the only professional athlete in his family -- in fact, his older brother is a stud in the NFL ... and will be starting in the SUPER BOWL!!!

Jones -- the reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion -- was out in New York yesterday when we asked about his older bro Arthur Jones -- the starting defensive end for the Baltimore Ravens.

"My brother's in the Super Bowl," Jon exclaimed ... "It's crazy man ... it's unbelievable."

When asked how his bro is preparing for the big game, Jon told us, "He's focused ... relaxing with his family, staying hungry ... studying the guy he's going up against."

Jon -- who recently signed a blockbuster sponsorship deal with Nike -- also broke some news for all you shoe freaks out there ... telling us he might have his own sneaker coming out in the near future.

Matt Damon is in NFL denial ... 'cause the guy honestly believes the New England Patriots would NEVER have been defeated by the Baltimore Ravens if they weren't riddled with injuries.

Problem is ... the Pats weren't as injured as Damon made them out to be.

Matt -- a Boston-native -- had just arrived at LAX last night when someone asked why his team folded in the AFC Championship this past Sunday.

"Lotta injuries," Damon said ... "They couldn't beat us full strength."

Obviously, the Pats were missing Rob Gronkowski going into Sunday's game ... but that's really their only big-time guy who was sidelined with an injury (forearm).

A couple of important Pats players were hurt DURING the matchup -- including CB Aqib Talib and RB Stevan Ridley ... but hey, that's part of the game, right?

But when Damon was asked who he's rooting for in the Super Bowl -- the Ravens or the 49ers -- he still refused to acknowledge defeat ... saying, "I'm going for a healthy New England team, that's the best team in the country."

Wes Welker's wife should NEVER have said a peep about Ray Lewis ... this according to another famous (ex-)wife of the sporting world ... Linda Hogan ... who tells TMZ, it's never okay for an athlete's lady to be such a sore loser in public.

In case you missed it ... Wes' wife -- Anna Burns Welker -- went off on Lewis via Facebook after the Ravens dashed the Pats' Super Bowl chances. She later apologized ... but not before the personal jabs were already delivered.

Now Linda -- a former athlete's wife herself (kind of) -- is dishing out some jabs of her own ... calling Anna's outburst "way uncool."

According to Linda, Anna can say whatever she wants behind closed doors ... but "in a public situation, [athletes' wives] don't really have a place to make an opinion."

Hours after the San Francisco 49ers destroyed the Atlanta Falcons and punched their ticket to the Super Bowl, the squad celebrated at a nightclub in San Jose ... and TMZ has the pics.

Tons of 49ers players -- including star QB Colin Kaepernick and former star QB Alex Smith -- rolled into Motif nightclub late Sunday night ... fresh from their 28-24 victory in ATL.

Sources inside the club tell TMZ ... the DJ announced each player as he walked in the door ... and the crowd went absolutely insane.

We're told the guys were pretty tame -- no crazy, insane drunk people. Sources say some of the guys WERE drinking (some bottles of Moet and Cristal were ordered) ... but the night was more of a "sipping and toasting" event ... not a "let's get effed up" kind of a thing.

One source tells us ... most of the clubgoers swarmed Kaepernick ... and it got so crazy, that he went upstairs to a private area to escape the crowd.

Jim Harbaugh and John Harbaugh squaring off in the Super Bowl is a historic matchup that's still, inexplicably, less interesting than Casey Anthony and Django ... to some people.

12:00 PM PT -- Anna just posted an apology ... "I apologize to Ray Lewis and his family for my comments. In no way did I mean for them to be mean or hurtful. I'm embarrassed for being a sore loser. I wish Ray and the Ravens good luck. Lesson learned!"

Wes Welker's wife hates Ray Lewis ... and not just because the Ravens beat the Patriots yesterday ... it's 'cause she thinks he's a terrible human being ... and she made her feelings known on Facebook.

After Sunday's AFC Championship game ... Anna Burns Welker went to her Facebook page and posted the following message:

"Proud of my husband and the Pats. By the way, if anyone is bored, please go to Ray Lewis' Wikipedia page. 6 kids 4 wives. Acquitted for murder. Paid a family off. Yay. What a hall of fame player! A true role model!"

The post has since been deleted.

FYI -- Lewis was charged with murder back in 2000 for his involvement in a fight that resulted in two deadly stabbings ... but the murder charge was dropped as part of a plea deal.

Oh yeah, the four wives thing ... Lewis has never been married -- but he does have six kids with four different women.

And you don't want to get on his bad side.

Fact is, Anna should've known better -- because last year after the Super Bowl, Tom Brady's wife Gisele Bundchen blasted Wes Welker for dropping a key pass ... and people trashed her for it.

He's from California (Compton to be exact) ... but Dr. Dre tells TMZ he's not backing his home state team in the Super Bowl ... 'cause he's a HUGE Ray Lewis fan.

Dre was leaving Boa in Hollywood last night when he told us he'll be supporting the Baltimore Ravens on Feb. 3 when they take on the San Francisco 49ers.

"I'm excited for Ray Lewis," Dre said ... "He's a good guy and I'm a fan of his ... I'm wishing the best for him."

Colin Kaepernick's meteoric rise hasn't just been great for the 49ers ... it's also been HUGE for his longtime tattoo artist ... who tells TMZ business has exploded ever since the inked up QB led SF into the playoffs.

We spoke with tat artist Nes Andrion -- who's been working on Colin for years at his shop in Reno where CK played his college ball.

Andrion tells us ... ever since Colin started winning games in November -- when starting QB Alex Smith got a concussion -- customers have been pouring in, asking for 49ers-themed ink.

Nes tells us, "People come in and ask if I am the artist that does Colin’s tattoos, and ask when I think I am going to tattoo him again.”

Nes adds, “People want to get their tattoos done by the same artist as Colin Kaepernick."

According to Nes, Colin will be coming back in the off-season to finish his enormous angel-demon-themed chest piece.

It's pretty hilarious though, considering Nes is a proud Patriots fan -- but now that Colin's winning, he secretly hopes the 49ers can bring home the Lombardi trophy this year.

"To be honest I want [Colin] to take it even though the Pats are my team. He puts money in my pocket."

There's about to be a shrimp shortage in the Gulf Coast region ... because TMZ has learned the menu for Super Bowl XLVII includes 10,000 POUNDS of Gulf shrimp on hand for your noshing pleasure.

TMZ obtained the Cajun-inspired Super Bowl menu from the folks at Centerplate and it is MASSIVE:

-- 18,000 pounds of smoked pork
-- 10,000 pounds of Gulf Shrimp
-- 3,000 pounds of alligator sausage
-- 1,200 gallons of chicken piquant
-- 700 gallons of traditional Cajun gumbo
-- 440 gallons of red beans & 6,000 pounds of rice
-- 70,000 Tums tablets (ok, that's just a guess)

In order to pull of the giant feast, we're told Centerplate had to enlist over 100 chefs and 1,000 service staff.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree was questioned by police as part of a sexual assault investigation, but he was not detained or arrested.

Police said the alleged assault took place in a hotel room early last Sunday following the 49ers' playoff victory over the Green Bay Packers. Crabtree was interviewed with his attorney present and police say he has cooperated with the probe.

A rep for the team released a statement, saying, "The 49ers take such matters very seriously. We will have no further comment at this time as the legal process is ongoing."