Football

"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!!

Some real honesty from Jameis Winston -- who says he had to check his ego to become the backup QB for the New Orleans Saints ... but thinks it's worth the investment.

Winston -- the #1 overall pick in 2015 with the Bucs -- just signed a 1-year deal to back up Drew Brees in NO ... and calls it a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to learn from one of the best of all time.

"It was no better position than to be in the same room with someone that I’ve really looked up to, someone that I admired since I’ve been playing this game in Drew Brees," Winston said on "Chalk Talk with Charlie Ward."

In fact, Winston says being in the same QB room as Brees, Taysom Hill and the Saints coaching staff is "like a Harvard education in quarterback school."

He continued ... "I wanted to put my ego aside, put the money aside and think about my family, think about my career."

"There’s a proverb. Humility comes before honor. So I have to humble myself and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be with Drew Brees and be with the New Orleans Saints and just prepare. Just prepare for when my next opportunity is going to present itself."

Winston also says he knows there's no chance he wins the starting QB job over Brees ... but sees the opportunity as a stepping stone.

"I’ve done some great things with the Bucs. I’m going to miss being a starting quarterback. But you never know what happens. I think this is just a great and unique step to join Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints and learn from him. Learn from one of the best to ever do it and make a great transition in my career."

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!!!

WARNING -- if you can't handle painfully gross injury pictures, please sit this one out.

Still here?? Okay. Let's get into it.

A new image of Washington Redskins QB Alex Smith's injury from 4 days after his devastating broken leg surgery in 2018 has surfaced ... and it's beyond displeasing.

Of course, Smith has previously stated he's lucky to be alive -- let alone have his right leg -- following the unfortunate in-game incident against the Texans ... as his road to recovery was hindered by infections that required 17 follow-up surgeries.

A picture of Smith's infected leg just days after surgery was aired on ESPN Monday -- as part of a promo for the E:60 documentary, "Project 11," premiering on Friday -- and it shows how bad the infection was.

35-year-old Smith has previously said that he's focused on getting better and maintains the goal of getting back on to the football field ... but understands there are no guarantees.

The former #1 overall pick has since made a brief return to throwing ... and even made an appearance at Redskins organized team activities in 2019 ... but it would be a miracle to see him suit up in a game again.

Tom Brady did NOT violate league rules by meeting with a Bucs coach at a Tampa house during a bungled home visit earlier this month, the NFL says.

Yeah, it was funny when Tom entered the wrong pad while trying to meet with Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich on April 7 -- but it also raised red flags with NFL officials.

Long story short, players and coaches are NOT allowed to have X's and O's meetings until teams begin offseason programs -- which the Bucs had not yet done at the time of the visit.

The NFL launched an investigation into the incident -- but good news for Tom, he's in the clear.

"We made an inquiry and determined there was no violation," an NFL spokesperson tells us ... "It was a brief personal visit and Tom picked up the playbook."

We broke the story ... a Tampa-area resident says the legendary QB barged into his home on April 7 after Tom thought the place belonged to Leftwich.

The story was hilarious ... David Kramer says Tom bolted from his place SUPER QUICKLY and into Leftwich's real house after the quarterback realized his blunder.

Tom even found it all funny ... joking about it on social media last week!!

It's not the first time Brady caught a break this month -- TB12 got away with a warning earlier when he was caught illegally working out at a closed Tampa-area park that was closed due to COVID-19.

"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."

Chiefs 1st-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire says he's ECSTATIC to play with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City ... telling TMZ Sports he thinks the QB is a Hall of Famer!

We spoke with the LSU superstar just days after he was selected with the 32nd overall pick in the NFL draft ... and it didn't take long for him to tell us he's PUMPED over the idea of sharing a backfield with Mahomes.

In fact, Clyde says when he found out Patrick had advised Chiefs brass to pick him before their draft last week ... he became even more enamored with the QB.

"It made me feel like this was the right place to be," Edwards-Helaire says. "This is where God wanted me to be."

"And, ultimately. Man, MVP quarterback, soon to be Hall of Famer -- he's going to be a Hall of Famer, so for him to send my name in and want me to play with him, it made me feel a little special."

Clyde -- who's expected to have a huge role in the Chiefs' offense catching passes from Mahomes in 2020 -- added, "I'm still kind of amazed by the entire situation."

WCW legend Rick Steiner says it's pretty damn cool to watch his son sign with the Baltimore Ravens ... telling TMZ Sports the pro wrestling community is already rallying around him with advice!!

Bronson Rechsteiner was a star fullback at Kennesaw State (averaged 8 yards per carry!) and just signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent.

Rick says he couldn't be more proud of his son -- saying it's another huge moment for his famous family!

"I watched him grow up. I watched the sweat and time and effort he puts into what he does and everything he does," Rick says.

"Just to see him totally succeed going to college, totally succeed with rushing yards and catches and everything else. It's just a super, super proud moment for our dad, for me being his father, to see him do that, see him accomplish that and now, take the phone call, take the next steps to be a professional athlete. Pretty cool, man."

Rick says he's already getting calls from his pro wrestler buddies -- some of whom played in the NFL.

"You got guys like Goldberg, who played in the NFL and all these other guys that were in there. I'm just getting a host of texts and emails congratulating me, proud of my son, proud of his accomplishments. Really makes me feel good, ya know."

Bronson tells us Goldberg -- who played with the Atlanta Falcons in the early '90s -- is already giving him some pointers!

Rechsteiner is a BEAST (just like his dad and uncle) -- in fact, he ripped off 35 reps on the bench press at his pro day, which would have been 3rd best at the NFL Combine.

The Cleveland Browns' newest star, Jedrick Wills, Jr., is ready to make the switch from right tackle to the other side of the line ... and he's got a future Hall of Famer helping him with the move -- Joe Thomas!!!

TMZ Sports spoke with the #10 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft fresh off the biggest day of his life ... and he says he can't wait to get to work.

"I wanna come in and establish my spot on the team," Wills tells us. "I didn't get drafted to just come in and watch from the back."

Of course, the big question surrounding the Browns' pick -- Wills played right tackle for Alabama ... and Cleveland just shelled out $42 million for fellow RT Jack Conklin this off-season.

But, Wills tells us there won't be a position competition with his new teammate -- he says he's already planning to protect Baker Mayfield's blindside on the left ... and has been in talks with Thomas to get adjusted.

"He probably already knew that I was gonna be a left, so he just told me that whenever the time comes, I'll be here to give you some pointers."

Wills says Thomas -- a 7-time First-Team All-Pro -- has offered advice and film sessions to get ready for the season ... and he's thrilled to have one of the best to ever play the position share his knowledge.

As for the draft experience ... Wills admits it sucked not being able to walk across the stage and shake Roger Goodell's hand ... but says the NFL did a great job trying to keep things as normal as possible for the prospects.

Wills says he's already been in contact with Baker about joining the team ... and he's fired up about joining the former Heisman winner.

Chase Young isn't just planning on seizing the moment now that he's in the NFL -- he wants to TERRORIZE IT!!

The newest Washington Redskins star -- the #2 overall pick in the NFL Draft -- filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to lock down the phrase, "Terrorize the Moment."

According to records, the 21-year-old defensive end filed his application back in February hoping to use the phrase on everything from hats to hoodies, jackets, pants and more.

In other words, Chase is trying to launch his own brand -- and with the heat this guy has behind him right now, can you blame him?!

It's a smart move by Young to lock down potential catchphrases early -- just look at when Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson got beat to the punch on "Big Truss."

Jackson says the person who owns that trademark threatened a lawsuit -- so he switched it up and went after "Truzz" instead.

As for "Terrorize the Moment" -- Young is known for wreaking havoc on opponents ... and if you need proof, WATCH THE HIGHLIGHT VIDEO!

Awesome gesture by Eagles stud Malik Jackson ... he donated $100k to help families in Philadelphia -- this after he says he was inspired to give back during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I woke up one morning and realized, I said I wasn’t doing enough," Jackson tells TMZ Sports. "I actually watched a '60 Minutes' special and realized I wasn’t doing enough."

Jackson says he got with his camp earlier this month and quickly found an organization in Philly he wanted to give back to ... Fred's Footsteps.

The org assists families in the region with sick, disabled or injured children ... and Jackson tells us he's proud his money will help that cause during coronavirus times.

"With Fred’s Footsteps, they’ll get help," Jackson says. "I think we’ve really just tried to be a blessing. Because it’s a blessing to be a blessing."

Jackson, though, didn't stop the charity efforts there ... he also helped feed medical personnel at L.A. County USC Hospital with a donation last week as well.

As for football, the 30-year-old (who signed a 3-year, $30 MIL contract last season with the Eagles) says his injured foot is progressing well ... and he's hoping to be a dominant force in the NFL again this year.

Scary moment for Delanie Walker ... the NFL star was involved in a car crash in L.A. last month that wrecked his G-Wagon -- but TMZ Sports has learned the tight end made it out uninjured.

We're told Walker -- a Pomona, Calif. native -- was driving through Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. on March 4 in his pricey Mercedes-Benz when someone ran into him.

Law enforcement sources tell us a driver made an illegal turn in front of the Tennessee Titans star ... slamming into Walker and doing serious damage to his expensive whip.

Walker was able to escape the accident uninjured ... but you can see in video we obtained of the aftermath -- he wasn't exactly pleased about the condition of his ride.

We're told the car is still in the shop ... but for now, it seems to have avoided being totaled.

As for the other driver ... we're told he was taken to the hospital after the crash, suffering non-life threatening injuries.

Law enforcement sources tell us Walker is in the clear over the accident ... pinning the blame on the other driver in the case.

35-year-old Delanie -- who's in the second year of a 2-year, $17 MILLION deal with Tenn. -- is nearing the end of his NFL career ... with the 2020 season possibly being his last.

Tom Brady and Gronk just got a personal welcome from none other than the Mayor of their new home -- Tampa, Florida -- but it didn't come without a warning to both.

Mayor Jane Castor penned her open letter, telling the Boston expatriates/ex-patriots about the awesome things they can do in her fair City, but then she schooled the G.O.A.T., saying, "Tom, my apologies for the miscommunication when you arrived – not the best first impression. But, given my law enforcement background, I couldn’t help but have someone investigate the sighting of a G.O.A.T. running wild in one of our beautiful city parks. No harm – no foul, and thanks for being a good sport."

And, then there's Gronk. Mayor Castor wrote about one of the largest parades in the city, which is pirate-themed, saying, "You must be ready to pARRGHty ... but not too hard (I'm talking to you Gronk), as Super Bowl LV is the following weekend and we need to keep our eye on the prize -- a dent free Lombardi trophy!"

But, Her Honor wasn't done, adding, "There is plenty for you to do as well Gronk. Although we have to socially distance right now, in no time you will be able to enjoy our nightlife and eclectic neighborhoods ... Just remember 'No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service' is still in effect around here." Gronk, you've been warned!

And, then a message to both ... "We are so glad to have you here. While most people retire and come to Florida, you came out of retirement to head our way. That shows the competitive mindset we are used to, while sticking it to the AARP at the same time. Looking forward to growing used to the Gronk Spike!"

Brady had an interesting week. As TMZ reported, he went to visit one of his new coaches and ended up walking into the wrong house -- it's kind of a Stepford community -- and came face-to-face with a very shocked dude.

Joe Burrow did it. Same with CeeDee Lamb and Henry Ruggs.

In fact, 10 of the top NFL Draft picks got custom jewelry for their big day with VERY special meaning behind each piece ... and we got the story straight from the jeweler!

The man behind the bling is Leo Frost who runs his own shop out of Houston, outfitting some of the top athletes on the planet.

You may have seen Ceedee Lamb's #32 diamond piece -- a tribute to his late uncle.

Back before COVID-19 shut down the country, he had a face-to-face meeting with the top draft picks to brainstorm meaningful pieces of jewelry to wear on the biggest day of their lives.

Raiders WR Henry Ruggs -- who famously holds up 3 fingers every time he scores a TD -- got the same hand gesture immortalized on a chain. It's all to honor his best friend, Rod Scott, who died in a car crash in 2016.

Andrew Thomas -- the massive offensive lineman selected by the NY Giants -- got an incredible bear pendant because he embodies a giant grizzly bear!

The piece is sick ... which has rubies on the tongue and eyes and it has a "glowing effect" when you put light around it!

Joe Burrow got a #9 -- but Frost says he's working on a special secret piece for the Bengals QB. Stay tuned for that!

There's more ...

Derrick Brown, Patrick Queen, Javon Kinlaw and Jerry Jeudy also hit up Frost's shop and copped some amazing pieces.

Yeah, they're rich now -- but Frost ain't no dummy -- hooking up the rookies with serious discounts in hopes to win back their business.

Smart and talented!!