New England Patriots

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft just unloaded on the NFL -- claiming its treatment of Tom Brady has been horrible, unjust and unfair.

Kraft just issued a statement blasting Tom's upcoming 4-game suspension for his role in Deflategate.

"The penalty imposed by the NFL was unprecedented, unjust and unreasonable, especially given that no empirical or direct evidence of any kind showed Tom did anything to violate League rules prior to, during or after the 2015 AFC Championship Game."

He added, "I am most frustrated that Tom was denied his right to a fair and impartial process."

Kraft also took another shot at the investigation -- calling it "flawed and biased from the start" and noting it "has been discredited nearly unanimously by accredited academics and scientists. "

"What Tom has had to endure throughout this 18-month ordeal has been, in my opinion, as far removed from due process as you could ever expect in this country."

"From day one, I have believed in Tom and given him my unwavering support in his pursuit to rightfully clear his name of any wrongdoing. That support extends throughout our organization and has only grown more steadfast as the preponderance of scientific evidence has exonerated Tom. Unfortunately, this stopped being about air pressure a long time ago."

"This entire process has indelibly taken a toll on our organization, our fans and most importantly, Tom Brady."

"His reluctant decision to stop pursuing further action and to put this situation behind him is what he feels is best for the team in preparation for this season and is fully supported by me and our entire organization."

It's over. Finally.

Tom Brady has announced he's ending his Deflategate fight ... saying, "I have made the difficult decision to no longer proceed with the legal process."

New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler says he ain't sweatin' Tom Brady's 4 game suspension -- telling TMZ Sports he's got other stuff to worry about instead.

We shot Butler out Tuesday -- before an appeals court rejected Tom's request for a rehearing in the Deflategate case -- and asked how the team felt about Jimmy Garoppolo possibly filling in for TB12.

Rob Gronkowski went on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Thursday night and said he was NOT fully naked during the GQ photo shoot ... despite what TMZ Sports reported -- but it's a curious situation.

We reported earlier in the day that RG was in his birthday suit during the racy boat photo with supermodel Hailey Clauson -- but only after a GQ publicist squarely told us in an email, "Yes, he was naked."

Hours later, Gronkowski refuted the claim on 'Kimmel' -- saying he was wearing a tiny Speedo that covered his junk.

We called the GQ rep back -- and spoke with her boss (the communications director for GQ) who gave us 3 different and intriguing explanations.

First, she said Gronk was "definitely naked on some parts of the shoot."

Then she said, "The info I got is what I gave you" ... suggesting there may have been a cover up over not covering up.

Finally, the plot totally thickened with her 3rd point -- "Maybe he didn't want to talk about being naked on Kimmel."

9:23 AM PT -- We asked GQ if Gronk was really fully naked for the shoot.

The answer -- "Yes, he was naked."

Boom.

So, here's a pic from Gronk's highly anticipated GQ article ... in which the photo shoot motivation was apparently, "Surprise! Here's my dong!"

The flashee in the shot is supermodel Hailey Clauson -- who teamed up with the Pats tight end for the cover of the upcoming June issue of the magazine.

The guy who wrote the article about Gronk spent some time embedded with the NFL star and described his life the following way:

"Gronkowski seems to exist in a permanent shower of champagne spray and nightclub-foam-party foam ... all without ever seeming like a creepy douchebag.”

#GronkJustBeingGronk

It was cooking session meets gym session for Patriots safety Patrick Chung this week -- when he stopped a culinary exhibition to do some deep squats ... with a famous chef on his back!

Chung teamed up with celebrity super chef Ming Tsai (you know him from "Top Chef," 'Iron Chef,' etc.) for a fundraiser for Family Reach foundation ... which provides financial aid to families of cancer patients.

But while Chung was prepping his famous jerk chicken dish -- Tsai challenged him to do some squats while carrying him on his back!

Chung accepted ... and beasted out in front of the crowd -- and they loved it!!

They also loved the food -- we're told Chung's got real skills in the kitchen.

Nice work, dude.

Stephen Hawking -- the most wicked smaht guy on the planet -- is now an official fan of the New England Patriots ... and he's got the custom jersey to prove it.

Mark Wahlberg ain't buyin' Calvin Johnson's retirement announcement -- saying he hopes the whole thing is just a ploy so CJ can join the New England Patriots.

Wahlberg was out in Bev Hills when a photog broke the news to him about CJ's retirement from the Detroit Lions.

MW's reaction -- "Wow, well hopefully he just did that to get out of his contract with Detroit. Then he'll come to New England and get a ring!"

"He needs a ring! He's too good ... he's got too much left in the tank."

Wahlberg also talked about Peyton Manning -- giving the guy some serious props ... and predicted how much longer his good friend Tom Brady will stay in the league.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft just PRAISED Donald Trump -- saying the guy is one of his closest friends in the world ... but stopped short of an official endorsement.

Kraft -- who supported Obama in 2012 -- issued a glowing statement about Trump to the Boston Globe ... saying he's been a "very close friend of mine for over two decades."

"While I am not comfortable discussing politics publicly, I am very comfortable talking about my friendships with people who happen to be in politics."

Kraft noted the two of them had "a lot of fun together socially, including a very memorable evening in 2005 when I had the privilege of being at his and Melania’s wedding."

But Kraft says the friendship is deeper than partying together ... saying Trump showed his true colors as a friend after Robert's wife Myra passed away in 2011.

"After my wife passed in 2011, he was one of the few people who went out of their way and went above and beyond to assist me through the most difficult time in my life."

"I will always be grateful to him for his thoughtfulness and his continued friendship."

Aaron Hernandez raves about his ex-teammate Tom Brady in a new prison letter obtained by TMZ Sports ... but it's clear, he has nothing but disdain for his former Patriots boss Robert Kraft.

We've verified Hernandez sent the note from the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center on Dec. 10th ... to a female pen pal he'd exchanged letters with in the past.

Aaron -- who's serving a life sentence for murder -- begins his letter on the attack, ripping the woman for criticizing him in her last correspondence ... and suggesting ways she should kill herself.

"Tie a cinderblock to your ankles and jump in a deep body of water," Hernandez writes.

He then suggests, "Buy the most powerful firecracker in the world that's possible to buy, tie it to your face with duct tape, light it and wait for your head to explode."

Hernandez then changes subjects and goes off about his former team -- saying:

"I have a TV in my cell! And yes I still root for my squad and still love all the ones I loved.

The closest I was with was probably Brady and whom I love to death and always will and only hope the best for them. But was cool with Julez, Branch (I f**ked with and got mad love for) and 'the BEST TE ever to walk on a football field' Gronk!"

Hernandez moves from love to hate ... ripping into "fake ass non loyal Kraft who told me he loved me every time he seen me but obviously shows his word ain't sh*t."

Hernandez says no matter what happens to him in prison, he'll continue to support his boys.

UFC superstar Jon Jones says his NFL star brother Chandler Jones is doing well after a bizarre police incident last week ... saying he's just going through the "growing pains" of being a celebrity.

Chandler -- a star defensive end for the New England Patriots -- was hospitalized after dropping to his knees outside the Foxborough PD station in a discombobulated state. He was not arrested.

However, big bro Jon says Chandler has been doing really well since the incident -- telling us, "[He's] a young guy who's had a lot thrown at him" ... including a "new level of fame and success."

Jon says Chandler is now "doing what he has to do to make things right."

"Chandler's in a good position man. I'm so happy for him."

TMZ Sports has learned the Foxborough Police Department is now looking into the crash claims made by Patriots linebacker Darius Fleming ... and as one law enforcement source put it, "It's starting to look like Manti Te'o."

Here's what we know ... the Foxborough PD has no knowledge of a Thursday night crash similar to one described by Fleming -- in which he claims he pulled a woman out of a smoking car after smashing a window.

We're told the FPD has been calling other agencies around the area -- and so far, no one has heard of anything resembling Fleming's tale.

As one law enforcement source put it -- "What he described is not a minor accident. It's definitely something we would have heard about."

The source adds, "Nobody knows what's going on."

We're told cops are looking to speak with Fleming ASAP.

Tom Brady put family before football Sunday night ... heading out to watch his son Benny play in a youth hockey game with Gisele at the same time as the AFC divisional playoff game.

New England Patriots star Chandler Jones was shirtless and acting very strange outside a police station in Foxborough on Sunday ... and cops say they smelled weed at his home in the moments following the incident ... this according to the police report.

Here's how it all went down ... cops say they first noticed Chandler scurrying toward the cops-only back entrance of their station around 7:40 AM in a pair of blue sweatpants with no shirt.

Then suddenly, without warning, cops say Jones dropped to his knees, interlocked his fingers behind his head and began to move slowly toward the ground.

"Honestly, it appeared as if he was actively praying or worshipping," one officer reported.

When cops sprinted toward Jones, he laid down on his stomach with his arms wide out -- and told cops, "I'm Chandler Jones" ... and that he had "been told" to come to the station.

Cops say Jones was unable to provide them with an explanation about why he was there.

Cops ultimately determined he had not broken any laws -- and called paramedics to attend to him.

One of the officers was sent to Chandler's home to grab his keys -- and while there, reported the smell of burnt marijuana in the home.

Robert Kraft used the Patriots' 1st round bye to prove he hasn't said bye to hot GF Ricki Noel Lander ... 'cause the two were spotted at a Golden Globes party together Sunday night ... and all signs point to relationship.

The sighting comes months after reports that 74-year-old Kraft pressed pause on his romance with the 30-something-year-old ... after nearly 4 years together.

But last night, Kraft and Lander looked very much like a couple ... posing for pictures at the HBO after-party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Our sources connected to the couple tell us the two may never have "officially" broken up -- but there was definitely a lull where they weren't seeing each other as much.

Rabid Patriots fan Mark Wahlberg has a tip for his QB and friend, Tom Brady ... do NOT run for public office -- a lesson he might end up learning from Donald Trump.

Mark was leaving The Palm restaurant in Bev Hills when we asked if he thought Brady's backing of Trump might actually sway New England voters.

Check it out ... fair to say, Wahlberg is NOT confident in Brady's ability to close. In politics, anyway.