New England Patriots

Patriots fans braved the weather to welcome the Super Bowl LI Champs back to New England ... with Tom Brady leading the parade through the streets of Boston.

Bad news for Patriots running back James White -- he's NOT getting Tom Brady's Super Bowl MVP truck ... because the Super Bowl MVP didn't get one this year!

Of course, Brady DID get an MVP truck after Super Bowl 49 which he gave to Malcolm Butler -- back when Chevy was the Super Bowl MVP sponsor.

The QB told the media on Monday that he would give his Super Bowl 51 truck to James White -- who scored the winning TD -- but it turns out, there's no truck to give away.

An NFL spokesman tells TMZ Sports, "[There is] no vehicle. We did not do it last year either."

So, if Tom still wants to give White a truck -- he'll have to do it with his own money.

Julian Edelman says his Super Bowl miracle catch was more luck than skill -- and admits he wasn't even sure it was gonna count when the ref blew the whistle!!!

The New England Pats WR appeared on "The Tonight Show" with his coach, Bill Belichick, on Monday and, of course, they dissected the hell out of that insane 4th quarter game-saving catch.

"It was probably 70% luck," a very bearded Edelman said ... admitting he tried to get Tom Brady to rush the next play so the refs couldn't review it!

Didn't matter ... it was as legit as it gets and Jimmy Fallon says the WR should use his newfound global catch fame to start a new business!

Tom Brady returned to Boston looking every bit the conquering hero -- Super Bowl wins and private jets never get old for this guy.

Mr. 4-time SB MVP flew back with Gisele and their kids on the Under Armour private jet. Check out the gallery ... TB was a class act, handing off a tip for the staff.

The rest of the Patriots also got back to Boston Monday, but they flew a chartered Delta flight.

The Super Bowl LI champs are officially back in Beantown ... and were welcomed back with a water salute!!

The New England Patriots returned to Boston's Logan Airport Monday afternoon ... fresh off their HUGE comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Several ATL Falcons players went full REPTILE before the Super Bowl -- wearing expensive python skin warmup hoodies ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We've actually seen a bunch of NFL star rockin' the look -- from Ezekiel Elliott to Odell Beckham -- so we did some digging and found out they run about $500 a pop!

Falcons safety Jalen Collins actually bought the hoodies for his secondary unit as a Super Bowl gift ... this according to the company behind the clothing, Renzo Cardoni.

We're told some of the Patriots also got in on the look -- Dion Lewis and LeGarrette Blount also got custom made hoodies.

The New England Patriots turned ALL THE WAY UP after completing the greatest Super Bowl comeback. EVER.

The celebration went down right after the postgame ceremonies in the convention space next to NRG Stadium -- and featured performances by Lil Wayne and Pitbull ... and STK catering.

We're told Pats owner Bob Kraft made an appearance. Bill Belichick chose formal attire ... as did SB MVP Tom Brady. But the rest of the gang -- including Julian Edelman and Adriana Lima -- let loose.

Congrats!!!

The NFL security team is taking the lead on the Tom Brady missing Super Bowl uniform case ... not the Houston Police Dept. At least that's the situation right now ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The Houston P.D. tells us they have been in contact with the NFL -- and are not launching an independent investigation at this point.

Our law enforcement sources tell us no one has filed a report with the Houston P.D. as of yet.

Several sports memorabilia dealers have told us the jersey is already being valued in the tens of thousands of dollars. So, if the jersey was stolen, it would be a felony grand larceny crime in Texas (anything over $1,500 is a felony). The more valuable the stolen item, the stiffer the punishment.

Brady says the jersey went missing after the game. He says he remembers putting it in his equipment bag but it wasn't there when he went back to his locker.

After stealing the Super Bowl from the Falcons, Tom Brady told Pats owner Bob Kraft HE was hit by a thief -- accusing someone of STRAIGHT JACKING his game jersey!!

Kraft was in the locker room handing out victory cigars to the players, when Brady voiced his issue to the boss.

Kraft didn't seem to care too much ... saying, "Well, you better look online!" Brady smiled.

Tom Leyden of FOX25 reported a Patriots equipment manager took the jersey and put it in a safe place for Tom -- it wasn't stolen!

But a new twist ... Tom just spoke at a news conference and said the jersey is STILL missing!

He also said he's concerned the jersey will end up on eBay.

The search continues ...

The Houston Police Department is expecting the worst outside the Super Bowl and is ready to combat a wave of Prez Trump protesters making noise about disrupting the game.

Our law enforcement sources say officers, in uniform and undercover, will monitor crowds outside NRG Stadium. We're told several online groups have popped up in recent days organizing protests -- some anti-Trump, some for Black Lives Matter, Standing Rock and refugees.

HPD has plenty of backup, having borrowed cops from around the country. As usual for the Super Bowl ... we're told SWAT will be posted nearby if protests turn into riots and get out of hand.

Anderson Silva just got one helluva compliment from Dana White -- who says the MMA legend is the "Tom Brady of the UFC."

Houston Texans star Whitney Mercilus is dishing out some advice to the Falcons AND the Patriots -- stay out of Houston's legendary booty clubs ... until AFTER the big game!!!

Whitney's great -- he says the nightlife in Houston is incredible (especially during Super Bowl week) but says the party scene can be super dangerous for the Super Bowl players.

By the way, it's not like this hasn't happened before ... a group of 49ers stars hit the strip club on the Thursday night before the 2013 Super Bowl. They lost that game to the Ravens.

When it comes to the greatest football coach of all time, IT AIN'T BILL BELICHICK ... not even close ... so says NFL Hall of Famer Dave Robinson, who says he'll never outshine Vince Lombardi.

Full disclosure ... Robinson is a Packers legend who won two Super Bowls under Coach Lombardi -- so, he may be a bit biased. But he's extremely passionate.

Two more reasons to watch the Super Bowl halftime show -- because, once again, you can BET on whether Lady Gaga will show cleavage ... and the smart money's on "Yes."

The guy who took the Atlanta Falcons game plan is adamant ... HE'S NOT A PATRIOTS SPY!!!

By now you've heard the story ... Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan lost his backpack with the game plans in it during Super Bowl Media Night on Monday.

Turns out, the bag was taken by longtime sportswriter Art Spander (he's covered 40 Super Bowls) who returned the bag a short time later.

Spander says the whole thing was just an innocent mistake ... but some hardcore conspiracy theorists aren't buying it ... suggesting the whole thing was a Patriots plot.

We spoke with Spander who says he ain't no double agent.

Attention, Patriots fans ... Tom Brady has given specific marching orders to ALL OF YOU to get ready for the big day.

The QB took the stage at a massive pep rally at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Monday and told fans how they should prepare for Sunday.

Thousands of people showed up to the event ... including the Greater Boston Firefighters Pipes and Drums group, which provided the tunes.

Meanwhile, over in Atlanta ... thousands of Falcons fans packed Atlantic Station to see the team buses off.

It was a crazy scene -- and it's clear both cities are FIRED UP!!!!