New England Patriots

Aaron Hernandez will be on the receiving end of some serious prayers from Tim Tebow's parents ... so says a rep for the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association.

FYI -- Aaron and Tim were teammates at the University of Florida ... and Tim considered Aaron a good friend at the time.

We spoke with a rep for the BTEA who tells us the Hernandez trial has been a hot topic at the association headquarters in Jacksonville ... and the decision was made to pray for Aaron's soul.

"I can tell you that the situation has been mentioned by some people in the office the last few days and I know that Bob and Pam and the entire Tebow family haven't said much ... but they will absolutely be praying for Aaron Hernandez."

The rep continued, "We will actually dedicate a prayer to Hernandez on Tuesday."

The family of Odin Lloyd will also be a target for prayer -- with the rep saying, "We can be praying for [Hernandez] as well as all affected from the situation."

Aaron Hernandez has been placed on suicide watch at the prison where he is temporarily being held ... TMZ Sports has learned.

After Hernandez was convicted of murdering Odin Lloyd, he was transported to MCI Cedar Junction in Massachusetts ... where he will stay until he is transferred to his permanent prison.

We're told he has been isolated from the general inmate population -- not only for his own protection (since he's a high profile inmate), but so officials can evaluate him ... and determine where he will stay at the prison.

The prison that Aaron Hernandez will eventually call home is widely considered one of the most high-tech maximum security facilities in the country ... and maybe even the world ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We spoke with an official from the Massachusetts Dept. of Correction who tells us ... Hernandez will eventually end up at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster, Mass.

This place is insane (as far as prisons go) ... with 366 security cameras rolling 24/7 across 18 acres of land.

Officials say the computer system that operates just about every inch of the grounds is top-of -the- line stuff.

We're told the perimeter surveillance system includes taut wire and microwave detection systems ... and according to reports, no one has EVER successfully escaped from the prison.

There's more ... according to reports, inmates must wear white sneakers to avoid gang colors. They're also allowed to display photos of family members -- but NO NAKED WOMEN are allowed to be displayed ... which might be an issue for A.H. considering his penchant for nude art.

Before he ends up at SBCC, we're told Aaron will spend some time at MCI-Cedar Junction ... a transitional facility that's only a few miles from the stadium where the Patriots play.

The New England Patriots are continuing to distance themselves from ANYTHING connected to Aaron Hernandez -- which is why team officials tell us they will NOT be issuing a statement on Wednesday's murder conviction.

It's an interesting P.R. move for the team -- considering owner Bob Kraft was called as a witness during the murder trial. Kraft testified that Hernandez told him he didn't kill Odin Lloyd.

The team could have strongly condemned Hernandez -- and reiterated they knew nothing about what he was doing in his personal life during his time with the team.

Aaron Hernandez isn't just a murderer -- he's a stain on the city of Bristol ... so says the mayor.

We spoke with Mayor Kenneth B. Cockayne ... who tells us the entire community is disgusted with Hernandez, who grew up in Bristol.

"He was a role model for the kids and adults of Bristol -- and now the hearts of those children are crushed."

"We're sick of this case, and I'm glad it's over. It puts a bad light on our whole town. He shed a lot of bad light on all of us."

Aaron Hernandez has just been found guilty of 1st degree murder in the killing of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd ... and has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Several people inside the courtroom began crying as the verdict was read ... including Aaron's fiancee and mother.

As the verdict was read, Hernandez was shaking his head in disbelief. At one point, Hernandez turned to his fiancee and mouthed the words, "Be strong."

25-year-old Hernandez -- a former superstar tight end for the New England Patriots -- killed Lloyd on June 17th, 2013. Lloyd was shot 6 times.

Aaron was also found guilty of illegal gun possession and illegal ammunition possession.

After sentencing in the Lloyd case, Hernandez will still stand trial in the shooting deaths of two people in Boston in 2012. That trial is scheduled to begin in May.

8:47 AM PT -- Hernandez has been ordered to serve time at MCI Cedar Junction at Walpole -- which is just under 4 miles from the stadium where the Patriots play.

8:39 AM PT -- Hernandez has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

8:18 AM PT -- Odin Lloyd's mother Ursula Ward is now addressing the court -- and explaining how Hernandez destroyed her life.

"I felt like I wanted to go into that hole with my son."

"I miss my baby boy Odin so much. But I know I will see him again some day. At that gives me the strength to go on."

Two things ...

1) Tom Brady took some batting practice off Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez today.

2) He bats lefty?!

The New England Patriots QB was a pretty good baseball player back in the day -- in fact, he was drafted by the Expos in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB Draft (as a catcher, not a pitcher).

But at Fenway Park on Monday, #12 proved he's handy with the wood as well ... from a lefty stance ... even though he throws with his right hand on the football field.

The person selling Aaron Hernandez's official jail I.D. card from Suffolk County jail in Mass. says eBay has shut down the auction ... so he's moved it over to Craigslist.

We broke the story ... the seller says he "happened to come across the I.D." while he was locked up in jail with Hernandez ... and managed to smuggle the item out of the clink. Starting bid was $500.

But now, the seller says his plan hit a speed bump ... when he got an email from the auction site saying they suspended his account.

We reached out to eBay for comment -- but haven't heard back.

The seller tells TMZ Sports he's still optimistic about making a deal ... and has upped the asking price to $5,000.

So far, no word from Hernandez either -- since he's still on trial for murder.

Seems Aaron Hernandez got jacked for his official jail I.D. card during his stint in the slammer -- 'cause it just surfaced on eBay ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... the item appears to be a legit identification card from Suffolk County Jail in Mass where Hernandez arrived in July 2014.

Starting bid -- $500.

As for the seller -- that person has not revealed his own identity ... but explained in the eBay post, "I was in jail with Arron Hernandes [sic] the for patriot super star.. I happen to com [sic] across his jail id."

Wonder how that happened?

We reached out to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department -- but they're not saying jack squat about the situation.

Shocking moment in the Aaron Hernandez case -- the ex-NFL star's lawyer just suggested that Aaron was a WITNESS in the Odin Lloyd murder ... and the killer was someone he knew.

Hernandez's attorney just wrapped up his closing statements -- and while once again denying Aaron pulled the trigger ... told the court that Hernandez was merely a witness.

"He was a 23-year-old kid who witnessed something, a shocking killing, committed by someone he knew," Aaron's lawyer said.

Mickey Rourke doesn't know who the hell Rob Gronkowski is ... doesn't care either ... 'cause the actor tells TMZ Sports he practically gave up on the NFL when Dan Marino retired.

The "Iron Man 2" star was out in L.A. this weekend -- and we asked if he had any tips for athletes like Gronk who are trying to make it in Hollywood.

Rourke's answer is hilarious ...

"What made them great athletes is gonna make 'em good actors ... they've got discipline and f**king that kind of sh*t," Rourke said.

"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to be an actor."

If the whole millionaire rapper thing gets old for Kendrick Lamar ... Patriots star Chandler Jones tells TMZ Sports he has a job offer for the Compton MC ... as the team's official world ambassador.

Kendrick got the whole 'net talking about the Pats (again) by rockin' a throwback New England jacket in the his latest video "King Kunta" -- which has 2 million views on Youtube.

Chandler says he's been paying attention to the internet hubbub and wants Kendrick to be a global ambassador for the Patriots ... spreading the love of Tom Brady to the whole world.

"It would be really cool. I'm a huge fan of his and a lot of people on my team are too."

It's not a crazy idea ... other pro sports teams like the Raptors and Wizards have enlisted huge hip hop stars like Drake and Wale to be their ambassadors ... and Jones thinks he can convince owner Robert Kraft to go for the idea.

"I've seen [Kraft] in a lot of photos with iconic rappers like Rick Ross and artists like Usher. I would say he’s a very hip hop owner ... so I‘m just saying he wouldn’t mind some Kendrick."

Ron Gronkowski is clearly the biggest star in Hollywood in a physical sense, but he's becoming king of the night life, too.

Gronk was leaving 1OAK Saturday night when our photog asked him about his foray into movies, playing Officer Weadon in the upcoming "You Can't Have It."

We see lots of stars on the Sunset Strip, and no one fills a room like Gronk.

Rob Gronkowski answers to Officer Weadon ... because he IS Officer Weadon.

Our photog spotted Gronk and company cruising Bev Hills Friday where he called out the faux cop's name. Gronk doesn't get it at first, but then the real story unfolds.

Turns out Patriot's tight end played the man in blue in an upcoming movie, "You Can't Have It."

Gronk's manager, Henry Penzi -- one of Mark Wahlberg's boys -- makes it clear, there's life after football. In fact, Gronk is such a natural, he didn't even have to read for the role.

It's nice to set goals ... and for Rob Gronkowski, his newest target is to nail the hot chick from "Wolf of Wall Street."

Gronk's appearing on Wednesday's season premiere of "The Jim Rome Show" ... and explained that he's wanted to bone Margot Robbie ever since he first saw her in the Leonardo DiCaprio flick.

But get this ... Gronk also laid out the qualities he wants in his FUTURE WIFE.

You gotta listen to what he says ... Gloria Steinem is gonna have a heart attack.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft just took the stand in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial -- and told the court his former tight end was adamant he did NOT kill Odin Lloyd.

Kraft says he spoke with Hernandez at the Patriots facility two days after Lloyd was killed -- and asked Aaron if he had anything to do with the killing.

"He said he was innocent," Kraft told the court.

At the end of the conversation, Kraft says Aaron hugged and kissed him.

Kraft says Hernandez denied having any involvement -- and said he was at a nightclub at the time Lloyd was murdered.