New England Patriots

Tom Brady shot down retirement rumors and insisted he would play football in 2018 when talking with his buddy Jim Gray ... but there's a catch.

Tom and Jim have been friends for years -- Tom does his radio show every week during the NFL season ... so when we spotted Jim at LAX, we had to ask about the great "Will Tom retire?" debate.

That's when Jim reminded us what Brady told him right before the Super Bowl in February.

"I asked him a question on the air ... I said, 'Regardless of the outcome are you going to return and play football next year?' And he said, 'You WILL see me playing football in 2018.'"

"So those are the words out of his mouth."

Skip Bayless says reports of Patriots infighting are VERY real -- claiming Bill Belichick "sold out" Tom Brady and then sabotaged the organization ... and it's all over Jimmy Garoppolo.

“I think Belichick sold him out and wanted to give Garoppolo the job next year and I think Brady knew it," the star of FS1's "Undisputed" tells us.

"[Robert Kraft] had to step in and intervene and say ‘Nope, I’m going forward with Brady. You have to trade Garoppolo.’ And then it felt to me like Belichick sabotaged the organization."

Skip says the Garoppolo drama could be the reason for all of the recent Brady retirement talk -- which Bayless added was weak -- since the 40-year-old still has AT LEAST 3 more years left in him.

Johnny Manziel has made it clear he wants to play for the New England Patriots -- and on Wednesday night, he sent the team a reminder ... via his sweatshirt.

Remember ... Manziel previously told TMZ Sports he'd love to play for Bill Belichick, "I'll go to New England in a heartbeat."

Then, the Patriots reportedly met with 25-year-old Manziel at the Texas A&M Pro Day at end of March.

Next came the Spring League where Johnny put on a solid performance which left some NFL execs raving about his potential.

Fast-forward to Wednesday night ... when Johnny rocked the Patriots hoodie while his wife, Bre Tiesi, snapchatted away.

Now, with rumblings Tom Brady might retire (yeah right) the Patriots could be in the market for a QB ... and Manziel wants to make sure he's top of mind.

James Harrison just hung it up, but could Tom Brady be next??

With rumors swirling on Brady potentially not playing this season, we asked Deebo himself -- Tom's teammate last year -- and he told us it would NOT surprise him ... given the sacrifices TB, Gisele and the kids make so he can play ball.

“That’s up to Tom and what decisions he and his family make as far as what he wants to do, and if he does want to continue to play, what he’s willing to sacrifice and the family is willing to sacrifice,” Harrison told TMZ Sports.

James would know -- telling us that's why he decided to retire earlier this week.

Specifically, the Pro Bowl LB says he's interested in introducing his 2 sons to tackle football -- and possibly even coaching them!

Deebo says it's a tough decision for any parent to make given everything that's out on CTE -- but explained why he wants his sons exposed to it before they hit their teens.

"Everything in life has dangers ... I'm not gonna live in fear of things that could possibly happen."

Tony Gonzalez says Dez Bryant would have fun hangin' with Odell Beckham in the Big Apple ... but if he wants to win Super Bowls, there's only one place to consider in free agency -- the Patriots!!

TMZ Sports spoke with the NFL legend about Dez's possible new homes now that he's no longer a Cowboy ... and T.G. says teaming up with Tom Brady in Foxborough will guarantee him a ring.

Bryant recently said in an interview it would "be crazy" to play alongside OBJ ... and Gonzalez agrees, but says it's all about gettin' 'ships.

What's better than Patriots offseason workouts?

If you're Rob Gronkowski, the answer is a pool day with your smokin' hot model girlfriend!!

FYI, things have been heating up between the Patriots star and his lady friend, Camille Kostek -- an ex-Patriots cheerleader who SLAYED the Sports Illustrated swimsuit mag earlier this year.

On Tuesday, Gronk and his GF hit up Camille's grammy's house somewhere that's not Boston ... and the Pro Bowl tight end went full Optimus Prime, transforming into her HUMAN WATER SKI!

Yeah ... Camille likey.

The hot-bod couple also got in some canoodling with a cute-as-hell puppy belonging to Gronk's little bro, Glenn -- and we're starting to get the feeling this is a lot more than a spring fling.

Whoa.

Here's the man Stormy Daniels says threatened her and her daughter back in 2011 ... and he looks just like Tom Brady.

The backstory ... Stormy says this man approached her in Las Vegas 7 years ago and told her to "Leave Trump alone" and to "forget the story" ... or else.

Stormy gave her description of the man to a sketch artist last week who came up with this drawing.

Even if it's not Tom Brady ... dude's handsome.

Step aside, Sheikhs -- the NFL's king and queen are touring the Middle East ... and they're getting the full royal treatment.

Tom Brady, Gisele and their 2 kids have left the freezing cold of Boston for the sunny skies of Qatar ... and they're enjoying all the best the country has to offer -- fine garments, waterfall grottos and, of course, camel-riding desert tours!!

But, the Patriots QB ain't just tappin' into his inner-Aladdin on this trip.

Through his Best Buddies charity, Brady kicked some footballs around with special needs kids at a World Cup-sponsored event ... and he also stopped by the local air base to hang with U.S. troops.

Robert Kraft is definitely scoring points with the rap community after visting Meek Mill in prison ... with Method Man telling us he SALUTES the Patriots owner for the move.

Oh, and while Meth is explaining why he respects the move ... THERE'S A FISTFIGHT GOING DOWN RIGHT BEHIND HIM!!

Meth was leaving DJ Whoo Kid's "The Whoolywood Shuffle" show at the SiriusXM building in NYC when a pissed off woman and a pissed off man started brawling right on the sidewalk.

Meek Mill's prison visitors' list keeps growing, and another high-profile name's been added to it this week -- Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.

Sources at the prison tell us Kenney was spotted leaving the facility Wednesday morning with 76ers owner Michael Rubin, who's visited several times before... including Tuesday when he brought Patriots owner Robert Kraft to visit the incarcerated rapper.

According to the Mayor's spokeswoman ... Rubin invited Mayor Kenney, and the visit with Meek lasted about an hour. We're told Hizzoner believes the rapper could better serve the community outside prison.

We're told the Mayor believes Meek's case "makes clear and urgent the desperate need to continue working with our partners to reform our criminal justice system."

As we've reported ... Meek is serving 2 to 4 years for a probation violation -- the controversial sentence handed down by Judge Genece Brinkley.

Huge day for Meek Mill ... the rapper got a special visit from TWO insanely rich and powerful guys -- Patriots owner Robert Kraft and 76ers owner Michael Rubin.

The two titans arrived together at Chester State Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania to spend some time with Meek who's serving 2 to 4 years for a probation violation.

Meek had been on probation stemming from a 2008 drug and weapons case -- but a Pennsylvania judge ruled his two arrests (an airport fight and a reckless driving incident) constituted a violation.

We know Rubin is a huge supporter of Meek -- he's visited several times before. He's also close with Robert Kraft, so we're guessing he was the driving force in getting Kraft to visit Meek on Tuesday.

Sources tell us Kraft has also met Meek through business dealings in the past.

Rob Gronkowski is one of the best damn players in the NFL, and he's sick of not getting paid like it -- so says ex-Patriots tight end Jermaine Wiggins.

You've probably heard ... rumors have been swirling about Gronk splitting with New England all offseason long -- for reasons ranging from his relationship with Bill Belichick to just being tired of football.

But according to Jermaine, the biggest thing doggin' Rob is his contract.

"I definitely think he's frustrated with the money that he gets when you look at what he does," Wiggins told TMZ Sports.

"He should be getting paid $15-16 million a year, but he's not, so there's definitely that frustration there."

Jermaine says it's obvious Gronk is the league's most dangerous receiver -- "by far more valuable" than top WRs like Antonio Brown and Julio Jones -- so getting paid way less than 'em ain't right.

NFL star Devonta Freeman says the New England Patriots would be the PERFECT place for Johnny Manziel to restart his pro career ... saying Bill Belichick and Co. can help him turn things around.

We spoke with the Pro Bowler about Johnny's Comeback SZN campaign ... and D.F. says "the sky's the limit" for the troubled QB ... and he thinks finding home in Foxborough would be a great football move.

Freeman says he's not surprised by the reported interest 'cause he knows how Belichick operates ... and he thinks that's the kinda atmosphere that should be surrounding Johnny.

Gisele Bundchen says Tom Brady will decide when Tom Brady hangs it up, not her ... disputing past reports that she's begging him to call it quits.

Brady's supermodel wife spoke candidly about her relationship with Tom in a recent interview -- telling the Wall Street Journal she would NEVER force retirement on her man ... knowing he'd resent her for it.

“It’s not my decision to make. It’s his decision, and he knows it. It wouldn’t be fair any other way," Gisele said.

Gisele says all she wants is for Brady to be happy ... though she admits she is concerned over the lasting impact of the concussions he's suffered in his career.

Rest easy Gronk, the scumbag who allegedly broke into your Massachusetts house is behind bars.

Gronkowski's house was burglarized on February 5 ... while RG was in Minnesota for the Super Bowl. Gronk's bedroom was locked, so the burglars never entered his room ... however, stuff was taken from the house.

After a 6-week investigation, Foxborough PD announced they arrested a man named Anthony Almeida -- 31 years old.

Almeida was charged with breaking and entering, 2 counts of receiving stolen property, and malicious destruction of property.

Police say they recovered an Apple Watch, a Rolex, and 2 rare coins. They are still looking for multiple firearms that were taken.

But that's not all ... cops are on the hunt for 2 other men they believe also participated in the robbery.

FYI -- Gronk PERSONALLY made the 911 call ... saying "This isn't an emergency ... this is just uh, Rob Gronkowski calling. And while I was gone, my whole house got robbed while on the Super Bowl trip and I just got back."

The New England Patriots went above and beyond for the Parkland, FL students ... sending the team jet to fly them to D.C. for this weekend's March for Our Lives.

Owner Robert Kraft reportedly made the gesture at the request of AZ Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Marjory Stoneman Douglas students got a taste of the Tom Brady life ... along with their parents and some of their teachers. Theater teacher Melody Herzfeld, in the middle of this pic, huddled in a closet with her students on Feb. 14 when the shooting began.

Everyone seemed grateful for the Patriots' charitable move ... posting pics from the tarmac and onboard the jet.