New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints take on the L.A. Rams on the field in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday ... but the REAL battle is actually going down on the sidelines ...

Yeah, we're talking cheerleaders, baby!!!

The 2 cheer squads have crushed it all season long ... and now it's up to you to decide which team's women take the pom-pom crown and deserve to move on to the Super Bowl!

Master P is challenging YG to an NFL version of big bank take lil bank ... telling TMZ Sports he's so confident his New Orleans Saints will beat YG's Rams this weekend, he wants to put $40K on it.

We got P out in L.A. on Monday ... and he was still on a high from the Saints beating the Eagles and punching their ticket back to the NFC title game for the first time in nearly a decade.

Of course, YG is a massive L.A. Rams fan -- and when P heard the rapper won $20k in an NFL playoff bet with Dallas Cowboys superfan Post Malone, the No Limit boss had to up the ante.

"Okay, DOUBLE THAT," P told us ... "We good."

"YG, I know you beat Post Malone. But, that's not happening in the dome."

Master P says he's cool with YG -- and it's all in good fun -- and with the money both of these guys have made, it's not a life-changing wager. It's more about bragging rights.

"The Saints are my team so we're going to the Super Bowl this year."

There's more ... P says when the Saints win the title, he's gonna put some of the players in "I Got the Hook Up 3" as a reward!

His son, Romeo Miller, also has special plans to hook up Drew Brees with a special pair of his new MoneYatti kicks.

Remember, the Saints won the Super Bowl back in 2010 -- defeating Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts in one of the most exciting games in SB history.

No shirt, pants OR undies were required at the Saints' postgame locker room celebration Sunday ... 'cause Mark Ingram got down with his bad self in nothing but a towel!!!

It all went down just minutes after New Orleans finished off the Eagles, 20-14, in a playoff win at the Superdome ... when the Saints turned their locker room into a nightclub.

The smoke was blowing ... the lights were flashing ... and that's when the Saints star RB took center stage to show off his best dance moves -- almost completely naked!!!

The rest of the New Orleans squad got in on the fun (with clothes on) ... Teddy Bridgewater hit his signature "Choppa Style" dance move, and a Saints staffer even got down in a Rascal scooter!

New Orleans is off to the NFC Championship game for the first time since 2009 ... so the celebration seemed warranted.

Drew Brees' dream of his first NFL MVP is DEAD ... that's according to Tony Gonzalez, who says Patrick Mahomes is the league's most valuable, and it ain't even close.

Mahomes is having a RIDICULOUS season ... 50 TDs and 5,000 yards (yikes), but some thought Brees would get the nod because of the Saints team's success and his INSANE efficiency.

Tony ain't one of them, and when we got him out in Beverly Hills, he shot Drew's dreams down.

"I thought Drew Brees would've had a chance, but 50 touchdowns, 5,000 yards, it's no contest."

According to Gonzalez, the Chiefs game this Sunday will also be no contest, because he's got the Arrowhead gang stomping all over the Colts.

"Obviously, I'm picking the Chiefs, not 'cause I have to either."

This is awesome!

The House of Representatives voted UNANIMOUSLY on Thursday to award the Congressional Gold Medal to ex-Saints star Steve Gleason for all the great work he's doing to battle ALS.

Gleason (who played for the Saints from 2000 to 2006) was diagnosed with ALS back in 2011. The disease affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

But, despite his physical challenges, Gleason has been a leading voice in raising awareness and money for ALS organizations.

For example, he's advocated for federal legislation to help ensure people living with diseases like ALS have access to speech-generating devices and he's also been a major leader in the largest coordinated and collaborative ALS research project in the world.

The politicians were obviously impressed -- and Gleason will become the 1st ex-NFL player to receive the award.

FYI, the Congressional Gold Medal recognizes people who have "performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient's field long after the achievement."

It's one of the highest civilian awards in the U.S.

“It is a true honor to witness Steve Gleason become the first New Orleanian and former NFL Legend to receive the Congressional Gold Medal,” Saints Owner Gayle Benson said.

"Along with his wife, Michel, and everyone at Team Gleason, they have unfailingly confronted ALS with a courageous and unwavering determination. Their tireless work to provide crucial assistance and the latest in technology and services has improved countless people’s quality of living."

"Steve is leaving a truly indelible mark in American history and we are honored to call him a true New Orleans Saint."

Saints superstar Cameron Jordan says there's NO WAY IN HELL Ben Roethlisberger is a Hall of Famer ... saying the Steelers stud ain't even a top 5 QB of this era.

"I'd honestly put Eli before I put Ben," Cam says.

The piping hot take came straight from the Saints' locker room this week ... when Jordan scoffed at a reporter's insinuation that Big Ben is a surefire HOFer.

"Is that true?! Really?! In this era, you'd put him at like a top three of this era?! A top five of this era?!"

Cam certainly doesn't think so ... saying he'd have Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers AND Eli Manning over the Pittsburgh superstar.

It's a smoldering take from the New Orleans pass rusher -- who just made his fourth Pro Bowl -- 'cause most not only have Ben as a Hall of Famer, but a 1st-ballot one at that.

Big Ben is a two-time Super Bowl champ, a six-time Pro Bowler AND owns a career 143-68-1 record as a starter.

Best news for all of us?? Ben gets to face off against Cam in a must-win game this weekend ... and will have every opportunity to prove Jordan wrong then.

Sorry, ladies ... Alvin Kamara's smooth vocals won't be hitting the radio waves anytime soon -- 'cause the Saints RB says he has NO plans to pursue an R&B career despite his dope voice!!

Of course, Kamara SLAYED R. Kelly's "12 Play" at karaoke after beating up the Bucs on Sunday ... which caused some to wonder -- could the NFL star have a future in music??

We asked the New Orleans superstar straight-up at the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson Of The Year ceremony in L.A. Tuesday night ... and, sadly, he says no.

"Nah, nah. I play football!"

It's too bad ... Kamara can SANG -- and dudes like Cole Beasley and Le'Veon Bell have managed to do both football AND music!!

But, Alvin tells us that's gonna be a big no from him.

Alvin Kamara was singing -- and the girls were swooning ... 'cause after the Saints beat the Bucs on Sunday, A.K. hit up a restaurant party and SLAAAYYYYED some R. Kelly!!

It all went down at Morrow's in New Orleans -- where Kamara popped by after taking down Tampa Bay to get on the mic for some karaoke.

The star RB's song of choice? R. Kelly's "12 Play" -- and while we only got a snippet of his vocals in the vid ... dude had the crowd (full of girls) swaying!!

It's interesting -- Alvin and the Saints played IN Florida on Sunday morning ... so, pretty impressive the dude made it out to crash the bar's shindig when he got back to Louisiana.

Then again ... the Saints DID lock up the NFC South with the win AND took over first place in the NFC with the Rams' loss.

Brett Favre -- a three-time NFL MVP -- has weighed in ... and Drew Brees is killin' it ... but he's not the league's current most valuable player.

"I would say right now, I'd probably have to give it to Mahomes," Brett tells TMZ Sports.

It's not exactly a nuclear take from the Packers legend -- most have Brees and Patrick Mahomes as the top 2 candidates for the award -- but Favre says the younger QB gets his nod.

"What Mahomes has done in his first year is incredible."

You can tell it kinda pains Brett to say it -- Brees IS, after all, one of the last old dudes standing in a young man's game -- but Favre still showed Drew some major love anyway.

In fact ... Brett also shouted another old QB who's killin' it this season -- saying Philip Rivers deserves some praise for his huge season too!

As for Mahomes ... Brett didn't go all Dick Vermeil on us and say the Chiefs superstar can be one of the greatest to ever play -- but he also didn't exactly disagree with the ex-coach!!

Jamie Foxx was FEEEEEEEEEELLLLIIINNNN' himself after the Cowboys beat the Saints ... 'cause dude broke out ALL his Dallas jerseys and had a dance party in his living room!!

The 'Boys scored a massive win over New Orleans on Thursday night in a game nobody predicted them to win ... and Foxx turned up like they just earned the Lombardi Trophy.

Jamie -- rockin' an Emmitt Smith throwback -- threw down some epic dance moves to "We Dem Boyz" ... and then started the trash talk.

"I told y'all! Don't ever go against us! We them boys! I told y'all, them Saints was going to be turning into Aints today! I told ya!"

Jamie then took aim at ESPN personality and noted Cowboys hater Stephen A. Smith, saying, "First of all, you have to understand that the Cowboys are America's Team, and now you understand why!"

Jamie's got every right to be happy ... the win was pretty dope -- but nobody tell him Dallas is just one game away from being out of the current playoff picture.

Drew Brees deserves the MVP this season ... AND it's time we start talking about him as the greatest of all time ahead of Tom Brady -- so says his ex-Saints teammate Lance Moore.

TMZ Sports spoke with the WR who won a Super Bowl with Brees back in 2009 -- and he's dying to know what more Drew needs to do to finally get the respect he believes the QB deserves.

"I don't know how else you would quantify the greatest of all time," Lance says.

"If you're talking statistics, Drew's the all-time completion leader, all-time completion percentage leader, all-time yards leader, he's second in touchdowns -- what more do you want from this guy?!"

Of course, Lance is a bit biased ... dude did play with Drew for 8 years in New Orleans -- but he says that only strengthens his argument for why Brees belongs above Brady.

"I was with the guy forever and I know not just how great of a player and how he prepares, but how great of a person he is."

Don't get it twisted ... Moore says he's still got Brady along with Peyton Manning in his all-time top 3 -- it's just he's got Drew leading the pack.

We also spoke with Lance about N.O.'s star receiver, Michael Thomas ... and he explains why M.T. can secure a spot over both Joe Horn AND Marques Colston as the best Saints wideout ever down the road.

AND ... if you're looking for a Super Bowl prediction, Moore gave us one of those too.

Dez Bryant's callin' his Achilles surgery Tuesday a huge success ... straight from his hospital bed -- while feelin' loopy as hell!!!

The wideout, after just 2 days with the New Orleans Saints, popped his Achilles tendon in practice last week and needed surgery to repair the mess.

That operation just went down ... and, per a completely drugged out Dez, it went well!!

"I just finished surgery. I'm out," Dez says with a laugh. "God is great. Thank everybody for the support."

In case you didn't believe the superstar receiver ... Dez put his doc on the screen to confirm the good news.

"Everything went well. Success! Nothing to worry about."

Dez Bryant's done for the season ... but the Broncos would be stoked to have him on their squad next year -- so says one of Denver's star D-lineman.

TMZ Sports got Domata Peko out in Bev Hills enjoying the Broncos' bye week -- when we had to ask, does he think Dez can come back from the torn Achilles he suffered last week?

Peko said of course ... saying one of his ex-Bengals teammates proves that.

"Achilles are tough, man. One of my homies, though, his name is Leon Hall and he had two Achilles and he's still playing. So, yeah, man, he can come back."

Domata then told us he'd love to be teammates with Dez in 2019 -- if the wideout wants to come to Mile High.

"We'll take whoever, anybody, to help us win!"

One problem? Bryant might be a wanted man -- the Saints seemed fired up about the WR, despite only having him on the roster for two days, and say they want him back in 2019.

But first, Dez has gotta get healthy -- something Peko thinks the 30-year-old ex-superstar can easily do.

2:04 PM PT -- Dez just tweeted ... "Things was just starting to heat up for me... I won’t question the man upstairs... this is the ultimate test.. thank you everyone for the prayers."

Dez Bryant suffered an injury while practicing with the New Orleans Saints on Friday -- and people are worried it could be a torn Achilles tendon which would end his season.

The WR -- who just signed with the Saints earlier this week -- was running a route when he collapsed. He was carted off the practice field and taken to get an MRI.

The team is already looking at replacement wideouts -- including Brandon Marshall -- according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Dez just signed a $600k deal with the Saints to play in the team's remaining 8 games of the season earlier this week ... and may have even seen game action as early as next week against the Eagles.

But, all that's on hold for now while the 30-year-old star awaits the results of the MRI.

Bryant was selected in the 1st round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys and was selected to go to the Pro Bowl 3 different times. He led the league in receiving TDs in 2014.

Bryant suffered a foot injury during the 2015 season and his production never really recovered.

Curren$y just got his favorite player the best "thanks for helping my team win" gift ever ... a blinged-out Rolex watch!!!

Alvin Kamara's been KILLIN' it this season -- scoring 12 touchdowns in 9 games -- and as a big-ass Saints fan, Curren$y just had to let the RB know how much he appreciated it.

So ... the rapper hit the jewelry store before Alvin's monster game against the Rams last weekend -- and got the New Orleans stud an ICY Rolex gift.

Kamara picked it up after the W ... and Curren$y wrote of the present, "Don’t even trip G.... keep puttin that work in for my city bro."

Michael Vick's down for touchdown celebrations ... but when it comes to pullin' out cell phones in the endzone like Michael Thomas did Sunday??

"It's way too much," the Falcons legend tells TMZ Sports ... "It's way too much."

The Saints superstar wideout put an exclamation point on New Orleans' win over the Rams by whippin' out a Joe Horn-style phone call after a 72-yard TD in the 4th quarter.

It was flagged ... but Horn (and a buncha others) loved it -- with the ex-Saints star telling NOLA.com, "I teared up."

But, Vick clearly didn't feel the same way ... saying the old, cell-phone-under-the-goal-post routine is bad for the sport!!

"Nah, nah, nah. No cell phones," Vick tells us ... "We don't want to corrupt the game like that."