NFL

Having already beaten down the NY Jets (and with the crappy Bucs next on the schedule) a carefree Tom Brady spent his Sunday afternoon playing with his kid ... INSTEAD OF WATCHING FOOTBALL.

Can't really hate on the guy for that ... it's actually pretty sweet.

Now, here's that scene from "Field of Dreams" ...

Here's the handsome Pittsburgh Steelers' Mascot "Steely McBeem" smiling for the camera (left) -- and the ferocious Cincinnati Bengals' mascot "Who Dey" pumping up the crowd (right).

Before the NFL season began, NY Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz promised ... if he got a new contract, he would get a new Ferrari.

It appears Victor is a man of his word.

Cruz was spotted pulling into MetLife Stadium in Jersey yesterday in what appears to be a Ferrari California convertible ... which reportedly starts around $200k.

Of course, Cruz signed a HUGE contract over the summer -- 5-year extension worth up to $43 MILLION. Before that, he was making close to the league minimum.

The Giants lost to the Broncos in the Manning Bowl yesterday ... but we're guessing Victor wasn't too bummed out on the drive home.

No rest for the San Francisco 49ers this week who take on the rival Seattle Seahawks ... in what we're calling Eyebrow Bowl I.

Harvey "Hervis" Levin fell to 0-1 after picking the Giants last week. Can he recover? Let's find out ...

Charles: Big NFC West showdown between the Niners and Seahawks ... who ya got?
Harvey: Remind me what city the Seahawks play in? [pause] Seattle! Let the record reflect I guessed it on my own

Charles: So, your pick? Remember, this is the Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson eyebrow bet game.
Harvey: Right. Well, I'd like to think of this in terms of who would be more awesome with one eyebrow, and ironically the more awesome should be the loser.

Charles: [look of confusion]
Harvey: So, I gotta go with Kaepernick. Which team does he play for?

Charles: You know they're gonna chicken out on the bet, right?
Harvey: I believe the bet should be true, and they should not go the way of Erin Andrews, or rather ... Aaron Rodgers.

Ex-Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher says there's only ONE GUY who hasn't called him on the phone since he retired last year ... QB Jay Cutler ... and he's kinda bitter about it.

Urlacher recently sat down with Graham Bensinger and vented about the lack of post teammate communication when Graham asked if any of the Bears have given him the cold shoulder since he left the squad.

Urlacher's response: "I did not hear from Jay ... out of all the guys I played with."

And why so bitter? Urlacher explained ... "I felt like I stood up for him a lot more than anybody else did over the past 3 or 4 years in the media ... 'cause that guy takes a lot of grief."

"Strong men also cry" -- The Big Lebowski

SF 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick just made a BET with Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson -- whoever loses when they face off this weekend has to shave an eyebrow.

The wager was captured on video in a commercial for EA Sports -- they even shook hands -- and Colin warned Wilson, "Hope you don't like your eyebrow."

It'll be interesting to see if the losing QB actually lives up to the bet ... unlike Green Bay Packers QB/chicken enthusiast Aaron Rodgers ... who still hasn't paid up after losing a bet to Boyz II Men last season.

Just a warning to Colin and Russell -- don't let your mouths write checks your eyebrows can't cash ... you'll never live it down.

Right Aaron?

Aaron Hernandez wasn't watching when Tom Brady and his former Patriots teammates mounted a comeback against the Buffalo Bills this past weekend ... 'cause he's NOT allowed to watch football on TV during his stint behind bars, TMZ has learned.

Sheriff Hodgson of the Bristol County Jail tells us, "While Mr. Hernandez and many other inmates would like to watch football, it is just not part of our policy here ... so that will not be happening. “

Hernandez does have an hour of free time per day ... so, in theory, someone could call him on the phone and play the TV really loud so he can follow along with the action -- but what's the fun in that?

Here is horned Houston Texans' mascot "Toro" raging on the field (left) -- and the electrifying San Diego Chargers mascot "Bolt" shocking the crowd (right).

Craig James -- a star at SMU and a former member of the New England Patriots in the '80s -- ran for a senate seat in Texas. During a 2012 debate, he had some choice words: Gay people "would answer to the Lord for their actions," and being gay was a choice.

James was hired last month by Fox Sports Southwest and then reportedly fired after just one appearance. According to the Dallas Morning News, an unnamed Fox Sports honcho said, "We just asked ourselves how Craig's statements would play in our human resources department."

Apparently Fox didn't fully vet the dude. The question -- should he be sacked for statements he made before coming on board?

It's that time of the year ... THE NFL IS BACK ... which means it's time for our resident sports expert Harvey Levin to start picking winners!!!!

First up, The New York Giants vs. the Dallas Cowboys!!!

And heeeeeeeeere we go!!

Evan: Who ya got ... New York or Dallas?
Harvey: Wait, the Giants or the Jets?

Evan: I already told you the Giants
Harvey: Oh right. Well, given that it's the Giants I'm definitely going with the Giants.

Evan: Why?
Harvey: Because I think Steve Tisch is awesome and I think the fact that he has 2 Super Bowl rings makes me as confident as Sully flying an airplane ... and I loved 'Forrest Gump.'

Evan: But Jerry Jones has 3 Super Bowl rings
Harvey: But he doesn't have an Oscar ... and that's gotta count for something.

Evan: In football?
Harvey: Sure. Football is a theatrical sport. Just watch what they do in the endzone.

Chad Johnson has made his triumphant return to the NFL ... to analyze fantasy football.

The ex-Ochocinco tweeted about the new gig where he will be working alongside a panel of fantasy football nerds to give his formerly expert opinion for CBS Sports starting tomorrow

The former Dolphin's receiver lost his position as a star player last year when he was arrested for head-butting his now ex-wife Evelyn Lozada.

11:13 AM PT -- Hernandez just pled not guilty to all the charges. A pretrial date has been set for October 9th.

Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez is scheduled to be arraigned this morning on charges he murdered 27-year-old semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd. He's expected to plead not guilty ... and we're streaming live inside the courtroom.

As we reported, Hernandez has long insisted he's innocent.

23-year-old Hernandez was formally indicted last month, when he was hit with a laundry list of criminal charges, including 1st degree murder, carrying a firearm, possession of a firearm, possession of a high-capacity firearm or feeding device, and 2 counts of possession of ammunition.

NFL legend Michael Irvin hit up Craig's in Hollywood last night ... which reminds us ... THE NFL SEASON OFFICIALLY STARTS TONIGHT ... AHHHH!!!!!!!!!

We talked to Irvin about the NFL's new deal with the Uber car service -- in which each NFL player gets a $200 credit in an effort to prevent players from getting DUIs.

It's actually an interesting story ... and Irvin thinks it could actually work ... but THE NFL STARTS TONIGHT!!!!!

RAVENS vs. BRONCOS!!!!!

Someone else is finally gonna know what it's like to walk a mile in Warren Sapp's shoes ... 'cause some sneakerhead just bought 213 pairs of Warren's Nikes in a bankruptcy auction, TMZ has learned.

We broke the story ... Warren's shoes were seized by a court-appointed bankruptcy trustee when the NFL Hall of Famer filed for Chapter 7 back in 2012 after claiming he was millions of dollars in debt.

Now, as part of the deal Warren struck with his creditors, some of his items were sold at a bankruptcy auction ... including 213 pairs of Nikes, which sold to a guy from Connecticut for a whopping $6,390.

For the record, that breaks down to $30 a pair ... not bad for some pretty sick kicks (some appeared to have never been worn).

Now here's the rub -- Warren initially reported that he owned 240 PAIRS of Nikes ... so, there are 27 pairs of shoes that weren't included in the sale ... and it's possible, the remainders could be so valuable, they'll be auctioned off in a separate sale.

Then again, Warren was also given the opportunity to buy back some of his assets ... so it's possible he managed to hang on to his faves.

Enough is enough ... Russian President and alleged Super Bowl ring snatcher Vladimir Putin needs to get that ring back on U.S. soil ASAP ... so says Senator John McCain.

Our photog caught up with Sen. McCain in Georgetown Sunday and broke down President Obama's chances of resolving the greatest threat to US-Russian relations since that thing in Cuba.

McCain -- a true American war hero (just sayin') -- says he's outraged and makes it clear ... the SB bling Putin took from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft ... belongs back in the U.S. of A.

FYI --- Putin denies stealing the ring in 2005, his people say it was a gift. Riiiight.

So, can Prez O -- who's heading to Russia this week -- get it back? Check out JMC's take.

Tebowing has a brand new meaning -- unemployed NFL star -- 'cause Tim Tebow has been dropped by the New England Patriots.

Tebow -- who signed a 2-year contract with the Patriots back in June -- was cut from the roster Saturday morning ... after failing to impress head coach Bill Belichick, according to ESPN.

The news comes just a little over 4 months after Tebow was fired from the New York Jets.

Since Tebow has been in the NFL less than 4 years, he could become a free agent and sign with another team ... begging the question, will another team even want him?

So we gotta ask...