NFL

Tom Brady says he walked offstage when asked about Donald Trump's "locker room talk" because he didn't want to be a "distraction for the team" ... but says he still considers Trump a friend.

Brady called in to the "Kirk & Callahan Show" on Monday -- when he was asked to expand on his relationship with Trump.

"I met him probably 15, 16 years ago," Brady said ... "We’ve played golf together many, many times and I’ve always had a good time with him."

"He’s been a friend of mine. He’s supported our team. He’s supported the Patriots. He’s been on the Patriots sideline a lot. He’s always called me after games to encourage me over the course of 15 years. That’s kind of the way it is."

When asked why he shut down the "locker room talk" question last week -- Brady said, "It’s just the way it is right now."

"Obviously there’s a lot of headlines to make, and I’ve tried not to make a lot of headlines. I’ve been in an organization where we’re taught to say very little, we have respect for our opponents and we don’t do the trash-talking."

"The thing I’ve always thought is I don’t want to be a distraction for the team. That’s what my goal is. Not that there are things I’ve said and done that haven’t been, but you try not to be. It’s just hard enough to win and prepare without the distractions so when you start having the distractions it’s even harder to prepare."

So, is Brady even gonna vote?

Vikings star Anthony Barr says Minnesota's M.V.P. may NOT be on the field ... it might be the big guy above ... ya know, Prince!!

Former NY Jets star Dennis Byrd -- was paralyzed in a game, but learned to walk again -- has died in an Oklahoma car accident.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Robert Golden is going after the company he hired to plan his wedding, 'cause he says they wrecked his big day ... and were even responsible for sending a guest to the hospital.

Could a big-assed porn star save Odell Beckham's season?

Richelle Ryan sure seems to think so ... and the NY Giants superfan is making a plea to the embattled wide receiver to give her a shot.

Ryan -- star of 'White Booty,' "I Like Phat Bunz 2" and "Plump Rumps" -- says she's sick and tired of seeing her team lose and wants to take all matters into her own hands.

"I can tame that kid a little bit, I think."

What do you wear when you're star NFL player Travis Kelce and you're dating 50 of the hottest chicks in America? A custom suit with your FACE on it, of course!!

That's exactly what the Kansas City Chiefs star tight end donned during the premiere of his dating show ... "Catching Kelce" on E!

Kelce hit up Ge Wang at ESQ Clothing ... and ordered an English velvet tuxedo in the Chiefs' red and gold colors. And it wasn't cheap ... setting him back $2,750!!

The coolest part? The image of Kelce printed on silk on the lining of the jacket.

"From a style perspective, he’s a fun-going guy," Wang tells us, "We weren’t interested in going with the business usual charcoal or navy.”

Wang's made "5 or 6" suits for Kelce ... so there's a good chance we'll see more of his work on future episodes.

L.A. Rams player T.J. McDonald has pled not guilty to his DUI charge stemming from his arrest back in May ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, the 25-year-old safety was busted for a non-alcohol related DUI in Los Angeles on May 10th after he crashed into a parked car.

This week, McDonald's attorney appeared in court and pled not guilty on his behalf.

The judge ordered McDonald to attend two AA meetings a week until his next hearing -- and said he can only attend one meeting per day.

Greg Hardy's already getting his hands up-to-date for a career in mixed martial arts -- despite the backlash against the ex-Cowboys defensive lineman joining the sport.

Hardy posted a pic of himself working the mitts with a sparring partner. Word is he's training somewhere in the Dallas area.

As we've reported ... there's been a big push from several people in the MMA world to have Hardy blackballed from the sport, due to his domestic violence conviction.

Former NFL receiver Hank Baskett says it's time Redskins TE Jordan Reed starts thinking about his future off the field ... saying "you gotta know when actually it's time to hang it up."

Reed's health became a hot topic this week after he suffered the 6th concussion of his short career during last weeks game against the Ravens. Baskett -- who played 5 years in the league -- thinks Reed should look at the bigger picture.

"If you keep pushing -- especially after 6 confirmed concussions -- I think you gotta think about that a little more," Baskett tells TMZ Sports.

"You gotta think about life. Life is bigger, there's so much after sports. If I was in that situation where I had 6 concussions, I would stop because my family and my health is more important."

Check out the clip.

Former NFL star Greg Hardy is finally getting support from someone in the MMA community ... and it comes from one of the best trainers in the business ... Kenny Johnson.

Kenny's trained stars like B.J. Penn, Jose Aldo and Anderson Silva. So when TMZ Sports ran into him at Black House MMA Gym ... we asked if he'd be interested in bringing Hardy on board.

"I would not judge the past of a man if he's trying to better his present."

KJ went on to say, "With him wanting to make the transition over to MMA ... hey man, Black House, we're open. Call me ... we'll train."

This comes just days after Jay Glazer and Luke Rockhold bashed the troubled former Pro Bowler ... saying there's no room for Hardy in the sport.

Johnson clearly disagrees.

"A lot of people are being real harsh on the guy. They're choosing to focus on the past of a man, rather than the future."

Check out the clip.

The National Football League is opening their fat pocketbook ... and DONATING $300,000 to help people from the U.S. to Haiti who were affected by Hurricane Matthew.

Matthew devastated the Caribbean ... before slamming the Southeast U.S. As a result of the storm, over 1,000 people died in Haiti ... and 22 lives were lost in North Carolina.

The NFL says $200k will be split between the Salvation Army, UNICEF and the American Red Cross. The rest will go toward repairing youth football fields in the Southeast that were torn up by the storm.

And it's not just the league that's helping ... as we previously reported, Redskins star Pierre Garcon used team owner Daniel Snyder's jet to bring medical supplies to Haiti.

Antonio Brown is continuing his tribute to fallen sports heroes with a pair of dope custom cleats honoring the late Kimbo Slice and Jose Fernandez this week.

After wearing Arnold Palmer and Muhammad Ali themed cleats, we're told AB wanted to do something special this week when the Steelers play his hometown Miami Dolphins.

Brown hit up longtime friend Corey Pane ... his go-to guy for customized cleats. Pane says "these are really important to him," given AB's strong Miami roots (Kimbo and Jose were staples in the MIA community).

We're told AB plans to wear the cleats for pre-game warm-ups. Considering his recent history of getting fined for cleats, it's unlikely he'll wear them during the game.

UFC superstar Luke Rockhold is BLASTING Greg Hardy and anyone considering training the ex-NFL star ... saying, "it's crazy to think that someone would actually train this guy."

Rockhold joined the "TMZ Sports" TV show ... when he was asked about Hardy's plan to hang up his cleats and fight mixed martial arts.

Luke absolutely goes in on Hardy ... calling the domestic violence accusations against him "beyond anything of what a normal human is capable of."

FYI -- Hardy was convicted of domestic violence in '14 ... before the guilty verdict was dismissed after the accuser stopped cooperating with authorities.

Check out the clip ... it's clear Rockhold vehemently feels Hardy has no place in MMA.

Antonio Brown's good friend, Verne Troyer, is LASHING OUT at the NFL over the fines AB's been hit with for his cleats and his endzone celebrations ... saying the punishment is a bunch of "bulls***."

Troyer isn't just a Steelers superfan -- but he's tight with Brown and was his VIP guest at a game earlier this season.

So, when we asked about the NFL cracking down on Brown's customized cleats (which have featured AB's kids and tributes to greats like Muhammad Ali) ... the "Austin Powers" star went off.

#Mojo

Jessica Simpson almost ruined Tony Romo's NFL career -- but he saved himself when he dumped her and ended their "tumultuous relationship" back in 2009 ... so says Skip Bayless.

Cool story from Redskins star Pierre Garcon -- who says owner Dan Snyder encouraged him to grab all the team medical supplies he needed to personally fly out to hurricane victims in Haiti.

Ace bandages, wraps, wound cleaners ... you name it ... if it was in the team training facility, Garcon and teammate Ricky Jean Francois got the green light to bring it to the people affected by Hurricane Matthew.

In fact, when we spoke with Garcon ... he told us it was actually Snyder's idea to send the guys on a supply run on his private jet ... since he knew Garcon has family in Haiti.

"They was giving us more than I even expected to receive," Garcon says. "But they were more than willing to just give us everything."

Garcon says Snyder also provided food, souvenirs for doctors, and "anything and everything" he thought they would need for the trip.

Pierre says the goodwill mission has also lit a new fire under him to kick ass on the field -- check out the clip, he explains why.