NFL

New info has come to light in the hunt for the Tom Brady Super Bowl jersey ... and could all come down to the search of an 18-wheeler that was packed up right after the game.

TMZ Sports spoke with law enforcement sources involved in the search who tell us they are "hopeful" the jersey was put on a team equipment truck destined for Boston.

We're told the truck was never thoroughly searched before it left NRG Stadium in Houston -- and contains all sorts of team and player equipment.

Our sources tell us the truck is scheduled to be unpacked in Boston on Thursday and cops are crossing their fingers the #12 jersey turns up!

Detective Shaq has joined the Tom Brady Super Bowl jersey investigation ... and he already has a theory -- INSIDE JOB!!!

FYI, Shaq has been a sworn reserve police officer with real law enforcement agencies in several states including California, Florida and Arizona. He even did some work with the Dept. of Justice.

So, with TB12's jersey still M.I.A. ... we asked Officer O'Neal (who was leaving the Oreo Dunk Challenge) if he had a hunch on who may have jacked the piece of Super Bowl history.

There's more ... Shaq also sets the record straight on his beef with his "Inside the NBA" co-star, Charles Barkley, and how things went down off camera following their heated exchange last week.

New England Patriots hero James White says he will absolutely NOT hold Tom Brady to that whole "You can have my MVP truck" thing ... unless Tom REALLY wants to buy him one.

Warren Sapp is FURIOUS with Hall of Fame voters for snubbing Terrell Owens -- and says Randy Moss could be in serious trouble if candidates are being judged by off-the-field behavior.

Sapp -- a Hall of Famer himself -- says he's "up in arms" about the Owens situation because the guy is clearly one of the best WRs of all time ... along with Moss.

But with Owens not getting enough H.O.F. votes for the 2nd year in a row, Sapp clearly believes he's being wrongly punished for his off-the-field antics.

Sapp warns, "What do we do next year when Randy Moss is standing there?"

Of course, Moss also had major off-the-field issues during his NFL career -- including a 2002 arrest for allegedly striking a cop with his car (he later pled guilty to misdemeanor traffic violations).

He also failed an NFL drug test and was fined multiple times for abusing the refs -- including the infamous water bottle incident in 2000, when he squirted water at an official and was fined $40,000.

He also allegedly went on the radio in 2010 and blasted his head coach, Jeff Fisher, while using a fake name.

But Sapp says it shouldn't matter, they BOTH belong in Canton.

"Hey, wake up voters! I don't know what the hell football ya'll been watching for the last 2 years but there's two receivers other than Jerry Rice that must be in the Hall of Fame and that's Randy Moss and T.O."

Cool moment in Houston ... when Migos performed its track, "Emmitt Smith" for the REAL Emmitt Smith -- and the NFL star went absolutely wild in the crowd!!!

It all went down at the New Era Caps party where Migos was performing for a pretty exclusive group of VIPs ... including the Hall of Fame running back.

Props to Smith for dabbing back at the rappers without spilling his drink.

The Patriots continue to take L's following their Super Bowl LI win ... 'cause yet ANOTHER piece of history is nowhere to be found -- James White's game-winning touchdown ball.

After Tom Brady's game jersey was stolen from the Pats locker room, White told Dan Patrick he has NO IDEA what happened to the pigskin that broke the plane in O.T.

Note to future NFL champs -- HOLD ONTO YOUR STUFF.

It's clear T.O. isn't letting his Hall of Fame snub keep him down ... getting way, way, way up to snatch an alley-oop out of midair in a charity basketball game, and TMZ Sports has the jam on video.

Terrell Owens balled in the Gridiron Celebrity Hoops game in Texas over the Super Bowl weekend, and while guys like Daniel Gibson, Steve Francis and Trinidad James were there, Owens had the highlight.

Obviously, there's a firestorm of controversy surrounding T.O. right now, but it's good to see that at 43 he can still remind the entire world he's one of the greatest athletes ever.

It's 36 DEGREES in Boston right now ... and Rob Gronkowski has stripped off his shirt and is DOUBLE POUNDING BEERS at the Patriots Super Bowl parade.

Michael Vick just started a barber shop debate for the ages ... telling TMZ Sports he thinks his Madden '04 character ... NOT Bo Jackson's Tecmo Bowl BEAST ... is the GOAT of video game football.

Vick came on the "TMZ Sports" TV Show (weeknights on FS1) and was asked who he thinks is the more ridiculous, unfair player to play between himself and Bo.

There's no easy answer ... Bo legendarily couldn't be tackled on Tecmo Bowl, while Vick had a FREAKIN' 94 SPEED RATING at QB, meaning the only way to stop him was to assault your opponent.

Mike puts all his faith in a familiar guy ... himself ... and gives some pretty good reasons why '04 Vick knows dominance better than Bo.

BTW -- If you use either player you're a hack.

Steve Sarkisian's latest run as a college coach is over after just 1 game ... 'cause the now ex-Alabama offensive coordinator is bolting Tuscaloosa for the Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons just announced that Sarkisian -- who 'Bama hired to replace Lane Kiffin as coordinator back in December -- has accepted the team's vacant offensive coordinator position ... after Kyle Shanahan left to coach the 49ers.

Sark coached 'Bama in just 1 game ... the National Championship loss to Clemson.

BTW, just last week we saw Sark at LAX and asked him whether he'd ever be interested in the NFL.

Bad news for Patriots running back James White -- he's NOT getting Tom Brady's Super Bowl MVP truck ... because the Super Bowl MVP didn't get one this year!

Of course, Brady DID get an MVP truck after Super Bowl 49 which he gave to Malcolm Butler -- back when Chevy was the Super Bowl MVP sponsor.

The QB told the media on Monday that he would give his Super Bowl 51 truck to James White -- who scored the winning TD -- but it turns out, there's no truck to give away.

An NFL spokesman tells TMZ Sports, "[There is] no vehicle. We did not do it last year either."

So, if Tom still wants to give White a truck -- he'll have to do it with his own money.

Julian Edelman says his Super Bowl miracle catch was more luck than skill -- and admits he wasn't even sure it was gonna count when the ref blew the whistle!!!

The New England Pats WR appeared on "The Tonight Show" with his coach, Bill Belichick, on Monday and, of course, they dissected the hell out of that insane 4th quarter game-saving catch.

"It was probably 70% luck," a very bearded Edelman said ... admitting he tried to get Tom Brady to rush the next play so the refs couldn't review it!

Didn't matter ... it was as legit as it gets and Jimmy Fallon says the WR should use his newfound global catch fame to start a new business!

Hey, New England Patriots star James White ... you just scored the winning touchdown at the Super Bowl. What are you gonna do next??

I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!

Check out these pics of the 25-year-old running back enjoying the spoils of victory -- partying with Mickey Mouse at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando!

There's more ... Tom Brady just announced he's giving White the car he won for being the Super Bowl MVP -- saying he thinks White deserves it!

Great week for that guy, huh?!

Dick Vermeil says Terrell Owens has one person to blame for being snubbed from the Hall of Fame again ... himself ... saying T.O. was "obnoxious" during his NFL career, and it's costing him.

We got Vermeil -- who won a Super Bowl with the Rams in 2000 -- at LAX and asked him about one of the hottest pro football topics of the day ... Terrell Owens once again being shut out of a bid for Canton.

Lots of NFL greats have said it's bogus not to vote T.O. in because of personal feelings, but when we asked Vermeil about the controversy his answer was simple ... you reap what you sow.

Tom Brady returned to Boston looking every bit the conquering hero -- Super Bowl wins and private jets never get old for this guy.

Mr. 4-time SB MVP flew back with Gisele and their kids on the Under Armour private jet. Check out the gallery ... TB was a class act, handing off a tip for the staff.

The rest of the Patriots also got back to Boston Monday, but they flew a chartered Delta flight.

He's only been "officially retired" for a few days, but Mike Vick says he's already thinking about an NFL comeback ... all thanks to Tom Brady.

Vick joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs Monday night on FS1) and said he's "leaving the door open" -- staying in NFL shape in case the right opportunity comes along.

There's a lot more on the show tonight -- Vick makes his case for why he belongs in the Hall of Fame and tells us who was the superior NFL video game character -- Vick in Madden '04 or Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl.