NFL

Tom Brady's Super Bowl 49 jersey was being shopped around to a small group of wealthy collectors who were under the impression it was NOT stolen property ... and the asking price was $75k.

TMZ Sports spoke with multiple people directly connected to the situation. One potential buyer was interested in the jersey but says the seller (who was connected to Mauricio Ortega) "fell down a black hole" and it disappeared from the market about 8 months ago.

We're told Ortega has been selling various sports collectibles for years and would tell clients he obtained the items legally through relationships he built with players, coaches and staffers. He would use the selfies he took with stars like Tom Brady, Bob Kraft and Ben Roethlisberger as a way of unofficially authenticating the goods.

We know what you're thinking ... why would anyone buy a high-priced item without proper documentation?

One high-end collector put it this way ...

Ortega is credible and has had documented locker room access for more than a decade. There would be no reason to suspect he stole anything since no media outlet ever reported it was.

Plus, buyers could do home research -- looking at high resolution pics from the Super Bowl -- and self-authenticate the items based on nicks, scratches and other identifying marks on the gear.

Colin Kaepernick is back in Donald Trump's crosshairs -- the President of the United States just mocked the QB for last season's national anthem protest.

Trump referenced a report that NFL teams are refusing to pick up Kaepernick because owners are afraid of a Twitter backlash from Trump himself.

Trump didn't exactly refute the report. Instead he fired up the Kentucky crowd by saying people in the Bluegrass State don't like it when people don't stand for the anthem.

The crowd loved it.

Meanwhile, Kaepernick just helped secure an entire airplane to send food and supplies to people in need in Somalia.

NFL legend Gale Sayers has been diagnosed with dementia ... and his wife says football is to blame.

Ardythe Sayers told the Kansas City Star the 73-year-old Hall of Famer was diagnosed 4 years ago -- but still remains in excellent physical condition.

Ardythe says Gale has been treated at the Mayo Clinic and the doctors agree football is a factor.

"It wasn’t so much getting hit in the head," Ardythe said ... "It’s just the shaking of the brain when they took him down with the force they play the game in."

The man who allegedly stole Tom Brady's Super Bowl jersey has been up close and personal with Tom, Robert Kraft and other Super Bowl stars for years ... and TMZ Sports has the photo proof.

Mauricio Ortega made a habit of snapping selfies with the big stars from the Super Bowl games he covered during his stint as the news director for La Prensa -- a Mexican media outlet.

We're told the photo with Tom Brady was taken after Super Bowl 39 in 2005. Same with Robert Kraft.

Ortega also posed with Heath Miller at Super Bowl 40, Brandon Jacobs at Super Bowl 42. He also got one with Ben Roethlisberger.

Guys, if you're missing any gear ...

Tom Brady says he's PUMPED to get his Super Bowl jerseys back -- and gave a big shout out to the cops who helped track it down.

"I am happy my jerseys from SB 49 and SB 51 have been recovered," Brady said in a statement.

"I want to thank all of the law enforcement agencies involved. I know they worked hard on this case -- and it is very much appreciated."

"Hopefully when I get the jerseys back I can make something very positive come from this experience."

Denver Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders turned 30 with a bang ... turning all the way up with Rick Ross and boxing superstar Danny Garcia at one of the hottest nightclubs in Miami.

Both guys were up in VIP (Garcia was celebrating his 29th bday) at LIV nightclub ... while Ross, Wale and Meek Mill performed for Rick's album release party.

11:28 AM PT -- The suspect's name is Mauricio Ortega -- a former executive at a Mexican news organization called "Diario La Prensa."

According to La Prensa, Ortega resigned from his position on March 14th. The paper was unaware of the investigation into Ortega until today.

Here is video of the man suspected of stealing Tom Brady's Super Bowl jersey ... according to Ian Rappaport of NFL Network ... and it sure looks like he's got something under his arm.

Robert Kraft traveled on Air Force One ... in his Air Force 1s.

How cool is that?

The New England Patriots owner flew from West Palm Beach, FL to D.C. on POTUS' plane on Sunday.

After the flight, Kraft was transported to the South Lawn of the White House on Marine One.

The two had spent the weekend at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. No word on what they talked about.

9:02 AM PT -- Sources connected to the investigation tell us 2 Patriots jerseys and 1 Broncos helmet were recovered in Mexico.

The Broncos helmet is likely that of Von Miller, as Jay Glazer reported.

We're told no cleats have been recovered ... at least not yet.

Glazer said Miller's cleats also went M.I.A. after Super Bowl 50. Unclear if it's connected to this investigation.

The man who jacked Tom Brady's Super Bowl jerseys may have ALSO stolen Von Miller's helmet and cleats from Super Bowl 50 ... so says Jay Glazer.

Glazer appeared on "Undisputed" on FS1 and said investigators used video footage to identify the suspect in the Super Bowl 51 caper.

Glazer says investigators saw the suspect enter the locker room behind Bill Belichick and leave a short time later with something tucked under his arm.

Glazer says the suspect had a legitimate media credential -- but may not be a real journalist. He may have been running a scam.

And get this ... Glazer says the Denver Broncos believe the suspect hit Von Miller in the previous Super Bowl.

Story developing ...

The Houston PD wants to make it perfectly clear it was NFL security that had watch over the Patriots locker room ... and therefore it's NFL security who should get the blame for Tom Brady's jersey going missing.

LaVar Ball is putting way too much pressure on his kids ... and it's not fair to them -- so says NFL star Victor Cruz.

The ex-NY Giants superstar clearly understands what it takes to dominate as a pro athlete -- and believes the crazy statements LaVar's been making ain't helpin' his 3 boys.

The FBI has recovered Tom Brady's stolen Super Bowl 51 jersey and the Houston PD says it was tracked to MEXICO!!!

5:15 PM PT -- Elliott's attorney tells TMZ Sports the Coast Guard boarded the yacht to make sure there were enough life jackets onboard. He says no citations were issued, and the party continued.

Ezekiel Elliott had his good time temporarily ruined again this week ... only now it was by the U.S. Coast Guard during a rager yacht party in Miami.

Ezekiel was partying with friends and a gaggle of chicks Saturday on a yacht called No Rules II, when a Coast Guard cruiser pulled up. We're told the yacht had docked minutes before.

Eyewitnesses tell us 2 guards boarded the yacht and conducted a 20-minute search on-board. We're told once the search was complete, the guards went back to their vessel and took off.

Unclear what they were looking for, or why they approached Ezekiel and co. A rep for the Coast Guard tells us they're checking ... but he believes it was probably a safety check to make sure the boat and the guests were in compliance with maritime safety protocol.

Also important to note ... the yacht did not belong to Ezekiel. Sources tell us it belongs to a guy who rents 'em out to celebs and other rich folks. Ezekiel was just there for the ride.

Either way, it's been a bad week for the star NFL player. You'll recall ... he caught a lot of heat for forcefully exposing a woman's breast during a St. Paddy's parade. Now this.

Sad news for Brian Banks -- the football player who was famously wrongly convicted of rape is divorcing his wife less than 2 years after they tied the knot.

Banks made headlines for battling his way into Atlanta Falcons training camp in 2013 after spending 5 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. His story is reportedly in the works to become a big Hollywood movie.

Banks married Emanuela Marinova in May 2015 -- but things have apparently fizzled ... both sides have filed for divorce.

Big victory for Colin Kaepernick ... the NFL quarterback -- along with other activists -- was able to convince Turkish Airlines to donate a plane for a much needed humanitarian mission to Somalia.

Kaep made his initial plea to the airline on Wednesday -- saying, "There's an impending famine because of drought, politics, inaction of (non-government organizations) and lack of media attention."

He added, "People are dying in Somalia right now that need our help."

FYI, Turkish is the only major airline that flies to Somalia from the U.S.

Now, Kaep says part 2 of his mission is underway -- getting the food, water and supplies to fill the plane.

For this, Kaep has teamed up with Ben Stiller's Stiller Foundation to handle all of the funds raised. They've even set up a GoFundMe page called Love Army for Somalia.

Ex-Raiders star Lincoln Kennedy says bringing Marshawn Lynch to Oakland is a bad idea.

Kennedy was a 3-time Pro Bowler with the Silver and Black -- and he's currently a broadcaster for the Raiders organization.

Lincoln says he likes and respects what Lynch has done in his career -- but says Beast Mode is an "Over the hill running back who hasn't played in a couple years."