NFL

Colin Kaepernick has NOT been signed with the NY Jets, as fake reports suggest -- but he IS reaching out to the team in hopes of landing a deal, TMZ Sports has learned.

Colin's name was trending on social media on Thursday thanks to a bogus report that CK inked a 1-year, $9 million deal with the Jets.

THAT'S FAKE NEWS -- but what's real is Colin's interest in Gang Green ... with sources telling us Colin feels he would be a great fit with the org.

Unclear if the feeling is mutual -- but the Jets don't really have a lot of depth behind Sam Darnold at the QB position, so it's not a crazy idea.

Our sources say Colin has continued to work out and train like a maniac ever since his NFL workout back in November, where he told teams to "stop being scared" and make an offer already!

Terry Bradshaw says there's NO WAY Tom Brady is the greatest QB of all time ... citing -- and this isn't a typo -- Dan Fouts in his explanation.

Of course, there's been a bit of TB12 on TB12 negativity as of late ... with Bradshaw saying Brady's move to Tampa Bay was more about ego than winning.

The Steelers legend hasn't let up on Brady 2 weeks later ... saying the 6-time Super Bowl champ isn't even close to being the top QB in NFL history.

"I don’t think he’s the greatest quarterback of all-time," Bradshaw told 93.7 The Fan’s "Cook and Joe Show" on Thursday.

"He may be the best quarterback we’ve had in the last 30 years. Is he better than [Roger] Staubach? No! Is he better than Dan Fouts? No! Dan Marino? No!"

"I'm talking talent-wise when you're putting all of it together."

Bradshaw says Brady's rings make him the "best" QB ... but not BETTER than everyone else.

"Is he better than Montana? Not in my opinion. Is he better than Drew Brees? Yeah, maybe."

Of course, the most puzzling name Bradshaw threw out was Fouts ... and no offense to the guy (he's a Hall of Famer!) ... but he didn't put up even close to Brady numbers and has zero rings.

For example, Brady has 287 more TDs, 31,000 more passing yards and 63 LESS interceptions than Fouts.

"Doug Whaley can eat a d**k. Doug Whaley can die in a hole and drink bleach. I’m dead serious."

Ex-NFL running back Karlos Williams is opening fire on ex-Bills GM Doug Whaley ... going OFF on the guy for how things went down during his time in Buffalo.

Remember, Williams had an INSANE breakout rookie season in 2015 -- scoring 7 TDs in just 11 games -- but never played another down in the league due to substance abuse suspensions.

Now, the 26-year-old is looking to make a comeback via the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts ... explaining he REFUSED to play in the XFL due to Whaley's role as the league's Senior VP of Football Operations.

"When I was in Buffalo, I knew something was wrong when they drafted Jonathan Williams," Karlos told The Athletic. "I knew something was up. Y’all had alternative plans."

"Y’all bring Reggie Bush to camp and allowed him to practice? Reggie Bush went negative rushing yards for the season. And y’all release me?"

Of course, Williams and fellow teammate Marcell Dareus were both dealing with substance issues at the same time ... but Whaley decided to only cut Karlos, which the running back took as disrespect.

Trent Dilfer thinks whoever drafts Tua Tagovailoa in two weeks is getting a future NFL legend ... saying the Alabama quarterback has straight-up Hall of Fame potential.

"He throws better than Aaron Rodgers and Dan Marino," Dilfer told The Washington Post this week.

Of course, the ex-NFL QB is a bit biased ... he's been a key figure in training Tua to get ready for the draft -- but he claims Tagovailoa is as good a prospect as he's ever seen, nonetheless.

"He throws the football better than anyone throws the football," Dilfer said ... "Whoever gets him wins the draft because you are getting a Hall of Fame player.”

Tua would have been in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick on April 23 if he hadn't suffered a dislocated hip during the Tide's game against Mississippi State last November.

But, the injury issue, coupled with other minor ailments he suffered during his Alabama career have made him less of a lock to go in the top 5 now.

Dilfer, though, says the 22-year-old is healing up nicely ... and claims the guy is a better prospect than Joe Burrow.

"There are some really, really good quarterbacks in this draft, but the best one is Tua."

Most mock drafts have Tagovailoa going No. 5 overall to the Miami Dolphins ... so could we really see the next Marino in Miami soon???

Geno Smith is firing back at Rex Ryan -- after his old NY Jets coach dissed him on ESPN ... and it's getting nasty.

It all started on "Get Up" on Wednesday morning -- when Ryan was trying to make the argument that he could have been as successful as Bill Belichick had he had a great QB like Tom Brady.

"Let’s give [Belichick] somebody else. Let’s give him Geno Smith. Let’s give him whoever, and let’s see how many Super Bowls he would have won. We saw the answer was zero in Cleveland,” Ryan said.

If it seemed personal, it was! Rex was the head coach of the NY Jets when they drafted Geno in the 2nd round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He spent 4 seasons there before moving on to the NY Giants.

After Rex made his comments, Geno responded on social media -- and even though he never mentioned Rex by name, it's obvious.

"My momma never liked dude he been a snake," Smith said.

"And y’all glorify it. Should’ve got fired after yr1. Truth is we won 8 games after ESPN had us winning two and he got his job back. Somehow I’m caught up in a feud and I’m the scapegoat. Same guy that drafted me. #TheBusiness."

He continued ... "I could easily go on and on about the bs I see but truthfully I’m so happy I don’t even bother. God put me in this position where even my enemies gotta mention my name. So I just sit back and watch the show!"

"Where I’m from if a man talk about another man while that man isn’t present, a man don’t listen!"

It's a Passover miracle for Julian Edelman -- the NFL superstar will NOT be prosecuted for drunkenly jumping on a car in Bev Hills back in January, TMZ Sports has learned.

Remember, the former Super Bowl MVP was arrested on January 11 after cops saw the Patriots WR jumping on the hood of a car (we're told a Mercedes) around 9 pm.

Cops say the car was leaving a parking lot -- and had stopped for pedestrian traffic -- when Edelman "slid across the hood" like he was Starsky and Hutch!

According to police, Edelman reeked of booze (duh) and he was busted for vandalism.

He was at dinner earlier in the evening in Bev Hills at Cantina FRIDA, along with Paul Pierce and Danny Amendola.

But that's all over now ... cops say the owner of the vehicle told prosecutors he does NOT want Edelman charged with a crime because "he has been fully compensated for the repair costs to the vehicle."

In other words, Edelman cut the dude a fat ass check and now it's all gooooooood!!!

Jameis Winston is finally revealing how he feels about getting booted outta Tampa Bay for Tom Brady ... and he's actually taking the whole thing as a compliment.

"For you to get replaced by Tom Brady in a city that you love so much, I guess that's kudos to me," Winston said Wednesday morning on Fox News.

The QB was originally booked on the network to spread the word on the COVID-19 hotline he developed alongside Dr. Scott Kelley ... but naturally, the question HAD to be asked -- and Jameis handled it like a pro.

"One thing you can learn about me is my faith. I have tremendous faith in the Lord ... and one thing about Tom Brady is it's understood that he is the G.O.A.T," Winston said.

"But, at the end of the day, it's a competitive sport. We all in the business. So, I'm excited for whatever opportunity may hold."

After Winston was released, he thanked Tampa for his 5 seasons with the team and said it was "all love and respect."

Jameis doesn't tip his hand on where he could end up ... but he DID say what his goal is.

What happens if something breaks in Tom Brady's new mansion in Tampa??

HE GETS DEREK JETER'S ASS TO COME FIX IT!!!

"I call and I bitch to him and he gets it fixed," Brady said. "So, he does what he's got to do."

Brady spoke all about being Jeter's newest tenant in Florida with Howard Stern on Wednesday morning ... and TB12 couldn't have been happier with his new landlord.

The Buccaneers QB says he turned to the Yankees legend on super-short notice to get him a proper place ... and he says Derek has more than delivered with his Tampa Bay pad.

In fact, Brady -- who says Jeter even left the place furnished for him -- said of the whole process, "It's nice to rent!"

"I would definitely say you get all of the benefits with none of the responsibility. So I'm totally cool with this."

Brady says the openness of the home is taking some getting used to ... back in Massachusetts, he says it was nearly impossible for fans to drive up to his door.

But, now, he claims boats pull up to his backyard and people are congregating outside on the streets.

"It's a little different," Brady said. But, the QB added, "Derek did a pretty good job of screening it."

As for monthly payments, Brady says he and Jeter had NO discussions of that ... claiming their reps got all the dollars and cents talked out before he moved in.

By the way, that monthly rent check is reportedly somewhere between $75,000-$100,000 ... which ain't much for Tom, who signed a 2-year, $50 MILLION deal with the Bucs.

Yeah, still great to be rich!

Here they are ... the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers jerseys.

In other words ... here's what Tom Brady will be wearing next season!!!

It's gonna be weird to see TB12 suit up in anything other than the Patriots' color scheme ... but now we can officially start to picture it in our minds.

The new-look Bucs finally ditched the dumpster fire of a jersey design that they were stuck with since 2014 -- yeah, not many people liked them -- and it's a big improvement.

It's kinda a bummer ... 'cause a lot of folks were hoping the team would go back to its awesome Creamsicle look ... but it appears that ain't happenin'.

The Bucs debuted the new look on Tuesday ... and the biggest change is eliminating the zig-zaggy number font. They're VERY similar to the Derrick Brooks-era unis.

"This new but familiar look is a direct result of the valuable feedback we received from our fans," Bucs owner Ed Glazer said in a statement.

The funny part -- the Bucs sent out a hype vid for the new threads ... and had to post a disclaimer, considering Chris Godwin was spotted in his #12 jersey, which now belongs to Brady.

Bucs fans have to be happy ... and now they can finally get that #12 Brady jersey, which are already for sale on the Bucs team shop site.

Tom Brady just dropped a very long and very emotional goodbye letter to Patriots Nation -- and while he thanked Robert Kraft by name ... Bill Belichick didn't get the same kind of love.

It's all in a Player's Tribune article titled, "The Only Way Is Through" -- TB12 reflects on his 20 years in New England and explains why he's so damn "motivated" to succeed in Tampa Bay.

But, one part of the story stood out to us ... this line.

"But more than any one physical place, it’s the relationships I made in New England that I’ll miss the most. Of course, it starts with the entire New England Patriots organization, and Robert Kraft and the entire Kraft family. It extends to countless other individuals who played such a valuable role in my 20 years as a Patriot. Teammates and coaches, past and present."

See that? Kraft got a shout-out by name. But, Bill was just lumped in with "teammates and coaches."

Was it an intentional diss? An oversight?

We know Tom is very calculated when it comes to the media -- and with the reported bad blood between Tom and Bill, we're guessing it was no mistake.

As for the rest of the article, Brady explained why he's so excited for his new squad in Tampa Bay ... but admits, he's got a lot to learn and realizes he doesn't have much time.

"It will be different," Brady says about Tampa ... "that goes with the territory. Different coaches. Different players. Different programs."

"Right now I have no idea how to get to Raymond James Stadium, or where the meeting rooms are, or where everybody sits. It will be a learning curve, in the same way it was remembering that the Atlantic Ocean is always due east."

As for his physical conditioning, 42-year-old Brady feels his body can still perform at a very high level.

"Physically, I’m as capable of doing my job as I’ve ever been. Now I want to see what more I can do. I want to see how great I can be."

Brady also talks about just wanting a change of scenery ...

"Playing for one team for 20 years has been an amazing ride and experience. But doing the same thing year after year brings its own challenges," Brady said.

"A familiar rhythm can be comforting and great. But it can also make you lose sight of other rhythms, newer ones that remind you of everything that hasn’t been done yet."

He ended on this note ...

"At some point, you have to throw your whole body into what you’re doing. You have to say, Let’s ride. Let’s see what we got. I want to show everybody what I got."

First Derek Jeter's house ... now the best golf club in the state?!?!

Tom Brady is wasting ZERO time finding his niches in Florida ... reportedly becoming a member of the super-exclusive Seminole Golf Club just days after moving into Jeter's Tampa Bay-area mansion this month.

If you're unfamiliar, the Seminole Golf Club -- located in Juno Beach, Fla., about three hours from Brady's new crib -- is the home of one of the best golf courses on the planet.

Golf Digest ranked it as the No. 12 (fitting, right?) place to play in all of the United States in 2019 ... calling it, "one of America's most exclusive clubs."

It's unclear what dues are at the place ... but we're pretty sure Tom can afford it -- he just signed a fully-guaranteed, 2-year, $50 MILLION contract to play for the Buccaneers.

Of course, Brady -- who had previously been a member of at the famous Brookline Country Club in Massachusetts -- is an outstanding golfer ... reportedly an 8-handicap.

In fact, Brady's so good with his irons ... he's said to be in talks to square off in a charity round of golf with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Peyton Manning that could go down next month.

As for practice rounds ... Tom's going to be able to play as much as he wants -- Florida's courses are still open amid coronavirus closures, while NFL offseason workouts have been shut down.

It's all just another reminder ... being Tom Brady is awesome.

Eric Dickerson tried like hell ... but the NFL legend says the L.A. Rams refuse to change their brand-new logos, despite a major backlash from fans (and non-fans) who just hate 'em.

The Rams debuted their new look a few weeks ago -- and man, did they get TRASHED for it!

Dickerson -- one of the greatest Rams players of all time -- said he would make it his mission to convince the execs to scrap the project ... and pointed out the new Ram head logo is shaped like a penis.

That's not a joke. He really said that.

But, even ED -- the Rambassador -- couldn't convince the team to dump the new logos ... and it's clear he's not happy about it.

"I spoke with the Rams front office on behalf of our great fans and former players," Eric said ... "Unfortunately, the front office is set on their new logos."

"I made our feelings crystal clear...why change the best logo in the NFL?"

Dickerson said the old Rams look successfully connected past and present Rams players and fans. He doesn't feel the new logos accomplish that.

"When I was drafted by the Rams in 1983, my dream came true of playing professional football for the best city and best fans. I couldn't wait to put on my Rams uniform and helmet...the best looking uniform/helmet in the NFL! I felt connected to the great Rams legend such as Deacon Jones and Jack Youngblood. My vision was to connect our past, present and future players with our iconic logo."

No guests? No problem!

Jameis Winston tied the knot to his longtime girlfriend, Breion, in a VERY private ceremony at their home ... despite the chaos from the coronavirus pandemic.

The two were supposed to have a massive, lavish ceremony with a TON of guests from all around the country.

But, with the stay-at-home orders in place, the NFL quarterback and his bride-to-be were faced with a choice ... postpone or improvise.

They chose door #2 ... and on March 27, they decided to move forward with the ceremony with the help of an officiant and a well-decorated back yard!

"A week when nothing was going as planned," Breion said.

"Our initial wedding had just been postponed and I was in a funk. But [Jameis] came through and put together a beautiful intimate ceremony in the privacy of our own home."

"And it seemed it was meant to be this way all along... #MrAndMrsWinston."

The two have known each other since high school and have been dating for years. The former Tampa Bay Bucs star popped the question back in 2018, just a few months before they had their first child together.

Congrats!

Tom Dempsey, a legendary NFL kicker who is best known for a spectacular game-winning field goal, died Saturday from complications from the coronavirus.

Dempsey, who was born without toes on his right foot and without fingers on his right hand, was able to excel as an NFL kicker with the help of specially-designed shoes.

As for the legendary kick, it went down in 1970.  Dempsey was the kicker for the New Orleans Saints when they played the Detroit Lions, and he shattered the field goal record by 7 yards, propelling it 63 yards. The record has since been matched by 5 kickers and it was shattered -- actually more like broken -- by Denver Bronco kicker Matt Prater in 2013, when he scored a field goal from 64 yards.

Dempsey also played for the Eagles, the Rams, the Oilers and the Bills during his 11-year career.

The Saints said, "The New Orleans Saints family is deeply saddened and heartbroken at this most difficult time. Tom's life spoke directly to the power of the human spirit and exemplified his resolute determination to not allow setbacks to impede following his dreams and aspirations." He exemplified the same fight and fortitude in recent years as he battled valiantly against illnesses but never wavered and kept his trademark sense of humor."

As for how Dempsey contracted the virus ... he was living in a New Orleans retirement home where 15 patients have died from the disease. Louisiana has really gone through it ... more than 12,400 confirmed cases. New Orleans, where many contracted the virus during Mardi Gras, has had 153 deaths so far.

Dempsey grew up in CA and played football at Palomar College in SoCal. After calling it quits with the Saints, he became an oilfield salesman, and later became a high school football coach and a car dealership manager.

Dempsey had been battling dementia for years.

He's survived by his wife and 3 kids.

Dempsey was 73.

Matt Patricia, listen up ... Cliff Avril says if you want to keep your job as Detroit Lions coach -- PASS ON TUA TAGOVAILOA!!

Don't get it twisted ... the ex-Lions star tells TMZ Sports he thinks Tua's got a bright future -- but he says because of the Bama QB's hip injury, he won't be able to help Detroit this season.

And, considering Patricia NEEDS wins in 2020 to extend his tenure in the Motor City ... Avril's advising him to stick with Matt Stafford and draft someone who can help right away.

"If we don't start winning some ball games, do I want to go off a young player who is coming out of college that has been injured or do I keep the veteran player that I have, and surround him with other great players?" Avril says.

"I would do that personally. I would leave Stafford there and surround him with some good players."

Of course, Cliff says Stafford -- who he played with early in his career -- can still sling it ... so the choice between the two shouldn't be a terribly difficult one for Patricia when the Lions are on the clock at No. 3 overall next month.

"I've played against him, I've been on his team, I've broken down film -- the man can throw the ball," Avril says of Stafford. "He can still put it out there. He can still play some football."