NFL

Browns fans are not going to like this ... but Michael Irvin believes the Odell Beckham Jr. experiment in Cleveland was never truly going to work out ... because the city wasn't the right stage for him.

The Hall of Famer spoke with TMZ Sports outside of Shannon Sharpe's Super Bowl party this week ... and he told us why OBJ's departure from the Browns was inevitable.

"Odell Beckham is a bad boy on the football field," Irvin said. "Period."

"He just needed the stage and the right atmosphere to show everybody."

He continued ... "And, Cleveland just wasn't it, I'm sorry. I love Cleveland, but it just wasn't it. This right here, L.A., Hollywood, Super Bowl, and all the energy and the bright lights it brings, that's Odell Beckham."

OBJ's mostly-disappointing tenure in the Land came to a bittersweet (but mostly bitter) end when the Browns released Beckham ... after his father posted a video on social media trashing Baker Mayfield.

And, from the sound of it, Irvin feels that signing to the Rams was best for OBJ ... explaining that Odell being in L.A. is a perfect fit.

Beckham found instant success with QB Matthew Stafford since pulling up to SoFi Stadium ... and #88 is glad he's once again showcasing his talent on the field.

Time heals all wounds, right?? Not when it comes to Dave Portnoy and Roger Goodell ... 'cause the Barstool Sports founder tells TMZ Sports he still hates the NFL commish with a burning passion.

Pres -- who is by far Goodell's biggest critic -- says the beef was rejuvenated after Barstool tried to purchase the naming rights to the Buffalo Bills' stadium ... and Goodell seemingly intervened.

"So, we tried to do that last year, and I thought we were going to have a chance to do it," Dave said at Saddle Ranch in L.A.

"And, it sounds like maybe the NFL, Roger Goodell, one of the great criminals, villains, dictators of all time tried to step in and put an end to that."

Portnoy says he still wants the naming rights, though ... as he loves the people of Buffalo and would "make the move in a heartbeat" if the opportunity presented itself.

But, that's not something Dave thinks will actually happen ... as long as Goodell is the commish.

"Again, Roger Goodell, he’s a real bad guy," Dave says. "I'm not even joking. Everything he says is not the truth, and I think he hates us."

"We can’t force someone to sell us the name rights, but if they named the price we would pay it."

Portnoy did, however, say he would be willing to sit down with the commish to "hash things out."

NFL star Cameron Jordan tells TMZ Sports he's got a bone to pick with Hall of Fame voters ... saying, in his mind, both DeMarcus Ware and Jared Allen belonged in the 2022 class.

The Saints defensive end -- who knows a thing or two about getting to the quarterback -- made the proclamation outside of Academy Nightclub in L.A. this week ... saying he believes both Ware and Allen were snubbed when the class was announced on Thursday night.

Jordan, though, didn't seem too concerned about the guys' future Canton prospects ... telling us he believes they'll both get in eventually.

Jordan also seemed to think Devin Hester got slighted too.

Tom Brady hung up his football cleats and slipped on some sneakers for a romantic walk in the sand with Gisele.

TB12 and Gisele are on their annual beach vacation down in Costa Rica ... and locked hands Friday as they strolled along the sand ... with a cute pup in tow.

Seems retirement is suiting Tom well ... they both look super happy. It's only been a few weeks since he gave up football after 22 years in the NFL, saying he wants to spend more time with the fam.

Tom and Gisele are about to celebrate 13 years of marriage ... when you can smile broadly after that amount of time, something's clearly working!

The Brady bunch is down in Costa Rica a little bit sooner than Tom probably would have wanted ... the family always jets down after football season, but the Super Bowl is just 2 days away.

Celebs are officially out and about to kickoff Super Bowl weekend, flooding the streets of Beverly Hills to get hyped up before the big game ... and scarf down some breakfast, too.

Spago was the spot for Michael Rubin's power brunch Friday ... with a guest list that included Shaq, Meek Mill, Kevin Hart, A-Rod, Lil Baby, Steve Aoki and J Balvin!

Certainly an impressive group of A-listers, but should be expected for one of the biggest weekends of the year in such a celeb-heavy city.

Deion Sanders' foot issues were actually MUCH worse than people thought ... 'cause at one point, doctors feared the Hall of Famer could lose his leg.

The shocking detail was revealed in a trailer for the next 6 episodes of Sanders' "Coach Prime" doc with Barstool Sports and SMAC Productions ... showing the Jackson State play-caller in excruciating pain during a hospital visit.

Sanders has previously opened up about the complications he experienced after going under the knife to fix a dislocated toe ... but previously did not disclose much more details.

Now, we know just how serious it was.

"A lot is still to be determined, but he's gonna have a procedure done a little later today," the doctor says in the clip.

"You could lose your leg."

BTW -- Sanders still doesn't know exactly how it happened ... but has been documenting a lot of the process on social media.

The next batch of episodes of Sanders' show will drop starting Feb. 22 ... and will also feature the past football season and an inside look at how JSU landed top recruit Travis Hunter.

"'Coach Prime' is back and I'm ELATED to share this project with you all because WE DON'T HOLD BACK," Sanders says.

"All season, we've been getting questions about what really went down at Jackson State this fall ... We're going to clear up the rumors, set the record straight and always keep it 100% with you."

The extended trailer for "Coach Prime" will drop during Barstool's Super Bowl Live Stream on Sunday.

Move over Bengals and Rams fans ... Drake now might be the most nervous person on the continent watching the Super Bowl this weekend -- 'cause he revealed he's betting more than $1 MILLION on the Big Game.

The "Hotline Bling" singer disclosed his bets on his social media page Thursday evening ... showing he's laying down serious cash on the Rams and Odell Beckham Jr.

In screenshots of his wagers -- which appear to be placed in Bitcoin -- Drake showed he's got nearly $500K on the Rams to beat Cincy outright.

Drake also revealed he's betting nearly $800K on Odell catching a touchdown and logging more than 62.5 receiving yards.

In total, if Drake hits all three bets, he stands to make over $2 MILLION.

Of course, the bets aren't too surprising -- Drake's rich after all, but he's also good buds with Beckham. In fact, along with his betting slips, Drake showed a photo of what appeared to be gloves given to him by OBJ.

Kurt Warner tells TMZ Sports he's 100 percent sure Torry Holt will make the Hall of Fame one day ... despite being snubbed for the honor once again on Thursday night.

"He's a lock to get in," the Rams legend said of his former teammate. "Yes. Just a matter of time."

Holt was expected to finally get the call for the 2022 class at the NFL Honors ceremony ... but when the names were announced, he was surprisingly not selected.

Holt had seemed fairly confident about it all when we spoke to him earlier Thursday morning ... and it no doubt had to be disappointing to learn he didn't get in.

But, Warner says his former favorite target shouldn't sweat ... telling us he knows Torry will get a bust in Canton eventually.

"Unfortunately, as I know well, it takes a little bit of time sometimes," said Warner, who had to wait several years before he was finally inducted into the HOF.

"We're in his corner and we do whatever we can 'cause his time is coming. I do believe that [he'll make it next year]."

Holt is in his eighth year of eligibility for the Hall. He's now been a finalist three times.

Shannon Sharpe has heard the NFL talk the talk -- but now he wants the league to actually walk the walk, and change its hiring processes so Black coaches land more vacant jobs.

Sharpe broke it all down for TMZ Sports out at Tommie Hollywood in L.A. this week ... saying he's, quite frankly, fed up with all of Roger Goodell's promises to look into the league's hiring policies.

"We've heard this before," the Hall of Famer said. "We've heard this before. 'Yeah, I'm not pleased with the diversity hiring and yada yada yada.' And it’s the same thing."

"Change behavior," Sharpe said. "Let's see some hiring."

If you missed it, after Brian Flores alleged that NFL teams are racist when it comes to hiring Black head coaches ... Goodell promised to re-evaluate the league's policies with the hopes that it can potentially lead to change.

Goodell even said he'd consider abolishing the Rooney Rule -- which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for vacant head coaching roles -- if he thought it would help.

Sharpe tells us he doesn't want to hear that kind of talk anymore -- saying he simply just wants to see action now.

"Guys just want a fair opportunity," Sharpe said. "Nobody wants to get hired because they're Black. But, what we know right now is that we're not getting the same opportunities other counterparts that go in there [are getting]."

The Broncos legend tells us he wants league owners to step up and ensure they're not making interviewing Black coaches "a sham."

2 Chainz has a suggestion to help Snoop Dogg take his Super Bowl halftime performance to a higher level ... burn one on stage!

The rapper flew into LAX Thursday, he's in town to open up Pineapple Express, his new biz, and to take part in some of the many SB festivities this weekend.

Speaking of weed -- we asked his thoughts on fans wanting Snoop to smoke a blunt during the halftime show. Clearly entertained by the question, 2 Chainz started to crack up ... saying it would be "legendary" if Snoop actually pulled it off.

2 Chainz stated his case, bringing up the fact marijuana's legal in CA, and told our cam he'd try to call Snoop to convince him to do it.

As you know, Snoop is performing in LA for the big game's halftime show ... and will be on stage with Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige.

We don't yet know a whole lot about what'll happen during the performance, but one thing Dr. Dre promised on Thursday was no nudity from Snoop or Eminem.

Jerry Jones is so disappointed over the Cowboys missing out on this week's Super Bowl -- he said he'll be yelling into his pillow in Los Angeles this week lamenting it all.

The Dallas owner dropped the incredible line to TMZ Sports outside of Craig's in L.A. on Thursday night ... comparing the sounds of his upcoming sobs to an animal that's been caught in a trap.

"When ya'll hear what sounds like -- over these Los Angeles hills -- when you think they got one of these mountain lions with its tail caught," Jones said, "that's me screaming into my pillow for not being in that Super Bowl."

Jones was smiling and laughing when he said the quote, but watch the clip -- it ain't hard to see the 79-year-old is truly bummed about not playing the Bengals for the title this weekend.

Of course, Jones' Cowboys really didn't even get close ... they were bounced in the first round of the playoffs last month by the 49ers in a disappointing fashion.

Jones, though, doesn't seem too upset at his QB for the early exit ... he told us he believed Dak Prescott got snubbed for Comeback Player of the Year honors on Thursday night when he lost the award to Joe Burrow.

Tom Brady needs to come back home and retire as a member of the New England Patriots ... so says Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who tells TMZ Sports the legendary quarterback has "no love for Tampa Bay."

We spoke with Dave outside Saddle Ranch in West Hollywood ... and he says he truly believes the 7-time Super Bowl champ is really done -- but his final stop will be Foxborough.

Portnoy tells us, "I think he’s going to sign probably a 1-day contract with the Pats and retire as a Patriot. That's where his heart is."

Dave says all is well between Brady and the Pats after the QB initially snubbed them out of his retirement message ... calling it a "mistake" on his end.

"He apologized to me personally. He said I'm a soldier for life. The next day he created a Patriot video, and he did it two years ago ... he thanked the Patriots fans."

BTW, Portnoy is as loyal as it gets when it comes to the Pats. He was arrested back in 2015 at NFL headquarters after Brady was suspended by the league for Deflategate.

Dave seems to think that TB12's mental blunder wasn't intentional at all ... explaining he was probably forgetful in that moment -- but now he's back in his good graces.

As for Tampa, Dave says Brady's past 2 seasons pretty much meant nothing ... and it doesn't even come close to the relationships he built with the team that drafted him back in 2000.

"He has no love for Tampa Bay," Dave says ... "And he wants to retire where it all began, and where he built his legacy. And it's definitely not Tampa."

Dave says he's confident Tom could've played until he was 50 if he wanted to ... but the only way he wants to see him return is under one condition.

Tired of seeing NFL players not go all-out at the Pro Bowl? Patriots star Matthew Judon tells TMZ Sports he has the solution -- a whole new setup for the game that includes flag football and past legends!!

Judon explained his proposal outside of Tommie Hollywood in L.A. on Wednesday ... saying if people really hate the NFL's all-star game now, he's down to change it up to a flag game with former stars.

"What we should do, and it could be competitive, start an old, a washed-up, like, you know, the old pros vs. the new pros," Judon said.

"We can go out there and we can play, like, flag with them or something like that."

Of course, Judon is talking about changes to the game because people REALLY hated on the contest this past weekend.

Fans, and even past legends like Deion Sanders, criticized players for not going full speed, and not even really trying to tackle each other.

Judon says all of that was by design, explaining nobody wants to get hurt following a long season.

"You don't want anybody to get injured, man," Judon said. "The real game is the real game ... the Pro Bowl is for the experience."

Don't fret, Cowboys fans ... Dallas legend Michael Irvin says despite Dak Prescott's playoff struggles, he's 100 percent sure the quarterback will win a ring for his former team.

"Oh, absolutely, my brother!" Irvin told TMZ Sports outside of Academy Nightclub on Wednesday. "Absolutely!"

A few years ago, that prediction was a popular one ... the quarterback won Rookie of the Year in 2016 and looked like an elite signal-caller.

But, Dak faded toward the end of the 2021 season ... and really struggled against the 49ers in the playoffs, causing many to question if he is, in fact, capable of getting Dallas its sixth Super Bowl title.

Irvin, though, clearly ain't sweating yet ... telling us he still has plenty of faith in the 27-year-old QB.

"Other people don't know what it takes," The Playmaker said. "I've ran that race. I know what it takes. And Dak has what it takes."

Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief knowing the Super Bowl halftime show will be penis-free ... 'cause Dr. Dre says he convinced Eminem and Snoop Dogg to NOT whip out their junk during the performance.

Yes, he really said that!! 😂

The legendary rapper made the revelation while speaking at a press conference on Thursday ... and it's safe to say you can cross "dong exposure" off your list of prop bets for the show.

Dre says there WILL be a few surprises ... but no sort of wardrobe malfunctions will be happening on his watch.

"I had to talk Snoop and Eminem out of pulling their penises out," Dre said. "It's just actually Eminem."

Snoop -- who will be performing alongside Em, Dre, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige -- says he might still show a lil' somethin' somethin' ... but calm down, he's only talking about taking his shirt off.

Of course, SB halftime shows have had their history of racy moments ... from Janet Jackson's wardrobe mishap in 2004 to J Lo and Shakira's dancing routine that ramped up 1,300 FCC complaints in 2020.

Torry Holt needs to see more from Matthew Stafford -- possibly even more than a Super Bowl win this weekend -- to say the QB is a future Hall of Famer ... telling TMZ Sports the Rams star isn't quite on that level for him yet.

Holt -- who is expected to be named to the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame class later Thursday evening -- kept it real with us at LAX Thursday morning ... saying Stafford's career resume, in his opinion, isn't Hall-worthy right now.

"I'm not ready to give that up right yet," the former Rams superstar said while at the airport welcoming fans who flew American Airlines to get to the Super Bowl in L.A.

"But, he is a heck of a football player. Definitely on the trajectory of that next level."

Stafford's career numbers suggest he's a potential first-ballot kind of guy if he secures the SB win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

He's thrown for 49,995 yards and 323 TDs in 182 career games ... though he has made only one Pro Bowl in his 13-year career.

For Holt, he says it's all just too soon to talk about Stafford and the HOF for him.

"For me," Holt said, "it is."