NFL

12:32 PM PT -- Portnoy won't have to break out his "dead fish" after all -- the NFL tells us he's good to go to the Super Bowl as long as he buys a ticket.

Consider this beef squashed.

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy fully expects to be inside Levi's Stadium when his beloved New England Patriots take the field for Super Bowl LX ... but if the NFL wants him gone, he'll be ready to channel his inner "dead fish."

El Presidente's beef with Roger Goodell goes back to Deflategate ... when Portnoy and three other Barstool employees (known as the Brady Four) were arrested for protesting the Tom Brady suspension at NFL headquarters.

Ever since, he's been persona non grata at the Big Game ... and was even kicked out when he tried to fly under the radar with a disguise when the Patriots won it all in 2019.

The Rams' NFC title game loss hit hard for Davante Adams, who had to hold back tears as he talked to reporters after missing out on a Super Bowl appearance ... admitting it was crushing.

The Los Angeles receiver spoke with the media following the 31-27 defeat against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Sunday ... and it was quite emotional for Adams, as it marked his fifth time losing in the NFC Championship Game.

"Heartbreak. It's tough to talk, honestly," Adams said.

Terry Bradshaw had a ton of nice things to say about Sam Darnold during the NFC Championship -- only issue?? His coworkers were talking about an entirely different game.

The whoopsie happened at halftime of the Seattle Seahawks' 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday ... when the Fox desk took a moment to address the earlier matchup in the day -- the AFC title game, which the New England Patriots won over the Denver Broncos to earn a spot in the Super Bowl.

The broadcast cut to a postgame interview with Pats defensive back Christian Gonzalez, who secured the 10-7 victory with a late interception ... and when it returned to the guys at Lumen Field, Terry went right into his thoughts on the current showdown.

Former NFL player Jeff Faine just listed his Florida pad for $3.9 million ... offering up a rare mix of luxury and country living in the Sunshine State!!

TMZ Sports has learned the 10-year NFL vet put the estate on the market this week with Marlene DeCespedes of Douglas Elliman ... and it's a stunning farmhouse built with a modern design.

The 5,772 square-foot property is located in Gotha, about 11 miles west of Orlando. The architecture is amazing ... with vaulted ceilings, custom wood beams and marble interior.

Stefon Diggs is going to the Super Bowl for the first time ever ... and no one is happier about it than his girlfriend Cardi B.

In a video shared on the Patriots Instagram account, the rapper screams, “We going to the Super Bowl! Let’s go!”

Diggs' New England Patriots secured their ticket to the big game after defeating the Denver Broncos 10-7 Sunday in the AFC Championship.

Brett Favre isn't just impressed by the Patriots -- he's basically gassing up New England like it's 2004 again.

The Hall of Famer tells TMZ Sports that New England's turnaround with quarterback Drake Maye and coach Mike Vrabel has been dramatic ... to the point where the rest of the NFL might start sweating.

"They're in the shadow, but for how long?" Favre said.

Is Sunday's NFC Championship game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks the unofficial Super Bowl? Matt Hasselbeck believes so ... telling TMZ Sports that their showdown features the two best teams remaining in the NFL.

The former Seahawks quarterback chopped it up with Babcock ahead of Championship Sunday ... and in the convo, he made the bold proclamation about round three between these NFC West rivals.

"This, to me, in a way, is the Super Bowl," Hasselbeck said. "No offense to whoever represents in the AFC next week. Like I said, best offense vs. best defense."

A Denver Broncos legend is telling fans not to sweat Sunday's AFC Championship Game -- because Jarrett Stidham is ready for the big stage!!!

Two-time Super Bowl champion Rod Smith spoke with TMZ Sports this week about Stidham stepping up at quarterback after Bo Nix fractured his ankle ... and he's confident in the backup.

"I really honestly believe if this doesn’t go our way, he won’t be the reason," Smith said.

"His first completion, watch what happens to the crowd. They're going to freaking go nuts and he's just going to build. It’s going to feed into his confidence and he goes out there and plays an excellent football game."

We can just skip to Feb. 8 now -- former NFL player Marcellus Wiley just gave his Super Bowl LX matchup prediction to TMZ Sports ... and it's bad news for Rams and Broncos fans.

We caught up with the defensive end in Los Angeles this week, just ahead of the AFC and NFC Conference Championships.

When we asked Wiley -- who is currently recovering from hip surgery -- about the Super Bowl, he said even though we were literally in L.A. and he should pick the Rams, he's going with Seattle over New England.

Bad Bunny won't be attending a dress fitting prior to his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance in just a few weeks ... because we're told he's not wearing a gown despite reports.

Here's the deal ... a rumor has been circulating online that the "DtMF" hitmaker planned to wear a dress for his performance in Santa Clara on February 8 -- a controversial move which no doubt would've upset people even more than the announcement that he would headline the show did.

However, production sources tell TMZ ... he's not wearing a dress during the show -- though they wouldn't say what he is wearing.

The Denver Broncos may be home underdogs without their starting quarterback … but don’t expect them to make any excuses with coach Sean Payton calling the shots.

Former Pro Bowl offensive lineman Terron Armstead -- who spent nine seasons with Payton in New Orleans -- tells TMZ Sports he believes the Broncos remain unfazed entering Sunday’s AFC Championship game.

“He embraces challenges and it goes down into the entire team,” Armstead said. “He doesn’t let nobody use built-in excuses. It’s like, ‘You’re dealing with a shoulder injury, so it’s OK if you lose this rep.’ No, that’s not OK,” Armstead told Babcock.

That’s why Terron believes the news of Bo Nix fracturing his ankle was released immediately after the game ... rather than waiting for the injury report.

Payton was ready to start the challenge, naming Jarrett Stidham starter … and now “it’s Stiddy season,” according to Armstead.

That never-back-down philosophy wasn’t always something he appreciated, though. He said he didn’t like Payton much early on because he was tough to play for.

Now?

“I can’t be more thankful for the guy,” Armstead said. “I love Sean Payton for life.”

Broncos fans might be saying the same thing if Denver defeats the New England Patriots on Sunday.

Armstead also shared a funny exchange between them from when he retired. Peyton called to congratulate and suggested he consider coaching because he would be “incredible” in the league.

“Sean, thank you, but get off my phone,” Armstead replied, explaining that he’s not willing to work until three or four in the morning like the rest of Peyton’s staff.

We also had Armstead join the TMZ Live stream … talking Bad Bunny's upcoming Super Bowl halftime show, Aaron Rodgers, Fernando Mendoza and more.

Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Elijah Sarratt would love it if he didn't play his last down with quarterback Fernando Mendoza -- he tells TMZ Sports "it would be fun" to join forces in the NFL.

We caught up with the 22-year-old while he was working an honorary shift at Raising Cane's after taking home the National Championship against the University of Miami this week ... and asked him what it would be like if the duo ended up in the same locker room at the next level.

And considering they connected on 15 touchdowns during their perfect season together ... yeah, he's on board.

"He could spin it," Sarratt said. "He's a great guy, great teammate, great player. I wouldn't mind playing some years with him at all."

Only Bert Kreischer could equate Baker Mayfield to a walking, talking pressure cooker … and mean it as the highest compliment.

TMZ Sports caught up with the comedian this week in NYC ... and he declared the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback the king of pressure -- and yes, he meant it literally.

"There's always pressure on Baker Mayfield, that's the way Baker Mayfield lives," Kreischer said. "He s***s with pressure, he pisses with pressure, he drinks with pressure, he takes his daughter to school with pressure -- that's why he's so f***ing great."

Kreischer went on to hype Mayfield as a "coal waiting to pop into a diamond" as the QB prepares to enter the final year under his current contract.

Fit Fernando Mendoza for a gold jacket now -- the Indiana superstar's teammate, Mikail Kamara, tells TMZ Sports he's confident the quarterback is destined for greatness at the next level!!

Kamara -- the CFP Defensive Player of the Game -- gave Mendoza his flowers this week ... fresh off their 27-21 win over the Miami Hurricanes.

The defensive end praised Mendoza as a passionate, smart, tough QB ... and said whichever team selects him in the 2026 NFL Draft (where he is projected to be No. 1 overall) will have a bright future.

"No matter what teams end up drafting him, they're going to get, you know, a future Hall of Famer," Kamara said.

Former NFL player Kevin Johnson -- a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders -- passed away this week, TMZ Sports has learned.

He was 55 years old.

Johnson was found dead near a homeless encampment in L.A. on Tuesday. According to the medical examiner, his cause of death was listed as blunt head trauma and stab wounds. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department is investigating it as a homicide.

Brandin Cooks is still fired up over the uber-controversial potential-catch-ruled-interception ... and he’s not holding back!

The Buffalo Bills wide receiver (momentarily) reeled in a deep ball in overtime of Sunday’s Divisional Round matchup with Denver, which would've put the Bills in field goal range -- except Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian yanked the ball away.

Referees controversially ruled it an interception in favor of McMillian ... but Cooks disagrees, telling NFL Network he caught the ball, full stop.

“At the end of the day, it was a catch,” Cooks said. “Not just what it looked like, but what it felt like. You see examples throughout the league all year and in previous years, and you’re like, ‘Wait a minute. If that was a catch, then there’s no-brainer that this was a catch.’”