Seattle Seahawks

It's time to cut Pete Carroll some slack for that terrible goal-line play call in the Super Bowl ... so says his good friend Kiefer Sutherland who tells TMZ Sports the guy is an "amazing coach."

FYI -- Sutherland is a huge USC football fan and became friends with Carroll during his stint as the head coach of the Trojans.

Now that he's had some time to think about that stupid play call, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll will once again try to explain himself during a sit-down interview with Matt Lauer.

Unclear if Carroll shot the interview Tuesday night or will do it Wednesday ... but NBC says it will begin to air snippets tonight on "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams."

Question is ... with Marshawn Lynch actively negotiating his next contract, can Carroll say anything to Lauer that will convince Beast Mode to stay in Seattle??

Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell is a HUGE Seahawks fan -- and his wife Etty THOUGHT she was going to capture the majestic game-winning TD in a last second selfie during the game.

Only that didn't happen.

Instead, her selfie (taken from great seats btw) happened to memorialize the worst play in the history of the Super Bowl.

Ya gotta see Perry and Etty tell the story ... it's pretty funny stuff.

Russell Wilson is looking for a new identity after that Super Bowl loss -- so he shaved off his shaggy mop for a fresher, cleaner look.

High and tight ... unlike that pass he threw on Sunday.

The Super Bowl ain't just about the matchup on the field, you should probably pay attention to the sidelines too!

It's the She-hawks VS. the Patri-ettes in a battle for the hottest cheerleaders at Super Bowl XLIX.

Check out the gallery and vote for you faves!!!

NFL commish Roger Goodell has a message for Marshawn Lynch -- stop being a baby and do your job ... which includes answering questions from the media.

Goodell is clearly not happy with Marshawn's Super Bowl Media Day "I'm Just Here So I Won't Get Fined" stunt -- and moments ago, he took Beast Mode to task in front of the very reporters Lynch snubbed earlier this week.

Goodell explained that talking with the media is part of Marshawn's job, whether he likes it or not.

"There are a lot of things we don't like to do in our jobs, but it comes with the territory ... and it comes with the privilege of playing in the Super Bowl."

We'd call Marshawn for comment, but ... well ... you know.

If you thought Richard Sherman's "Don't Ever Talk About Me" rant was priceless, think again -- 'cause the NFL star's brother tells us it made the family a TON of money!!

Richard's older brother Branton Sherman -- who's also the business manager for the Richard Sherman Family Foundation -- is out in PHX to root for the Seahawks ... when he we asked how he felt about the legendary moment with Erin Andrews last year.

"We made so much money off of that whole deal," Branton says ... "It was a good thing for us!"

Even Branton's mom was able to cash in ... he says the rant helped Richard and their mother lock up a commercial for Campbell's Soup ... and now they get more free soup than they ever could've imagined!

"We got Campbell's Soup up the ass man!"

One last thing ... even though Richard is widely regarded as the best defensive player in the league, Branton still says he could take 'em.

"I'm the big brother."

Newsflash -- Marshawn Lynch has a FUNNY side ... and here's the hilarious video that proves it.

The Seattle Seahawks running back teamed up with the enemy (Rob Gronkowski) for a hilarious video game battle on "Conan" ... which quickly turned into a comedy session

The segment is pretty hilarious ... with Lynch crackin' drug jokes ... Gronk making a boner pill joke ... and overall hilarity ensuing.

Unclear when the guys found time to shoot the bit -- which is set to air Thursday on TBS -- but it seems like the two NFL superstars really hit it off.

#RealityShowSpinoff? #Please #BeastMeetsGronk #LethalWeapon5? #ImJustHereSoIDontGetFined

Several high-powered law enforcement agencies want everyone to know -- they're all working TOGETHER to protect the Super Bowl.

The NFL just issued a statement saying reps from the following agencies are on board:

-- Department of Homeland Security
-- Immigration and Customs Enforcement
-- FBI
-- United States Secret Service
-- Phoenix PD
-- Glendale PD

The entire gang is scheduled to brief the media on the security plans around 12 PM PT.

Marshawn Lynch is being hammered with questions at Super Bowl media day.

His answer to all of them?

"I'm just here so I won't get fined."

Marshawn sat in front of the microphones sporting his sunglasses and a backpack -- and repeated over and over again, "Hey, I'm just here so I don't get fined."

He's said it at least 20 times already.

As you probably know, the NFL just fined Lynch $20k for grabbing his crotch during a TD celebration in the NFC championship game.

So, Richard Sherman and a llama walk into a bar ...

Actually, it was a studio ... and one of them launched into a expletive-laced rant against Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, in general -- kicking off Super Bowl smack talking season.

The whole thing is an ad for one of Sherman's sponsors -- but the Seattle Seahawks superstar might wanna take notes. The llama gets in a pretty good jab at Brady's favorite footwear.

Only thing missing? A shot at Brady's balls.

The star of "Hardcore Pawn" is gunning for the famous game-winning football from the Seahawks vs. Packers game ... and he tells TMZ Sports he'll CRUSH the $20K offer that's already on the table.

Les Gold tells us ... the pigskin that Seattle WR Jermaine Kearse launched into the stands after catching the winning touchdown is an instant collectors item -- and he's dead set on getting it.

The man who caught the ball, Scott Shelton, has already received a $20,000 offer from a sports memorabilia dealership -- but Gold says he's ready and willing to smash that number.

"Whatever the highest offer, I'll offer a thousand more," Les tells us, "Offer 25K, and I'll offer 26K. That ball will be in my shop."

So, why's he so set on getting the ball? Les says it's an iconic piece that could double in value over the next few years.

Super Bowl XLIX isn't just the Seahawks vs. the Patriots ... it's Captain America vs Star-Lord ... because Chris Evans and Chris Pratt just laid down an EPIC bet on the big game in Arizona.

It all started Monday, the day after Evans' Patriots clinched a spot in the Super Bowl by deflating the Colts 45-7. He took to twitter to remind his fellow Marvel Super Hero that for the next two weeks they ain't buds.

"Well, well, well @prattprattpratt, looks like our teams are going into battle. For the next 2 weeks, you are not my friend, you are my enemy."

That's when Pratt -- a huge Seahawks fan -- laid down the gauntlet, proposing a bet whereby if the the Seahawks win, Evans has to fly to Seattle and visit a local children's hospital in full Captain America regalia, waving the 12th Man flag.

Well, Captain America never backs down from a fight ... and fired back, saying that if the Patriots win Star-Lord has to show up at his non-profit housing venture "Christopher's Haven," in a Tom Brady jersey.

C'mon ... this is pretty awesome.

Marshawn Lynch is getting one of the highest honors one can receive in Seattle -- a SECOND strain of weed has been named after the NFL star ... and we're told it's as strong as Beastmode himself.

We spoke with Nate "Diggity" Johnson -- owner of the Queen Anne Cannabis Club in Seattle -- who tells us that after the original "Beastmode" strain sold so well last year, growers wanted to up the ante with a more powerful strain in the hopes the Seahawks would get back to the Super Bowl.

The bet paid off ... and "Diggity" says the new stuff (called Beastmode 2.0) has 5% more THC than last year's Beastmode weed -- which flew off the shelves.

"It's a super pain reliever," Diggity says ... "And hits you just like Marshawn -- hard and fast."

Then after you smoke it ... FeastMode?

Did you know ... the bike Seattle Seahawks star Michael Bennett rode around the stadium is technically considered police property??

Did you also know ... the cops were TOTALLY COOL with the fact Bennett commandeered the vehicle for a victory lap after beating the Packers Sunday?!

"It's not something we look at as a criminal act," Seattle PD's Detective Michaud tells us.