Super Bowl

Wanna get a seat higher than the nosebleeds for the Super Bowl?? Now's your chance ... 'cause Ricky Williams is hosting his very own weed party for the big game!!

The ex-NFL superstar-turned-ganja advocate is hosting the highly anticipated event in February ... and instead of making it a BYOB party, Ricky's inviting guests to BYOW -- Bring Your Own Weed!!

The exact location of the party is still TBA ... but it'll be going down somewhere in the Hollywood Hills.

LaVar Ball picking a Lithuanian league for LiAngelo and LaMelo had a lot of people scratching their heads ... but not Swae Lee, who says the Big Baller's makin' money moves!

"I think wherever the bag is calling, you gotta chase the bag," the Rae Sremmurd rapper told TMZ Sports outside Poppy in L.A.. "It could be Columbia, it could be Venezuela, it could be Australia -- wherever the bag is calling."

Swae ain't wrong, in theory ... but BBB claims it ain't about cash -- with Gelo and Melo reportedly pocketing no more than $500 per game.

Tom Brady says Colin Kaepernick is a "damn good quarterback" who's proven he can play at a high level -- but the Pats superstar says he "has no idea" if Kaep's actually being blackballed.

Brady appeared on WEEI's "Kirk and Callahan" Monday morning where he was asked straight-up if NFGL owners are colluding to keep Kaepernick out of the NFL.

Brady took a long pause and then delivered his answer ...

"You know, I don't ... I have no idea if he's being blackballed."

"I think he was a ... I competed against him. I thought he was a damn good quarterback. And he's played at a high level, brought his team to Super Bowls."

"You know ... that's how I feel about him."

Super Bowl 52's taking its slogan seriously ... and it'll be EVERYWHERE for EVERYONE to see and buy.

TMZ Sports obtained docs filed by the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee outlining where it wants to place its slogan "Bold North." There's the obvious -- key chains, magnets, wallets, umbrellas, portable chairs, jigsaw puzzles, toys, temporary tattoos, clothing, etc.

Basically, it looks like everything you'll buy at the stadium will feature the slogan, even the menu items. The trademark gets super specific with the foods they're giving the Bold North name to, including:

-- Sandwiches (brisket, turkey, beef and vegan, too!)

-- Fried chicken

-- Pretzels

-- Pizza, calzones

-- Hot dogs, corn dogs

-- Donuts

-- Burritos, tacos and fajitas

Bold ... for sure.

Janet Jackson has a Classic Man in her corner begging the NFL for a JJ + JT reunion at the Super Bowl halftime show ... 'cause Jidenna says it's only right to give the duo a shot at redemption!!

As we previously reported ... Janet is NOT banned from performing at the show, so when we broke the news to Jidenna ... he let out a huge "HALLELUJAH!!"

The "Bambi" singer says the league should let Janet perform with Justin Timberlake this year ... and jokes if they don't like the results, they can start a kneeling protest of their own.

All kidding aside ... Jidenna says a Janet appearance would be "massive."

O.T. Genasis says he's all for Janet Jackson getting another crack at the Super Bowl ... especially if she busts out a finale like the first time!!

We got O.T. at LAX ... and the rapper told TMZ Sports he wouldn't perform at the big game himself 'cause there's too much BS going on between the NFL and its players right now.

But when it comes to Janet, O.T. says he's hoping for an encore ... 'cause his teenage self was a HUGE fan of her R-rated finish back in 2004.

"That was amazing. That was amazing."

Well, this is interesting ...

If Justin Timberlake wants Janet Jackson in his halftime show, he can have Janet Jackson ... because there is NO official ban barring her from performing at Super Bowl 52, TMZ Sports has learned.

After the nipplegate incident in 2004, Janet was seemingly blackballed by the NFL -- she hasn't worked with the league since.

Now, with JT getting the SB52 halftime show, it's clearly water under the bridge when it comes to his relationship with the NFL. But what about Janet?

We reached out to the league and we're told straight-up, "There’s no ban."

So, does this mean Timberlake will bring Janet on as a special guest?

An NFL spokesperson tells us, "We are not going to comment on any speculation regarding potential guests. There may be no guests. Along with Pepsi, we’re excited to have Justin Timberlake."

That's not exactly a "no" ...

Fingers crossed!

A hip-hop legend says don't look for Justin Timberlake to bring out Janet Jackson during his Super Bowl halftime show, telling TMZ Sports the reunion would be too risky for the NFL.

We got Pras -- one of the founding members of The Fugees -- out at Madeo in L.A. and asked if he thought Justin should do Janet a solid and bring her back to the big stage.

Janet's been banned ever since nipplegate back in '04, but let's face it, Justin was an accomplice and a lot of people think if JT's back in the fold, JJ should be too.

Not Pras, who told us there was "no need" to bring Janet back (ouch, bro) and went on to explain to us why he felt like the NFL might not be over Ms. Jackson being a little nasty.

Justin Timberlake is coming back to conquer the Super Bowl halftime show this year ... according to Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon.

JT posted a vid Sunday that confirmed reports he was performing at Super Bowl LII, with his and Jimmy's mini skit playing on the phrase "have the time" ... which quickly morphed into "You're doing the halftime show at the Super Bowl??!!"

As we reported ... the rest of 'NSYNC could possibly join Justin onstage during his performance, which seems even likelier now that he's definitely got the gig.

Can't say the same for Janet Jackson, though. She was recently mum on rumors about a possible reunion, ya know ... after 2004 and all.

We got this feeling ... there probably ain't gonna be a next time.

Hines Ward is calling BS on all that Ben Roethlisberger retirement talk ... saying his old QB still has "plenty left in the tank" -- enough to win a Super Bowl.

Big Ben admitted he contemplated hangin' 'em up after the 2016 season -- but decided to come back. Then there was the "maybe I don't have it anymore" comment earlier this month.

But Ward ain't buyin' any of that retirement garbage -- telling TMZ Sports #7 is still a championship-caliber player, period.

Janet Jackson threw the hottest high school reunion Sunday night at the Hollywood Bowl, bringing back a ton of her OG backup dancers -- but she's not letting on if a Justin Timberlake reunion is in the cards.

We got Janet outside Lure Nightclub in Hollywood, where she held the after-party ... and asked if she and JT might reunite at Super Bowl LII. According to multiple reports, Justin's locked in for the halftime show -- so, you gotta wonder if they'll patch things up after 2004's infamous boob debacle.

If it's happening ... Janet can definitely keep a secret.

As for her backup dancers -- Miss Jackson gave them all some shine during the Bowl concert ... including Jenna Dewan Tatum, who originally debuted on Janet's 2001 "All for You" Tour.

They are a part of the Rhythm Nation ...

Michael Irvin is PUMPED over Justin Timberlake potentially doing the Super Bowl LII halftime show ... as long as his nipplegate partner stays at home.

Irvin says he was blown away by JT's set at Jerry Jones' Hall of Fame party this year ... and thinks he'd be the perfect pickup for the Big Game.

"It was incredible, man. He did a hell of a job, A HELL OF A JOB," Mike told TMZ Sports.

But when we floated the idea of Janet Jackson joining Justin on stage, you could tell the Cowboys legend wasn't a fan -- "I don't think so."

FYI, Janet was still on the SB blacklist last we checked ... but it seems like JT's in the clear even though he's the one who, well ... ya know.

The real question -- is Irvin down with 'NSYNC?

1:45 PM PT -- We've spoken with a rep for Grey Flannel Auctions who tells us they've done their homework authenticating the jersey. They say unique features of the jersey -- rips, stitching pattern, etc. -- have been matched with high-quality photographs from the game.

"We believe photos show this is the same jersey," GFA says.

8:45 AM PT -- Troy Aikman says the jersey is not authentic. The auction house believes it is. We are going to make some calls and try to clear it up.

Start saving up, Cowboys fans ... 'cause Troy Aikman's GAME-WORN Super Bowl XXVII jersey is hitting the auction block ... and it ain't gonna come cheap!!

Aikman's threads -- which he wore during his 4-touchdown MVP performance against the Buffalo Bills -- have remained in original condition (unwashed) since the 1993 game.

If that ain't enough to make you reach for your wallet ... O.J. Simpson did the coin toss, and Michael Jackson performed at halftime.

A rep for Grey Flannel Auctions tells TMZ Sports ... the bidding will start at $5,000, but the final price could end up being more than $100K!!

So yeah, you shoulda started saving like ... 10 years ago.

Bidding starts at the beginning of November.

AN 'NSYNC REUNION AT SUPER BOWL LII?!?!

Don't rule it out -- so says Joey Fatone ... who tells TMZ Sports there's definitely a possibility the gang could reunite if Justin Timberlake signs on to do the halftime show.

Important to note, neither JT nor the NFL have confirmed anything yet -- but there are reports the two sides are in talks.

So, when we saw Fatone out at LAX, we asked if he'd be interested in an 'NSYNC reunion on the biggest stage in the world.

Joey reminded us of 'NSYNC's 1-night reunion at the 2013 MTV Music Awards ... when he re-teamed up with JC, Chris and Lance for Justin. They also rocked out together at Super Bowl XXXV, FYI.

But as Fatone told us, a lot of pieces gotta fall into place -- from the NFL asking nice to all the boys being free.

If it IS all good -- "Then we do it ... it's pretty simple."

Fingers crossed people!

Canelo vs. GGG ain't just the Super Bowl of boxing ... it's "BIGGER THAN THE SUPER BOWL" itself -- so says Sugar Ray Leonard.

We got the legendary boxer at LAX ... and Sugar was as hyped as we've ever seen him for a fight -- putting Saturday's scrap above The Big Game.

"It's exciting, man! This is what boxing needs," SRL told TMZ Sports.

Macklemore is using Marshawn Lynch to fire shots at Tom Brady -- with ball deflating jokes and a jersey theft ... and it's all in his new music video.

M & M know each other from Seattle -- and hooked up for Macklemore's new track with Lil Yachty called "Marmalade." The main theme seems to be messing with Brady and the Patriots.

Of course, the Patriots beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX after that insane decision to throw the ball from the 2 yard line instead of giving it to Beast Mode.

Clearly, both guys remember.

Marshawn makes a funny cameo in the video -- masterminding a Tom Brady jersey theft ... obviously inspired by Mauricio Ortega, the guy who jacked Brady's real uniform after Super Bowl 51.

Funny to us. Wonder if Tom's laughing?