Super Bowl

Hip-hop fans pissed at the NFL for the Maroon 5 halftime show decision might have their Hail Mary answered by none other than Cardi B -- but the NFL might have to blink ... TMZ has learned.

Our sources say Cardi is in negotiations to perform her song with Maroon 5, "Girls Like You" -- and the main issue being discussed is whether or not CB gets a solo set. We're told she's getting a lot of offers to perform in early February ... so she's trying to make the best deal possible.

Super Bowl LIII is being held in Atlanta, and some fans were hoping the NFL would give props to the ATL's hot music scene. Needless to say, Maroon 5 isn't checking that box for those fans.

Waka Flocka Flame told TMZ Sports the performers should be black and have connections to ATL.

That's why Cardi would make a lot of sense for the NFL.

Here's something you don't hear rappers say a lot lately ... CUT THE NFL A BREAK!!!

RZA -- the leader of the Wu-Tang Clan -- says he doesn't think the NFL deserves all the crap it's been getting for booking Maroon 5 for the Super Bowl halftime show.

And, the reason? He really digs Adam Levine!!

Remember, the game will be played in Atlanta -- home of stars like Outkast, T.I. and Migos. The guys from Maroon 5 are from L.A., and some people are pissed about that.

But, not RZA -- who says Adam is everything that's RIGHT about music ... he's talented, progressive and embraces hip-hop. He even points out Adam has a song with Future.

In fact, RZA says he wouldn't be surprised if Adam brought out a special guest like Drake!

Wanna see Wu-Tang perform at the Super Bowl?

Well, that's not gonna happen -- but RZA says the guys would definitely be down to perform a halftime show for the NY Jets or the NY Giants -- all they have to do is ask!!

Wu-Tang's for the children!!!!!!

Waka Flocka Flame is throwing penalty flags at the NFL for choosing Maroon 5 for the halftime performance at this year's Super Bowl in Atlanta, because he believes the performers should be black.

Waka tells TMZ Sports ... he's upset with the NFL's decision to shun the incredibly long list of Atlanta rappers in favor of a more mainstream performer.

Flocka tells us why Colin Kaepernick's movement could've influenced the halftime show ... and says the NFL is just plain tone-deaf ... disrespecting so many players and fans.

The Steelers have been dominating their rivalry with the Browns for YEARS ... but LaMarr Woodley says that's all about to change ... telling TMZ Sports Cleveland is finally a legitimately dangerous team.

FYI -- the Stillers has had their way with Cleveland ... going 33-6 since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999.

The Super Bowl champ says the Browns have made all the right moves to get back to relevance ... and warns his old club they don't wanna meet Cleveland in the playoffs.

The Browns got a lot of hype this year -- with the additions of Baker Mayfield, Tyrod Taylor and Jarvis Landry ... and the squad looked pretty good against the Giants on Thursday (we know, preseason ... but still).

Mark Wahlberg says he believes in Baker Mayfield -- so he placed a REAL bet on the Cleveland Browns to win 6 games in 2018.

Yeah, he's being serious.

Don't worry, he also made some less risky wagers -- betting on the Patriots and the Eagles to get back to the Super Bowl this season.

Wahlberg also bet on Ronda Rousey -- casting her in his new movie, "Mile 22" ... and he's super fired up about her role in the flick.

Mark raves about Ronda's performance and says she's more than just an action star -- she's a legit actress who nailed her dramatic scenes like a boss!!!

The movie -- which opens next month -- will be Ronda's most important Hollywood role yet. Of course, she starred in the "Entourage" movie ... but played herself.

Now, she's got a real shot to follow stars like The Rock ... and parlay action sports stardom into a real Hollywood career.

Jay-Z says the NFL approached him to perform at the Super Bowl -- but he shot them down saying, "You need me, I don't need you."

It's all part of Jay and Beyonce's new song, "Apesh*t" (featuring Quavo and Offset), which dropped this past weekend. Scroll to 3:31.

One of the key lyrics is when Jay says, "I said no to the Super Bowl: you need me, I don't need you. Every night we in the endzone, tell the NFL we in stadiums too."

Seems to imply Jay rejected the NFL over the handling of the Colin Kaepernick kneeling situation -- a situation Jay has publicly criticized the league for in the past.

Another clue ... in the music video, Jay features at least 11 people taking a knee during that line.

There were reports back in Sept. 2017 that Jay gave a thumbs-down to the NFL -- but he hadn't commented before and the NFL essentially denied it saying no decisions had been made.

The Philadelphia Eagles got their diamond-studded Super Bowl rings at a massive party Thursday night with a very special guest performer ... Meek Mill!

The rapper -- along with Rick Ross -- busted out song after song while the players rocked out in the crowd -- a special moment because his "Dreams and Nightmares" song was the team's anthem.

During the set at Noto nightclub, Meek grabbed the mic and told the players, "If I ever had to say I had my best night in prison it was the day the Eagles won the f*cking Super Bowl."

The players loved it -- with guys like Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz, Corey Clement, LeGarrette Blount and Torrey Smith having the time of their lives. Lil Uzi Vert was also there!

As for the rings, they're dope -- 10-karat white gold with 219 diamonds and 17 rare green sapphires.

The 127 diamonds on the bezel represent the combined jersey numbers of the three players who touched the football during the Philly Special play -- Corey Clement (30), Trey Burton (88) and Nick Foles (9).

Cool, right?

There's also an underdog mask inscribed on the inside of the ring.

Congrats!!!

4:48 PM PT -- A rep for Ajayi tells TMZ Sports the lawsuit is bogus ... adamantly denying Jay ever physically pushed the owner of the home.

They also deny Jay damaged the property in any way ... or hosted any parties.

Instead they claim the owner tried to get Jay and his friend to pay him cash directly -- bypassing the Airbnb website -- so they say they left the house several days early ... but still paid the full rate.

Ajayi's people also say the group filed a complaint against the home owner with Airbnb.

NFL star Jay Ajayi shoved the owner of a fancy L.A. mansion who charged the Eagles running back $25k in damages for trashing the place ... this according to a new lawsuit obtained by TMZ Sports.

The 24-year-old is being sued by the owner of a swanky 6,000 square foot pad located above the famous Sunset Strip ... where the RB and a friend stayed back in February for 5 days after Ajayi won the Super Bowl.

According to the suit, Ajayi and his buddy threw at least 3 parties at the house despite the fact they were specifically told -- NO PARTIES!

In fact, the owner claims he charged a $5,000 fee for each party at the home ... which Ajayi never paid.

Additionally, the owner claims Ajayi broke a table, scratched some floors and violated the no smoking rule.

In total, Ajayi racked up $25,000 in penalty fees -- but when the owner confronted Jay on Feb. 18, he claims Ajayi "pushed [him] on [his] chest in a menacing and threatening manner."

The owner describes the incident as battery -- and said he had to call local security to remove the NFL star from the property.

Chris Long's quest to be the wokest man in the NFL continues -- he tells TMZ Sports he didn't celebrate his Super Bowl win in Vegas, L.A. or Miami ... instead going to Africa to build wells with his charity.

Long was out in NYC when we asked if he's still celebrating the Eagles' victory over the New England Patriots -- he isn't -- then we asked what huge party spot he hit to turn up after the historic win.

Prepare to feel bad about yourself.

"I went to Tanzania actually, to work on my charity called Waterboys.org."

If you didn't know, Waterboys.org is an organization started by Long that unites players from the NFL for the goal of bringing life-sustaining well water to East African countries.

The NFL season is still 4 months away ... but T.I. is already making his Super Bowl prediction -- Atlanta Falcons, baby!!!!

The rap legend was at Studio Space in Atlanta when we started talking about the NFL Draft -- and it's clear T.I. is fired up about the Falcons' 1st round pick ... WR Calvin Ridley.

"We're going to the Super Bowl this year! I said it ... I can't take it back!"

T.I. isn't the only star who likes the Ridley pick -- Deion Sanders raved about him right after the draft saying, "[Falcons] got a steal with Ridley at that pick so late. That kid can play and he will see all 1on1 coverage because of [Julio Jones]."

As for Tip, this ain't the first time Tip's raved about his Dirty Birds to TMZ Sports ... remember when he money shamed our photog when he tried to make a Falcons bet in 2016?

Good times ...

Another member of the Philadelphia Eagles' 2017 Super Bowl team says he's not planning on going to Trump's White House with the team ... this time it's linebacker Dannell Ellerbe.

"Me personally, I wouldn't go," Ellerbe says ... noting, "I've already been before."

Ellerbe -- who's now a free agent -- is referring to the Super Bowl ring he won as a member of the 2012 Baltimore Ravens team. That squad visited then-President Barack Obama.

But, several Eagles players have stated they're not feeling the current President and will not attend the ceremony at 1600 Penn ... including Torrey Smith, Chris Long and Malcolm Jenkins.

Plus, it recently came out that Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie had made some anti-Trump comments -- calling his presidency, "disastrous."

Travis Scott is firing back at the promoter who sued him for bailing on a Super Bowl weekend concert, while keeping the dough he'd been paid ... TMZ has learned.

Travis filed a response to PJAM's lawsuit against him, but also filed his own countersuit against the company. According to the docs, Travis says the promoter never sent him a confirmed travel itinerary for the Minnesota show. He says right up to Feb. 3, the scheduled day of the show, he hadn't received the travel plans.

In his suit, Travis says he learned PJAM lacked the cash to cover his transportation or the remaining money he was owed for the performance. He admits they did pay him $150k in advance.

Travis is also pissed because he believes someone from PJAM spoke to TMZ about his gig ahead of time. He says that's a violation of the confidentiality agreement both sides signed for the show.

Sources close to Travis had told us at the time he canceled due to weather and logistics, but PJAM thinks he flat-out "refused to show up to the event."

PJAM was suing to get its money back, and damages. Travis is suing to get the additional payment he never got.

Travis' attorney, Howard King, tells us PJAM's lawsuit is “An obvious effort to shake Travis down and avoid the consequences of their breaches. Instead of pursuing a misguided attempt to spin the narrative and salvage their tattered reputation, the responsible step would have been for PJAM to pay Travis the balance of his fee and move on to their next opportunity."

He adds, "Travis apologizes to any fans who were duped by these "wannabe" promoters -- Alex Martini, Jefferson Agar and Patrick Johnston -- into showing up at the cancelled show even after the promoters failed to take the steps to get Travis there.”

Michael Irvin says it's a damn shame some Eagles are boycotting Trump's White House ... and hopes the time-honored tradition can continue once POTUS is outta office.

"I hate that we're at that place," Irvin told TMZ Sports. "Hopefully we can get back to that, if not this President's term, maybe the next."

Remember, The Playmaker won 3 rings with the Cowboys ... so it wasn't a surprise when he told us he thinks the ceremony's a BIG deal.

That said, Mike says he realizes times have changed with #45 in the Oval Office ... so when it comes to Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Long and the other Eagles skippin' out on the visit, he ain't gonna hold it against them.

Philadelphia Eagles star Michael Bennett was charged a felony after allegedly injuring an elderly paraplegic woman at the Super Bowl last year.

Bennett, 32, was indicted by a Harris County, TX Grand Jury after being accused of pushing a 66-year-old female NRG Stadium employee who was controlling access to the field at Super Bowl 51.

Michael's brother, Martellus, was a member of the Patriots ... who won the game.

According to the Harris County Texas District Attorney, Bennett "shoved his way on to the field where players were gathering to celebrate."

The charge ... "injury to the elderly, includes intentionally and knowingly, causing bodily injury to a person 65 years or older."

If convicted, Bennett faces up to 10 years in prison, and a $10k fine.

Harris County has issued a warrant for M.B.'s arrest.

1:10 PM PT -- The Eagles just released the following statement ... “We are aware of the situation involving Michael Bennett and are in the process of gathering more information. Because this is an ongoing legal matter, we will have no further comment at this time.”

Eagles star Brent Celek is taking a line from "Terminator" in his heartfelt farewell to Philly -- telling fans not to be sad about him getting released 'cause, "I'll be back."

Brent -- who missed only 1 regular-season game in 11 SEASONS with the team -- says he's not 100% on continuing his playing career ... but no matter if it's on the field or off, he's gonna fly with the Super Bowl LII champs in the future.

"One day I'll be back with the Eagles in some capacity," Celek told TMZ Sports.

"When -- who knows? But, I love that organization ... I owe it to 'em."

Brent's also got nothing but love for Philly and its hardcore fans -- saying they've been great to him since he got drafted by the team in 2007.

Case in point -- the standing O they gave him at the 76ers game on Tuesday ... just hours after he was released.

Brent described everything it meant to him ... and you're gonna need some tissues.

Tom Brady is finally showing everyone the hand injury he suffered during the NFL playoffs -- and it's WAYYYY worse than everyone thought ... a massive, deep, bloody gash.

Remember, Brady got the cut in practice just days before the AFC Championship -- but tried like hell to downplay the severity of the wound.

Well, now he's revealing all the gory details on his reality show, "Tom vs Time" -- and it's a miracle he was able to throw the ball at all.

"When I hurt my thumb, I thought, ‘This is it. This is the way the season ends,'" Tom said.

"I’m looking down at my thumb as it’s split open, and I’m thinking ‘I really don’t know what happened to my thumb, but I know it doesn’t feel good and I’m having a real hard time believing I’m going to go out and play well against the #1 ranked defense in four days.'"

Of course, Brady ended up beating the Jaguars before losing to the Eagles in the Super Bowl -- but he played like a BEAST considering the friggin' hatchet wound on his thumb ... which got a healthy dose of acupuncture after it was stitched up.