Super Bowl

If he had to make the decision today ... Rob Gronkowski says his football career would be over -- telling TMZ Sports he'd retire if the NFL made him choose right now.

"If they're like, 'Rob, you've got to decide right now, right this second if you're playing next year,' I would say no right now," Gronk said. "I would be like, 'No, I'm not playing.'"

The tight end -- who joined Babcock and Mojo on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (nightly on FS1) -- said he's just too beat up right now following his 11th season in the league to go ahead and definitively move forward with Year #12.

"If I had an answer right now," Gronk said, "it would be no."

Good news for the Buccaneers, though ... Gronk does not have to decide at this moment -- and he acknowledged his mind could change in the next couple of weeks.

The future Hall of Famer tells us once his body's healed and he's had some time to reflect on the season, the answer could very well turn into a yes.

"I just want to heal completely, see where my thoughts are from there," Gronk said. "Just let things settle down -- got to just heal a little bit. Fix all the bumps and bruises."

As for if Tom Brady's upcoming decision about his future could affect Gronk's, Rob tells us it all could play a role -- though he has to do what's best for him first and foremost.

There's more, Gronk also told us he does not think the Bucs' messy breakup with Antonio Brown played a role in their early playoff exit ... saying the locker room was full of too many veterans to let it affect them that negatively.

"There's so many experienced pros in our locker room," Gronk said. "It's not like we have a young locker room or anything like that."

We also talked to Gronk about his partnership with Groupon. The superstar tight end teamed up with the company to give one extremely lucky fan a chance to literally celebrate the Super Bowl at Rob's actual house in Foxborough.

As you might expect from Rob ... the house is awesome. It's nearly 5,000 square feet of awesomeness ... and if you're fortunate, you and your buddies could be posting up on Gronk's couch when the big game rolls around on February 13.

Good luck!!

Los Angeles doesn't want Super Bowl LVI visitors and viewers getting an up-close look at the city's homeless problem -- which is why a major cleanup is underway near the site of the big game.

These pics were taken Monday morning ... near the 405 freeway, which significantly is just a couple miles from SoFi Stadium. As you can see, CHP officers are on hand to reroute traffic and clear out homeless encampments ... as private contractors clean up behind them.

With the Super Bowl just 3 weeks away ... it certainly appears L.A.'s leadership is attempting to polish up areas that will be heavily trafficked, and possibly shown in aerial shots, on game day.

Our law enforcement sources tell us cops started moving homeless people bright and early Monday from this area near the 405 and Century Blvd. Not coincidentally, we think, this is smack in the middle of the most direct route from LAX to SoFi.

We're told the situation here used to look "a lot worse" -- and there's a similar effort going on at a nearby park. After that, we're told, crews will remove a tent city under the freeway.

Here's a telling sign of just how bad the homeless crisis is in L.A. ... the company helping with the cleanup is called Planet Green and they say they specialize in emergency disaster cleanup and biohazardous waste cleanup.

Daniel Jones won't be going to Super Bowl LVI this year -- but the NY Giants signal-caller made sure a New Jersey H.S. QB is attending ... surprising the player with free tickets!

"What's up Danny Dimes?!" a stoked Alex Brown said when DJ hit him up via Facetime on Wednesday.

FYI -- Brown is a senior QB out of Red Bank Catholic H.S. ... and made headlines after he scored 8 touchdowns (6 passing, 2 rushing) in a 58-34 playoff win in November 2021.

What made this stunning performance even more impressive was the fact Alex lost his mother, Michelle, to breast cancer the day before.

"Yesterday I lost my amazing mother," Brown said on Nov. 12, "Today I scored 8 touchdowns, thank you for watching over me mama ❤"

The G-Men QB admired the heartfelt moment and told Brown he was hooking him up with three SB tickets -- for him and his family.

"On behalf of the Giants, just wanna let you know that we wanna recognize you," Jones said, "and give you three tickets to the Super Bowl this year for you, your dad, and your brother."

And, needless to say ... Brown was hyped!

"Oh my God," Brown screamed, "That's insane! Oh my God!!!!"

The Super Bowl is still a few weeks away, but you can start losing your minds for the halftime show now ... 'cause the official trailer for the big event just dropped -- and it's awesome!!

Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar are set to share the stage on February 13 ... which, understandably, has a ton of people hyped.

Pepsi just added to the anticipation by releasing a nearly 4-minute Hollywood film-style clip dubbed the "official trailer" ... featuring all the performers getting "the call" and preparing to hit up L.A. for the show.

The vid shows Em, Snoop, MJB, Kendrick and Dre all leaving their daily lives to join forces outside SoFi Stadium ... with Dre moving all the pieces in a big game of chess.

The visuals are nuts ... and if it's any indication as to how the real halftime show will go, we're in for a treat.

COVID-19 can't stop Los Angeles from partying before Super Bowl LVI ... 'cause several event planners tell TMZ Sports the show will go on -- with precautions, of course.

As COVID-19 cases surge throughout the country, many questions have been raised about whether the traditional bashes leading up to the big game will go on as scheduled.

We've learned at least three of the biggest parties will continue as planned -- including the event put on by sports agent Leigh Steinberg -- AKA the real Jerry Maguire -- at Sony Studios.

We're told Steinberg's invite-only bash will be filled with celebs and current/former players -- featuring tons of food and drink ... as well as a cool brain lounge with insane technology, a silent auction and more.

FYI -- Sony can host up to 5,000 people, but we're told the event will only be about half capacity ... and all guests must be vaxxed or have a negative test within 48 hours of arrival.

"It is 90% outdoor," LeeAnn Adams, the VP of Special Projects for Leigh Steinberg Entertainment, tells us.

"We only have one indoor space where our brain lounge is because we have very valuable equipment in there."

"We're as COVID-safe as possible and indoors, obviously, you have to wear a mask. You're in Los Angeles and it is mandated."

Hall of Famer Terrell Davis and Babes and Ballers will be hosting their own SB bash as well ... with rapper Lil Jon and the Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders set to attend at the Academy Hall.

Davis' shindig will also follow Los Angeles' COVID-19 protocols -- in fact, they're adding extra hand sanitizer stations at the venue ... as they're expecting 1,200 guests.

"The club has some already fixed to the wall," Steve Fowler of Babes and Ballers said. "But we'll have a couple more at every entrance, bathroom, VIP room and patio."

For NAAB Radio's event, the station is anticipating 500 party-goers at the Taglyan Complex ... and will also stick to the city's guidelines.

"We plan to follow all CDC protocols and to have our guests show proof of vaccinations/test results while having a memorable Super Bowl 2022 Party," NAAB Radio co-founder Denise Darrell tells us.

Now that the safety concerns are out of the way ... it's time to party.

Aaron Rodgers is going after yet another member of the media ... this time, he eviscerated a Boomer Esiason report that said he was planning to boycott the Super Bowl if the Packers make it.

"Dumbest f***ing story ever," Rodgers said.

Esiason -- a former NFL star who's now an analyst and WFAN radio show host -- went on his morning show Friday and said a trusted source told him Rodgers is planning something diabolical for SB week if Green Bay gets there.

On the show, Esiason had his co-host read a text in which he claims a source said Rodgers will "threaten the NFL by saying he won't play in the big game or next season if they don't eliminate some of the COVID-related rules."

Esiason claims the text went on to say ... "He's told Jordan Love to be ready ... Super Bowl week will be set on fire and send [Roger] Goodell in a frenzy navigating the situation."

Rodgers got word of the report a couple hours after it dropped -- and sent out a tweet with laughing emojis.

"#fakenews," he said. "#boycottfakenews."

Rodgers then played around with Packers' third-string QB Kurt Benkert over the report ... adding, "Were you just mad I only told @jordan3love to be ready and not you?? #grudge #boycottvideogames"

The Super Bowl halftime show promises to be one of the most spectacular yet, thanks to Dr. Dre, but the stakes are high because if COVID somehow kills the show, Dre could lose millions.

As we reported, the show will be filled with huge stars, including Eminem, Snoop, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige. Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ, Dre is fronting most of the money necessary to pull off the event, and we're told it's in the millions of dollars.

Our sources say ... Dre has Event Cancellation Insurance to cover any calamity that might derail the halftime show. Problem is ... we're told there's an exclusion for COVID.

We've learned the pesky provision is called a Communicable Disease Exemption, and it's been around for years ... ever since SARS. But COVID is part of the Communicable Disease Exemption, which means the insurance policy will not cover Dre's losses if the show is 86'd.

The high, high likelihood is the show will go on as planned. There's cautious optimism Omicron will peak later this month ... and the Super Bowl is set for February 13th.

Even if there's an explosion of cases and the crowds are either scaled back or even eliminated, the game will go on ... similar to how it went down last year in the throes of the pandemic. The other possibility, the NFL has made it clear it wants fans in the stands, and if that can't happen at L.A.'s SoFi Stadium, the game could be moved to say, Dallas.

Former Indianapolis Colts LB Gary Brackett is putting his Super Bowl XLI and AFC Championship rings up for auction ... all to rake in some cash after being forced to file bankruptcy 'cause COVID destroyed his small business.

Brackett -- who played for the Colts from 2003-2011 -- won his only Super Bowl ring in 2007 alongside Peyton Manning after the Colts defeated the Bears, 29-17.

Gary's SB ring will go up for bids during the Ripley Auctions Super Sports & Entertainment Sale ... which is scheduled to take place Feb. 5 in Indianapolis.

"This auction gives buyers an incredible opportunity to own the pinnacle of achievement in professional sports, a genuine, player-issued Super Bowl ring," Dan Ripley, owner of Ripley Auctions, says.

"The fact that both rings in our auction were won by one of the most popular Indianapolis Colts players ever, Gary Brackett, makes them even more special."

Of course, Brackett's ring is expected to fetch some serious value -- the ring is one of about 70 produced in total that were issued to players on the Colts roster at the time of their Super Bowl win.

Since retiring from the NFL at age 31, Brackett ventured into the restaurant industry ... where he owned the Stacked Pickle restaurant, which had nine locations in Indiana and one in Ohio.

Frank Gore says don't rule out seeing him back in the NFL -- 'cause the former RB told TMZ Sports he would be open to a return ... if the right Super Bowl contender called him.

"Ay, ay, I'm ready," Frank said. "Best shape I ever been," he continued. "I just weighed in at 209. Whatever team who pushing for that Super Bowl run, I'm ready to go in."

Of course, we haven't seen Gore in an NFL backfield in almost a year when he last played for the New York Jets ... but Frank made it clear that if the right team gave him a shot, he'd give it his all.

"Nah, I'm not done," Gore said. "If a Super Bowl-contending team call, I'm all in. I'm all in."

We also asked the legendary 49er his thoughts about Colts running back Jonathan Taylor -- who's been torching defenses all season -- and, well, let's just say Gore was incredibly fond of the kid's game.

"Aww man, that kid is the real deal," said Gore, "that kid is the real deal."

Frank acknowledges that quarterbacks Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers have earned their spot in the MVP race ... but says if he had things his way, he knows who he'd vote for.

The feds say a New Jersey man copped to impersonating a New England Patriots player as part of an elaborate scheme to obtain and sell Super Bowl rings engraved with Tom Brady's name.

Federal prosecutors say the man behind the scheme is 24-year-old Scott Spina ... and he's struck a deal with the authorities, pleading guilty to 5 felony charges.

The feds say Spina started cooking up the scheme way back in 2017, when he bought a Super Bowl 51 ring off a Patriots player with at least one bad check, then sold the ring for $63,000 to a California broker specializing in championship rings.

Prosecutors say Spina not only got the ring off the player but also received other information allowing him to pose as the player, allowing him to purchase similar (but slightly smaller) rings designated for players' families from the company who made the SB rings.

Posing as the former Patriots player -- identified only as J.T. in court docs -- prosecutors say Spina started ordering 3 "family and friend" Super Bowl LI rings with the name "Brady" engraved on each one, which he falsely claimed were gifts for TB12's baby.

The feds say the real Tom never authorized the rings ... and Spina plotted to flip them for a fat payday.

According to prosecutors, Spina hammered out a deal with the Cali ring broker to sell him the 3 engraved Brady rings for $81,500 ... but the broker got cold feet and backed out the same day Spina got the rings in hand, with the buyer questioning the story Spina was spinning.

The feds say Spina pivoted and sold the engraved Brady rings to an auction house for $100k ... and months later one of those rings sold at auction for $337,219.

Prosecutors say Spina admitted to defrauding the ring broker by telling him the rings "were ordered for Tom Brady directly ... for select family members" and copped to posing as the former Pats player to buy the engraved rings.

The feds say Spina agreed to plead guilty to the 5 felony charges against him -- 3 counts of wire fraud, and 1 count each of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft -- and he's facing up to 92 years in federal prison.

WWE Superstar The Miz is not ready to give up on Baker Mayfield just yet ... telling TMZ Sports despite the QB's recent struggles, fans need to have some patience with the Browns signal-caller.

"He's injured. Like he's injured," Miz said. "He's not playing to his highest caliber because he's injured."

"I mean, how good are you when you're injured, you know what I mean?"

Miz says that anyone who wants to see the Browns move in a different direction at QB doesn't appreciate what Mayfield represents ... adding that fans need to throw their support behind the first overall draft pick.

"Everyone's so quick to get rid of quarterbacks nowadays," he added. "Like, you kind of got to stick with people and be like, 'look, this is our guy.' It's one thing, like, I remember a team that wasn't 6-6 that didn't win a game an entire season and I was still on the bandwagon."

Miz recalled the days where the Browns had less than desirable plays at the QB position -- he rooted for guys like Brian Hoyer, Brandon Weeden, and Johnny Manziel -- but, after Cleveland's bye week, he's predicting things will take off for his hometown team.

"I mean after this bye we have Baltimore," the former champ said. "If we beat them, we're one game out of first place in the AFC North and people are talking a different story."

So, what are his expectations for this underwhelming season?!?

"We're going to the Super Bowl. That's on my mind. I 100% think that."

If you know anything about The Miz, the Ohio native always reps for his squad ... and he's confident that with the roster they have, they can make a Super Bowl run.

"I trust in Coach (Kevin) Stefanski. I trust in Baker Mayfield," Miz said. "I trust in Kareem Hunt, Nick Chubb. I think Myles Garrett will be Defensive Player of the Year, and you're going to the Super Bowl. So, let's win, beat Baltimore, and get it started after the bye week!"

Tyreek Hill says he's still gunning to race Usain Bolt ... telling TMZ Sports he's so confident he'll beat the track legend, he's down to put his Super Bowl ring on the line!!

"Me and you can just meet at a local high school," Hill said in a message to Bolt. "I can come to Jamaica. We can get it poppin' on the YouTube. Huh!?"

If you're unfamiliar, Bolt and Hill have gone back and forth about a potential race for months -- with Hill initially calling the sprinter out earlier this year.

Hill -- arguably the fastest man in the NFL -- accused Bolt of ducking him ... and told him to "stop hiding" in a fiery social media post.

Bolt eventually fired back, telling us he'd be willing to put his gold medal on the line in a race if Hill was willing to put his SB LIV ring in the mix.

And, when we spoke with Hill a few days ago -- he told us he's ready to meet those conditions to get the race moving.

"Right now, it's getting kind of personal," Hill said. "Right now, it's about my ego right now. Because I feel like he just tried me."

Hill continued, "First of all, my momma always told me you never let nobody talk trash to you if they're wearing a tight shirt like that. Like, his Puma shirt was choking him. I'm not fittin' to allow that to happen."

Even though he's been retired for years, Bolt's still got to be the favorite in the race (right?) -- after all, Terrell Owens told us he thinks it'd actually be a laugher.

With Cam Newton back in Carolina, Olivia Culpo's feeling a Super Bowl coming ... telling TMZ Sports the QB and her BF, Christian McCaffrey, can now easily win a ring this season!

We got the model -- who's been dating McCaffrey for about two years now -- out in L.A. ... and we had to ask for her thoughts on the Panthers now that Cam's made his return.

Olivia kept things short and sweet ... telling us yes, she absolutely believes her man and his team could make a run at the Lombardi Trophy with Newton under center again.

Of course, Newton's first game back as the starting signal-caller didn't go so well ... the Panthers lost to the Washington Football Team, 27-21.

But, Cam did play well -- rushing for 46 yards and a TD while also throwing for 189 yards and 2 TDs -- and there does seem to be optimism in Carolina that the Panthers could get into the playoffs and make some noise there.

The AFC and NFC champs won't have to travel far for the Super Bowl this year ... 'cause Snoop Dogg tells TMZ Sports he thinks the Rams and Chargers will face off in the big game!!!

Of course, D-O-Double-G will be front and center at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13 -- he's headlining a massive halftime show alongside Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, Eminem and Mary J. Blige.

Since he's part of the party, we had to ask which teams will be duking it out on the field on Super Bowl Sunday ... and Snoop thinks it's gonna be a battle of the City of Angels!!!

As for the performance, Mr. Dogg doesn't reveal any secrets ... but we can already tell he's got some crazy stuff prepared.

BTW, Snoop was giving back to the community when we chopped it up with him -- the rap legend was handing out 2,500 turkeys in Inglewood alongside the Rams and Chargers.

Snoop was definitely into it -- he was dancing and hanging out with folks throughout the day ... while his own music blared in the background.

Janet Jackson's Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction is getting reexamined anew -- and there's a lot of finger-pointing ... especially as it relates to Justin Timberlake and Les Moonves.

The 2004 debacle receives a deep dive courtesy of a Hulu documentary, titled 'Malfunction: The Dressing Down of Janet Jackson' -- which discusses what happened before, during and especially after JJ's breast was exposed on live TV during the Halftime Show.

The one-hour special doesn't shed much definitive light on how exactly the snafu came to pass -- other than alluding to a secret convo allegedly had between JT and Janet's stylist in her dressing room before the show -- but the fallout is certainly front and center.

In the aftermath of the embarrassing moment, different people who say they were in the know back then claim the then-top dog at CBS, Moonves, actually demanded a face-to-face apology from both Justin and Janet ... implying if they didn't, there'd be trouble.

Reporters who were covering the story at the time say Justin actually stopped by CBS's L.A. office and did exactly that ... metaphorically "kissing the ring," as these folks describe. Janet, however, apparently refused to bend the knee ... and rebuffed Moonves' alleged demand.

The way they explain it ... Moonves was supposedly furious over what had happened, and deeply embarrassed -- so much so, in fact, the documentary suggests he was working behind the scenes to torpedo Janet's career going forward. Meanwhile, JT's career flourished.

The doc also looks at how the media handled things ... and it's clear, Janet became the butt of a running joke that lasted a good while -- one she couldn't escape, and which some talking heads say was a misogynistic, sexist and racist double standard being applied to her.

By the end of it, JT and Moonves are painted as the villains from this saga. We'll say less on LM -- who ended up leaving CBS in disgrace -- but for Justin's part ... he has apologized for the 2004 moment many times, including just earlier this year in a fresh statement.

Many felt he left Janet hanging at the time, and Justin himself seems to acknowledge that ... saying he let her down. Still, on the heels of this doc -- it would appear his apology isn't enough, because folks online are seriously pissed at him over what they perceive as a great injustice that irreparably harmed Janet.

Don't get Odell Beckham Jr.'s ring size just yet ... so says Nate Burleson, who tells TMZ Sports he loves the Rams' newest addition -- but there's still one thing standing between them and a Super Bowl.

Of course, Odell is now in L.A. after a disastrous stint with the Cleveland Browns ... and could play a big role in the Rams' offense with Robert Woods going down with an ACL injury.

Burleson gives a message to OBJ as he prepares to suit up for his new squad ... telling him to be himself and ball out.

"Block out the noise, like I always say," Burleson says. "Make your next act your best act."

Nate thinks the Rams are a legitimate Super Bowl contender ... but says the OBJ signing doesn't make it a foregone conclusion they'll win it all this season.

"But we can't give 'em a Super Bowl ring just yet, they gotta go earn it," he says.

"And they gotta go through Thanos -- I mean Tom Brady."

Burleson also points out the new off-field opportunities OBJ has in L.A. ... imploring Beckham to wait until after he finishes playing football to pursue a fashion, music or acting career.