Tampa Bay Bucs Already Selling Brady #12 Jerseys ... QB Puts On Cliche Clinic In Phoner

Tom Brady wouldn't say if he's locked up the #12 jersey in Tampa Bay yet ... but it seems the Bucs have already spoken for him -- because they're already selling it on their website!!!

Brady just addressed the media Tuesday for the first time since signing his contract with Tampa Bay ... and it was a master class in deflection.

It was cliche after cliche after cliche followed by non-answer after non-answer ... even when it came to the pseudo-controversy over the #12 Bucs jersey.

BEATING AROUND THE BUSH

As we previously reported, star receiver Chris Godwin has rocked the jersey ever since he got to Tampa ... and it sure sounded like he wouldn't mind holding onto it in an interview with ESPN last week.

But, with TB12 being TB12, of course, it was only a matter of time before he got the uni ... and it seems the Bucs are confirming that news on their own site this week.

As for Brady's take on the digits ... well, like every other answer he gave during his phoner Tuesday, he didn't really talk about it.

Brady said he was solely focused on things of greater importance -- like adapting to his new team.

Tom also dodged other questions about his Pats departure throughout the 30-minute convo with media ... evading the Qs like he was Lamar Jackson!!!

Props to all the reporters for the great effort, though!

Liverpool F.C. Let's Fight Social Isolation!!! ... Phone Calls, Postcards To Fans

Could you imagine being stuck in quarantine -- and all of the sudden you get get a phone call from the star of your favorite Premier League soccer team?!

That's becoming a possibility for Liverpool F.C. backers during the coronavirus pandemic ... 'cause the football squad is looking to fight social isolation with some athlete-to-fan interaction.

The team announced its efforts to help those cooped up in their homes during the COVID-19 scare ... saying the plan is to have players call up "older and more vulnerable" fans in the North Liverpool and Kirkby communities.

The LFC Connect initiative includes weekly calls, as well as postcards going out to those impacted by the outbreak.

It's important to note ... there have been 35 confirmed cases in Liverpool ... and the numbers continue to rise across the world.

Maybe a lucky fan will get a call from Mohamed Salah!? That'll cheer anybody up.

Coronavirus Crushing Baseball Equipment Companies ... Jugs Takes Huge Hit

If you thought the quarantine would lead to more baseball families buying private batting cages to work on their swings at home (like we did) ... you thought wrong.

In fact, the baseball equipment industry is getting hit pretty hard by the coronavirus pandemic -- especially Jugs Sports, the company behind the famous pitching machines.

We spoke to a rep for the company who tells us March is usually the busiest time of the year for them -- they ship out machines to little leagues and other baseball and softball orgs around the country before the season kicks off.

But with the COVID-19 outbreak, we're told business has slowed in a big way -- a 30% to 50% DECREASE in sales from last year.

We spoke with other baseball equipment companies and they're also reporting a slow down in sales -- so far, it seems Jugs is having the toughest go.

Makes sense ... those Jugs machines ain't cheap -- they range from a couple hundred dollars for a basic model to a couple thousand dollars for the top of the line stuff.

Hopefully, business will pick back up once the pandemic is over and people go back to their normal lives ... but for now, this sucks.

Henry Cejudo Turns TMZ Staffer Into Human Pretzel ... 'Fight School!'

ALL TIED UP
TMZSports.com

UFC star Henry Cejudo could get a job at Auntie Anne's when the whole coronavirus thing ends ... 'cause the dude is a PRO at turning people into human pretzels!

Triple C hit up the TMZ office (before the pandemic, calm down) and took our TMZ Sports producer, Lucas, to "Fight School" ... our new Snapchat show hosted by UFC superstar Paige VanZant!

It's technically called the Suloev Stretch -- a pretty sick submission move only ever executed by a small number of UFC stars like Zabit Magomedsharipov and Aljamain Sterling (they did it in the same night!).

But, Cejudo hopes to put the move on Jose Aldo when they clash later this year -- and with the help of PVZ and our human crash-test dummy, Lucas, he showed us how it's done!

And, Henry not only demo'd the move on Lucas, he let Lucas try it out on him -- and it's hilarious!!

Make sure to check out new eps of '"Fight School" every Tuesday on Snap!

Tua Tagovailoa Epic Steps After Gruesome Injury Impressive Workout Vid!!!

THE COMEBACK KID

The 2020 NFL Draft just got a whole lot more interesting ...

Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa -- who suffered a devastating hip dislocation injury just 4 months ago -- looked impressive as hell in a new workout vid ... and it's got us all wondering, could he now be the #1 overall pick???

Tua nearly lost his football career on Nov. 16 in a game against Miss. St. ... when the 22-year-old was sacked and gruesomely injured.

You can see in footage of the tackle, he landed awkwardly on his hip ... fracturing a bone in the area -- while also breaking his nose and suffering a concussion.

The injuries were considered career-threatening ... but Tua underwent surgery just days later -- and as you can see in a new workout vid he posted Monday night, he's clearly making an epic comeback.

Tua was cutting in both directions, and his arm seemed as lively as ever.

"Practicing social distancing with the long ball today," Tua said. "Feels good to spin it again.🤙🏾 #Process"

Of course, most NFL draft pundits have the Cincinnati Bengals taking Joe Burrow at #1 in the next month's draft ... but could this video have them rethinking things??

Stay tuned ...

Rob Gronkowski's Bro Gronk-Brady Reunion In Tampa??? ... I'd Be Shocked

MARCH 2020
Don't Bet On It
TMZSports.com

Sorry, Bucs fans -- Tom Brady almost certainly ain't bringing Rob Gronkowski to Tampa this season ... Gronk's bro tells TMZ Sports he thinks the TE is officially DONE with football.

"I can't say anything for him," Chris Gronkowski says. "But, I think that he might be moving on ... I would be surprised for sure."

Of course, rumors have flown about a possible Gronk-Brady reunion in Tampa this past week ... with some thinking, the move is in the best interest of both parties now that TB12 is the Bucs' new starter.

Remember, Gronk's had a year off to get his body right after retiring suddenly in March 2019 ... and he'd certainly be a big weapon for his old pal in the new Florida digs. Also, Chris tells us Rob DID use to own property in the area.

But, Gronk just signed a deal with WWE to be a part-time personality for the org. ... and when we spoke with Chris on Monday, he said he thinks that should officially signal the end of Rob's football days.

"Man, it looks like it after this deal," Chris says. "But, I'm not him, so I have no idea what he's thinking. But, as of right now, it looks like a pretty cool position that he's in."

As for how Chris thinks Gronk's Wrestlemania-hosting gig will go next month ... big bro has all the confidence in the NFL legend, telling us, "I expect good things."

"I think it's going to be entertaining and I hope he gets in the ring at some point as well."

Yeah, us too!!

Kobe Bryant Guardian Ad Litem Appointed for Daughters

Kobe Bryant's daughters have just been appointed new guardians to represent their interests in their father's trust ... TMZ Sports has learned.

According to new legal docs ... Erika Williams has been appointed guardian ad litem for Natalia and Bianka Bryant, and James Summers is repping for Kobe's youngest daughter, Capri.

Vanessa Bryant and Kobe's former agent Rob Pelinka, who are the co-trustees of Kobe's trust, have been instructed to pay any expenses for Erika and James' roles as guardians, using money from the trust ... according to the docs.

As we first reported ... Vanessa filed docs Friday asking a judge to appoint the guardian ad litem for Bianka and Natalia, plus another one for Capri. Vanessa said she wanted to get her legal affairs in order ASAP because of uncertainty surrounding the court system due to coronavirus pandemic and potential government shutdowns.

Remember ... Vanessa also filed other legal docs asking the judge to amend Kobe's trust to include Capri, who was born after Kobe last amended it. A judge will handle that at a later date.

Travis Frederick Cowboys Star Retires at 29 ... After Battle With Rare Disease

Travis Frederick -- the Dallas Cowboys star center with Hall of Fame potential -- shockingly announced his retirement Monday ... this just 2 years after he battled a serious disease.

The 29-year-old fought through Guillain-Barre Syndrome -- a rare disorder that weakens the immune system -- in 2018 ... and the disease affected him so badly, he missed all of Dallas' games that year.

But the 6'4", 320-pound O-lineman returned to start all of the Cowboys' 16 games in 2019 ... and was even selected to the Pro Bowl.

Travis said in a statement Monday, however, he felt like his play had dipped ... and because of that, he's calling it a career.

"Each day I faced a struggle: I could no longer perform at my highest level," Frederick said. "Playing 'well' is not what I expect of myself and is not what my teammates deserve."

"Because of this, I know my days as a football player are done."

Travis says his time away from the Cowboys, fighting off his illness two seasons ago, opened his eyes to life after football ... and made his decision this week easier.

"Facing the potential end of my career because of my illness forced me to imagine life after football," Travis said. "I had to prepare for my career potentially ending ... After months of contemplation, I not only accepted that moment, but I also surprisingly found myself welcoming the moment."

Travis was the Cowboys' first-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft ... and he went on to have a monster career, being selected to FIVE Pro Bowls in six seasons.

The offensive lineman signed a 6-year, $56 MILLION contract with the Cowboys back in 2016 that made him the NFL's highest-paid center.

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