TMZ Sports - Page 50

Robert Kraft wanted to send one last message to Tom Brady before he heads to Florida ... so he bought up 12 billboards for a special tribute to his former (!!!) quarterback.

"Thank You Tom, The Greatest Of All Time," the signs read ... "With Love, The Kraft Family and the New England Patriots."

The billboards are up all around Gillette Stadium, where Brady played for the past 20 seasons.

The next step for Brady ... he will undergo a physical conducted by a doctor in New York and if (when) he passes, he should be cleared to be the next starting QB of the Tampa Bay Bucs.

The physical is supposed to go down TODAY. Guessing TB12 will gas up his private jet to get to NYC to minimize contact with other people.

Earlier this week, Kraft issued an emotional statement about Tom leaving -- saying, "I love Tom like a son and I always will."

They don't call him SaQUADS Barkley for nothing ...

Here's New York Giants superstar running back Saquon Barkley proving he still has superhuman strength ... box squatting close to 500 pounds -- FOR REPS!!!

The former No. 2 overall pick posted the vid Wednesday evening ... and it's clear, a coronavirus pandemic ain't stoppin' the 23-year-old from pumping iron.

Check out the barbell as he goes up and down FIVE TIMES ... it freakin' bends!!!!!

As for how much weight the former Penn State stud is actually pushing ... it's unclear exactly, but if each of the big plates is a standard 45-pounder -- it's somewhere in the 400-plus range.

Of course, this is nothing new for the man with the biggest thighs in the NFL ... remember when he cleaned over 400 pounds in college???

Vanessa Bryant has filed legal docs to protect all of her children ...she's asking a judge to amend Kobe's trust so she can provide for their youngest daughter, Capri, who was born after the most recent trust document was drafted and signed.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ Sports, Kobe created a trust to provide for Vanessa and his kids way back in 2003. The trust was amended several times, most recently in 2017. It seems every time one of their 4 children was born, they amended the trust to include them.

Problem is ... Capri was born 9 months ago and it didn't seem like there was a mad rush to amend the document again, since Kobe was healthy and young. Obviously, no one could have anticipated the tragedy that befell the family when both Kobe and Gigi were killed in a helicopter crash last January.

Vanessa is asking the judge to include Capri, and explains it was clearly Kobe's intent to provide for his children. He even says so generally in one on the documents.

It seems pretty certain a judge will allow the amendment.

According to the trust agreement, Vanessa, Natalia and Bianka can draw from the principal and income in the trust during Vanessa's lifetime, and then her kids get the remainder upon her death. Vanessa wants to include Capri in that distribution.

Floyd Mayweather's comeback is off ... at least for now ... with the boxer telling people he will likely NOT fight in 2020 in the wake of the multiple personal tragedies and the coronavirus.

As we previously reported, 43-year-old Floyd was planning on TWO fights in 2020 -- one event involving the UFC and another fight against an established, respected boxer.

But, sources close to Floyd tell us ... Mayweather is reeling after both his ex, Josie Harris, and his uncle, Roger Mayweather, died in the span of a week. And, the last thing on his mind is fighting.

Floyd has 3 children with Josie who died unexpectedly last week while in her car in front of her home in Valencia, CA. In fact, she was found by one of their children.

Uncle Roger -- who was also Floyd's trainer -- had been ill for a while, but we're told Floyd was extremely fond of him and is having a tough time accepting that he's gone.

On top of all that ... we're also told Floyd was crushed by the death of his friend, Kobe Bryant -- he took that one particularly hard.

In other words, he's dealing with A LOT right now -- and it would be extremely difficult for him to focus on boxing.

Plus, with the coronavirus pandemic still in full swing -- and so many events being canceled or postponed -- it's unclear when Floyd would be able to lock down a fight date in 2020 anyway.

WWE just made a MAJOR change to WrestleMania 36 -- the event will be split into 2 nights ... and future pro football hall of famer Rob Gronkowski will be hosting the whole thing!!

Vince McMahon's org. just made the historic announcement Wednesday afternoon ... saying the ex-Pats superstar will be the face of the event from the WWE Performance Center in Florida.

The event is slated to go down April 4 and 5 -- on closed sets in multiple locations -- thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

As we previously reported, Gronk finalized a deal with WWE in a "part-time, cameo" type of setting last week ... with ProWrestlingSheet's Ryan Satin initially breaking the news Gronk was close to a deal.

Of course, there's gonna be a different feel to the huge event this year ... with the original plan in Tampa scrapped for a live-streamed event at WWE headquarters with ZERO fans.

A rep for WWE told us at the time, "Only essential personnel will be on the closed set at WWE’s training facility in Orlando, Florida to produce WrestleMania."

Mike Tyson isn't scared of dying -- not even a little bit -- explaining, "living might be more complicated than dying to me."

Yeah ... Mike opened up about life and death during a very candid interview with "The Sportsman" -- where the boxing legend was asked if he was afraid of dying in the ring.

"I knew there was a possibility that I could die during training, during a fight. I knew that. But I wasn’t scared, because I thought if anybody was going to die, I would do the killing."

TERRIFIED YET!?

There's more ... 53-year-old Tyson got super deep about the concept of life and death -- and explained why he's not worried about what happens after his time on Earth runs out.

"Life is pretty interesting. We’re born not knowing, we die not knowing where we came from. But our life prepares us for our death. We still don’t know sh*t about it, but when we get to a certain age, we’re not scared of dying no more, like it was when we were young."

In fact, when Tyson was asked if he looks forward to death -- here's what he said.

"Yeah. I don’t fear it. Living might be more complicated than dying to me. The belief of it. I don’t know if it’s true. Because living takes a lot of courage. Without the courage, you can’t handle living."

Stuck at home and itching for some more sports action?? The NFL and NBA just came through in the clutch for fans in desperate need of entertainment ... offering FREE access to Game Pass and League Pass!!

The sports gods heard everyone's prayers and provided the hookup -- access to the NFL's library of regular season and playoff games since 2009, as well as documentaries like "Hard Knocks" and other programs.

As for League Pass, users will be able to watch a bunch of classic games and replays (may we suggest Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals?) ... as well as other specials and content to keep you from losing your mind while sitting at home.

It's gotta be helpful for a bunch of sports fans across America currently deprived of competition ... considering all the pro leagues are on hold during the coronavirus pandemic.

It also gives New England Patriots fans a chance to watch Tom Brady's classic games ... considering that'll never happen again now that he's gonna be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer (too soon?).

The NBA's offer runs through April 22, while the NFL's will continue through May 31 ... but hopefully we're all back to work by then?

L.A. Dodgers minor leaguer Connor Joe -- a former MLB 1st-round pick -- underwent surgery for testicular cancer Tuesday ... but the utility player says he's very optimistic about his recovery.

"The good news is that we caught it early, and cases like mine are very curable," Joe said. "I have started treatment, underwent surgery yesterday and am in my recovery process now."

Joe -- who was picked by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2014 MLB draft -- left Dodgers' spring camp a couple weeks ago with the ailment.

Connor revealed doctors discovered the cancer after a battery of tests ... but the 27-year-old is hopeful for a "quick and full recovery" after his operation earlier this week.

"I recognize the road ahead may be challenging and uncomfortable at times, but God is good and I am staying positive," Joe said.

Connor -- who's had a successful minor league career the past few years -- had a cup of coffee in The Show with the SF Giants last season, recording 1 hit in 8 games.

He was attempting to compete for a roster spot with the Dodgers at spring training this year before his cancer diagnosis.

The Chicago Bears are trading for Nick Foles ... and it all begs the question -- is Mitch Trubisky officially done in The Windy City?!?!

Multiple NFL reporters say Da Bears are sending a 4th-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the former Super Bowl MVP ... and it's gotta hurt Trubisky's feelings a bit.

A lot of the Bears' current staff have old ties to Foles ... head coach Matt Nagy worked with him in Kansas City, while new QB coach John DeFilippo coached him in Philly.

But, the message from Chicago all off-season was that they still loved Trubisky as their QB ... in fact, remember when Prince Amukamara told us at the Super Bowl the Bears were Mitch believers?!

Seems that might not be the case anymore ... because not only is a 4th-rounder a pretty pricey fee -- the Bears are likely going to have to eat a whole lot of the 4-year, $88 MILLION deal Foles signed with the Jags last off-season.

Of course, Foles was expendable in Jacksonville because of the unexpected play of rookie Gardner Minshew -- who crushed it filling in for Nick all last year.

Now, does this trade make Trubisky -- the former 1st-round pick who was selected AHEAD OF Patrick Mahomes -- expendable in Chicago as well???

"It was so exciting, almost as much as when I kissed my wife for the very first time 49 years ago!"

That's Dick Vitale SO pumped about Tom Brady joining up with his favorite Tampa Bay Buccaneers team ... he could hardly contain his excitement on a phone call Wednesday with TMZ Sports!!

"I was really ecstatic," Vitale says ... "I mean, Tom Brady coming here is the best medicine!"

If you weren't aware ... Dickie V is one of the Bucs' biggest fans -- he's had season tickets for years -- and he believes TB12 heading south is going to do big things for Tampa Bay.

"They got the weapons," the legendary college basketball analyst says. "They just need leadership, and he'll provide that. He's the greatest of all-time, I don't think there's any doubt whatsoever!"

Vitale says ticket demands for the Bucs have gone up so much since the news of Brady's decision broke this week ... he's been offered free meals in exchange for some seats!

TB to TB.

Tom Brady is going to the Tampa Bay Bucs -- with a deal that will pay him $30 MILLION per season, so says NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

It still sounds like Tom has some I's to dot and T's to cross, but it's essentially a done deal at this point. Unclear how long the contract is for. Guessing it's on the shorter side considering Tom is 42 years old.

BEST DAY EVER FOR MIKE EVANS THO, HUH?!

There is one little issue ... the #12 currently belongs to Bucs star WR Chris Godwin. Will he give it up for free or will Tom have to pay up?!

Of course, the 6-time Super Bowl champ announced he was leaving the New England Patriots on Tuesday morning -- and things developed rapidly after that.

There was reported interest from the Chargers, Dolphins, Raiders and others -- but in the end, the Bucs won out. The Chargers were the last team in the mix before the Bucs came out on top.

Of course, it's a sad day for Pats Nation ... and as owner Robert Kraft put it, "I had hoped he would choose to stay, as a fan and an owner. But, out of respect for the relationship we’ve built, I gave him his freedom."

Brady played 285 games for NE in 20 seasons with the team ... throwing for more than 74,000 yards, 541 TDs ... and oh yeah, winning 6 Super Bowls.

It's the first time Brady was a free agent in his career ... and a new era in the NFL is here.

DeAndre Hopkins claims Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien scolded him for having multiple baby mamas ... and even compared him to Aaron Hernandez.

... this is all according to Michael Irvin, who says he spoke with the superstar WR after he was traded out of Houston -- and man, the allegations are SHOCKING.

Irvin said on ESPN's "Get Up" on Wednesday that O'Brien had called Hopkins into a meeting recently over the wideout being "too influential" in the Texans' locker-room.

Irvin claims the whole confrontation started out with O'Brien saying, "Hey, uh, the last time I had to have a meeting like this it was with Aaron Hernandez."

FYI, O'Brien was the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots in 2011, when Hernandez was a star tight end for the team. Hernandez was later accused of killing multiple people before taking his own life in prison. So, yeah, it's not a name to be thrown around lightly.

The Playmaker says Hopkins was blown away by the comment -- saying, "I've never been in any trouble" -- but Irvin says things got even worse later in the meeting.

Irvin claims O'Brien was upset that Hopkins brought the mothers of his children around the team, saying, "He told De'Andre he doesn't like that he has his baby mamas around sometimes."

"And, from that, I think the relationship just went bad," Irvin added.

Hopkins and a 4th-rounder were ultimately traded Monday for running back David Johnson, a 2nd-round pick and a future 4th-rounder ... a shocking move considering the Vikings received a 1st-round pick AND MORE for Stefon Diggs later in the day.