TMZ Sports - Page 50

The Super Bowl LIII halftime came and went, and it featured A LOT of Adam Levine ... who stripped down until there was practically nothing left up top.

Maroon 5 took center stage Sunday midway through the big game, and they ran through a bunch of their early hits to kick things off. As the show went on, Adam lost more and more layers from his torso ... until he was fully shirtless by 'Moves Like Jagger' at the end.

Travis Scott and Big Boi made brief appearances as well -- each of them performed one verse and a hook of their songs, "SICKO MODE" and "The Way You Move," respectively. But no guest appearances here, even though both songs featured big artists like Drake and Andre 3000. Even M5's "Girls Like You" went without a surprise Cardi B visit. Darn ...

Either way, the spotlight always went back to Adam and co. They were the headliners, after all ... and this performance proved it.

The NFL tried telling Barstool Sports to stay away, but the company's president insisted on attending Super Bowl LIII ... and just got his ass thrown out in handcuffs.

Dave Portnoy was hauled away by security Sunday during Maroon 5's halftime show as he watched from the stand -- and by hauled, we mean his entire body was literally lifted up and carried out by a swarm of guards. He was trying to go incognito with a stache and shades.

Dave was brought inside and appeared to be getting questioned by security personnel before armed police officers cuffed him and escorted him outside. It's unclear if he was ultimately arrested or not, but Dave and co. definitely knew they weren't allowed in.

If you'll recall ... Dave and fellow Barstool employee PFT Commenter got tossed from the Super Bowl Opening Day Event last week after officials discovered they were carrying fake press passes. Both men were issued criminal trespass warnings by police.

Conor McGregor is BACK in America -- this time, no violence ... just cuteness!!

The UFC superstar and his 1-year-old son, Conor Jr., just arrived at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, in matching purple suits ... and they're both STYLIN'!!!

Conor is a huge Dallas Cowboys fan -- he became with friends with Jerry Jones in 2018 -- but since they're not in the big game, unclear who Conor will be rooting for.

One thing's for sure ... Conor ain't missing an opportunity to flash his mug at the biggest sporting ever of the year!!

By the way, look at Conor McGregor Jr.'s designer kicks -- sweeeeeeet!!!!

The A-list stars are starting to arrive at the stadium -- Jon Bon Jovi, Kevin Hart and Ludacris are already there.

So is Rams superfan YG -- he's been a good luck charm for the Rams this season, this is good news for L.A.

Saints fans are still pissed about getting screwed in the NFC Championship game -- and they're protesting Super Bowl LIII the only way NOLA knows how ... partying it up big time.

The Who Dat faithful took to the streets Sunday by the thousands for a Mardi Gras-style event they dubbed #BoycottBowl. It's basically a festival aimed at calling out the outrageous late-game pass interference no-call against the Rams, which didn't help them win.

This ain't no small thing either -- hordes of fans were out in Saints jerseys and literally parading around town with marching bands and dance troupes ... playing live music and celebrating. There's an entire schedule out for #BoycottBowl too, which includes events like the "Anti-Goodell Protest Bowl" and "Salty Super Bowl Bingo."

The upside ... everyone seems to be protesting peacefully and trying to make the most out of a crappy situation (for them, anyway). And hey, this has gotta be a boom for local businesses and vendors, who are definitely out in force to snap up customers. Win-win!!! Eh, kinda.

In case you missed it, Nickell Robey-Coleman hit Tommylee Lewis out of bounds before he could catch a pass from Drew Brees late in the game, but it was called incomplete instead of a pass interference ... which the NFL later admitted was a major mistake.

Donald Trump -- the man who complained the NFL was eliminating too many big hits -- admits tackle football is "a dangerous sport" and he'd have a "hard time" allowing his son to play.

POTUS sat down with CBS News' Margaret Brennan who asked Trump if he would allow 12-year-old Barron play football if he wanted to.

"It’s very, it’s a very tough question," Trump said ... "It’s a very good question. If he wanted to? Yes. Would I steer him that way? No, I wouldn’t."

When asked to elaborate, Trump said, "I just don’t like the reports that I see coming out having to do with football -- I mean, it’s a dangerous sport and I think it’s really tough."

He added, "I thought the equipment would get better, and it has. The helmets have gotten far better, but it hasn’t solved the problem."

"So, you know I hate to say it because I love to watch football. I think the NFL is a great product, but I really think that as far as my son -- well I’ve heard NFL players saying they wouldn’t let their sons play football. So ... it’s not totally unique, but I would have a hard time with it."

Back in 2017, Trump complained that the NFL "ruining the game," by calling too many penalties on big hits.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft says he's still very serious about getting Diddy into the NFL owner's fraternity ... telling TMZ Sports he really likes the hip-hop mogul.

Remember, Kraft was a big supporter of Diddy when he made a push to buy the Carolina Panthers back in 2017. The team was ultimately sold to hedge fund manager David Tepper.

So, when we saw Kraft at Michael Rubin's Fanatics Party in ATL on Saturday night, we asked if he thinks Diddy will ever actually accomplish his goal of buying an NFL team.

"I hope so," Kraft told us ... "I'm a big fan of his."

We then got Diddy a few hours later at Magic City and asked about the ownership situation -- he told us simply, "It's time."

Bow Wow was more than willing to talk after his arrest Saturday morning for allegedly beating a woman ... but what he wants to talk about has nothing to do with the incident.

We got Bow Wow Saturday night leaving Magic City Strip Club in ATL and he said on the advice of his lawyer he couldn't say anything about the incident.

As TMZ reported ... Bow Wow and the woman were both arrested after they allegedly got in some sort of physical altercation at 4:15 AM Saturday in Atlanta. The woman claimed Bow Wow assaulted her. He claimed it was the opposite.

Bow Wow was booked for Battery with Substantial Physical Harm ... despite the fact cops told us the injuries were "minor." He was released on $8k bail.

Before Rams players headed for Atlanta to prepare for their Super Bowl 53 matchup against the Patriots, they got some advice from the NFL -- protect your homes in L.A.

Our NFL sources tell us ... officials spoke with several players and coaches on the Rams who live in the Los Angeles area and suggested they take steps to ensure their homes are safe from potential burglars while they are out of town.

We're told they offered tips like having someone house-sit, parking an extra car in the driveway, adding alarms and surveillance, or even hiring security guards for the days they'll be away.

Other sources tell us many players heeded the NFL's advice by upgrading their home security systems and some indeed hired staff at their residences ... including private armed security and retired cops.

As you may know ... L.A. and the San Fernando Valley have seen a string of burglaries over the past couple of years, especially at the houses of celebs and famous athletes. In fact, Rams WR Robert Woods is on that list.

10 gang members were charged in connection with burglaries at more than 24 homes in late November, and cops say the break-in at Woods' pad -- while he was playing "Thursday Night Football" -- was a key to cracking the case.

This burglary crew allegedly also targeted stars like Rihanna, LeBron James, Yasiel Puig and Viola Davis.

Akon's got a hot take on African-American singers and rappers blowing off the Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show, and it sounds like he's NOT exactly down with the boycott in support of Colin Kaepernick.

We got the singer/producer as he touched down in ATL, days ahead of the big game, and asked what he made of A-list celebs snubbing the NFL to stand in solidarity with Kap. Some are even calling for Travis Scott, Big Boi and Maroon 5 to take a knee during their performance -- but don't count Akon among that group.

For him, it's about time and place and he believes the Super Bowl is just too big a stage to opt out of playing on it.

Here's a shirtless shot of rapper and Kylie Jenner's parenting partner, Travis Scott (26), on stage in full sicko mode before his Super Bowl LIII halftime debut (left) ... and a smooth looking shot of the Maroon 5 singer and "The Voice" judge Adam Levine (39) standing tall and topless(right).

While nobody knows whether Tom Brady and the New England Patriots or Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams will take home the Vince Lombardi Trophy in this year's best gridiron game ... we gotta ask.

A former Super Bowl MVP is offering up FREE advice for all you degenerates out there ... 'cause Deion Branch says take the OVER on Sunday!!!

The ex-Patriots star tells TMZ Sports his former team will beat the Rams in Super Bowl XLIII ... and the score will be around 31-27.

Translation ... that 56.5 over/under that Vegas set is EASY MONEY!!!

"It'll go over," the ex-NFL receiver guarantees ... "All the people who are betting, take the over."

If you're into prop bets ... Deion's got some advice for you there too -- saying Tom Brady WILL be the MVP of the game.

And, if you want to live life dangerously and bet on an underdog to win the award over TB12 ... Branch even has the guy for you there too!!!

BTW ... Deion is confident the Pats are gonna win 'cause he knows Brady just won't let New England lose.

In fact -- he told us a hilarious story where Tom couldn't even handle losing to him in a game of ping pong!!!

Brandon Browner -- the guy who helped the Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX -- WILL be allowed to watch his former team in the Super Bowl from jail ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Browner -- who was just sentenced to 8 years behind bars after he pled no contest to attempted murder back in December -- is currently being held in L.A. County Jail.

But, law enforcement sources tell us they won't ban the guy from watching his ex-team if he wants to ... saying Brandon WILL have the ability to catch the game on Sunday.

Browner was a superstar for New England in his lone season there in 2014 ... and has even been credited by Bill Belichick for helping Malcolm Butler make the game-sealing pick against the Seahawks in the Super Bowl.

But, Browner found himself in big trouble last July after he brutalized his ex-girlfriend in front of her two children -- and was sentenced to 8 years in prison after he copped a no contest plea.

Brandon is currently trying to have a judge throw out the conviction ... with a court date set for next month.

Is Kliff Kingsbury the secret to finally getting Robert Nkemdiche to realize his massive potential??

Nkemdiche certainly thinks so ... 'cause the Cardinals' 2016 1st-round pick is absolutely JACKED UP over Arizona's new head coach.

"I f*cking love him," the Cards' D-lineman tells TMZ Sports at Jay Glazer's Merging Vets & Players Super Bowl Party Wednesday night.

"I think we're going to do some great things with him. I can't wait until we start with him. And, I don't care, the Cardinals are coming with some f*cking attitude and fury! And, we're going to come, BANG!"

Neither Bruce Arians nor Steve Wilks could get Nkemdiche to play up to the level that made him one of the top prospects in the country a few years ago ... but seems Robert believes Kliff will.

In fact ... Robert's so confident Kingsbury will pull it out of him and the rest of the team -- he's GUARANTEEING the playoffs for the Cards next season!!!

"We're going to be there. So, just watch out for us. Watch out."

Adrian Peterson tells TMZ Sports he's NOWHERE close to retirement ... and says he's got a couple years left in him!!!

"I'll be playing next year for sure. Maybe two or three more years!"

The future Hall of Fame RB is coming off one of his most impressive seasons ... running for 1,042 yards and 7 TDs -- despite signing with the Redskins just days before the season began.

But, the guy is 33 years old now ... and has nearly 3,000 carries on his body -- causing some to wonder if the end was near.

Clearly ... it ain't -- A.P. says, "My concern is enjoying it and playing as long as God lets me play."

DeSean Jackson's new head coach REALLY doesn't want him to leave Tampa ... 'cause Bruce Arians tells TMZ Sports he desperately wants to keep the WR on the Bucs!!!

"Hey! Just come back, brother! I love ya. I know how good you are. I've been playing against you forever!"

Of course, it's unclear if D-Jax himself wants to stay ... the wideout was disgruntled with his role on the team for nearly all of 2018 -- and reportedly even requested a trade.

In fact, when we got him out at LAX last month ... he told us straight-up he's still unsure if he'll suit up for Arians and the Bucs next season.

But, Bruce tells us he's going to do his best to convince the 3-time Pro Bowler to stick with Tampa ... saying they've got a face-to-face meeting set up for next week.