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Peyton Manning's strong denial of the Al Jazeera documentary that alleges he took human growth hormone in 2011 is believable. His words are strong, and his irate emotions are stronger. "I've never seen Peyton any angrier over any issue," ESPN analyst and Broncos Ring of Famer Tom Jackson said.
But what's more incredible is how that isn't doing enough to offset the damage the report has caused. And all of it- everything regarding this report - is based on a statement from a drug dealer who was trying to sell dope who since admitted he was lying.
MHR alum Jon Heath had the best tweet we've found that sums up everything we know about the Manning allegations.
And the guy recanted it. So to recap: Dealer: I lied. Manning: Story is a lie. Sounds like it was made up.
— Jon Heath (@JonHeathNFL) December 27, 2015
The dealer, Charles David Sly, did not know he was being videotaped in Al Jazeera's undercovery documentary, and has since admitted he was lying more than once.
"When I was there, I had never seen the Mannings ever. They were not even living there at that time," Sly said (via ESPN). "Someone who worked there said they had been there before. That was the extent of any knowledge I had. I feel badly. I never saw any files. This is just amazing that it reached this point."
It's not amazing at all. And neither will be the defamation lawsuit that almost certainly comes from Manning and his representatives as the dust settles this weekend.