Peyton Manning & HGH

                                                       Peyton Manning & HGH

             Now it's Peyton Manning's turn to be scrutinized. He's not very happy about it. At all.

             A report from Al-Jazeera of all places has an identifiable source stating that in 2011 then Indianapolis Colts quarterback Manning used Human Growth Hormone (HGH) to assist in his recovery from very serious neck surgery. Supposedly the Performance-Enhancing Drug (PED) was sent not to Peyton but to his wife from an Indianapolis rehabilitation center.
         
           Manning has vehemently denied the allegations. He admits going to the center to use a hyperbolic chamber to aid in the surgical recovery, Manning stated that he went there with representatives of the  Colts training staff to supervise his recovery. He called the report "garbage, a "freaking joke," and indolently questioned why he would immerse himself in such drug use when recovering from a "broken neck." Both the Colts and his current team, the Denver Broncos issued statements supporting Manning's position.

          The credible source cited in the article, an intern at the facility who might not have even been working there when Manning was a patient, has pulled back from the report. This source stated that he went out on a limb to test the reporter by engaging in wildly speculative name dropping to see what the true angle was. The reporter was a former British hurdler who went undercover to expose the ongoing use of PED's by big name athletes.

          The article also mentioned a couple of other athletes--Ryan Zimmermann of the Washington  Nationals and Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies, both baseball players. An attorney representing both categorically denied the claims against his clients and indicated that he would pursue legal remedies for them. Curiously Manning made his statements in public--it was unclear if he had consulted with or had legal representation present at the time he countered the allegations.

         The public has become highly cynical when it comes to PED use in sports. It is not surprising that there is some cynicism regarding Manning based on the timing purported doping--before the National Football League instituted its ban on the use of PED's.

         But this kind of thinking has come about because icons have admitted to or seemingly used PED's to enhance their athletic abilities. For every Mark McGuire or Andy Pettitte who has acknowledged using some form of PED, there is the Lance Armstrong who vehemently disavowed using any steroids or PED's, only to tearfully admit to Oprah Winfrey that he lied. We, as fans, do not want to believe that our idols cheated in any way--the Jack Armstrong/super hero mind set persists.

         How would it appear if Derek Jeter used a banned substance in the wake of the vilification of Alex Rodriguez? Or how would the national sports consciousness react if Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, Le Bron James or now Stephon Curry used a PED?

         Football has always been suspect in terms of steroid use and other drugs to make the players bigger and faster. That type of mentality comes from the linemen and linebackers who needed to counteract the size and strength of the opponent by way of speed and agility along with brute force. Would it surprise anyone that quarterbacks, who have to endure a pounding to complete passes due to the quickness of the defense invading the pocket, are the next ones to use PED's?

         My answer to the rhetorical question is obvious. The answer as to whether Peyton Manning, one of the top 5 QB's EVER in the NFL resorted to using a PED to gain an athletic advantage and to accelerate his comeback to the competitive stage is not going to be answered so easily. And how will his legacy ultimately be affected?

         Do fans want Peyton to be clean? I think overwhelmingly yes given his place in the game and his commercial success and popularity. Somehow, they worry that he isn't and how that will further violate their belief in sports being played honestly and ethically on a level playing field.

         This game is ongoing just as Peyton, fast nearing the end of his career, seeks to return to play for Denver from another injury. As time inevitably erodes the skills of even the best performers, it is going to require time to sort this mess surrounding Peyton Manning in the search for the real truth. Time which Peyton does not have much of.

         I can understand why Peyton Manning is so mad. I would be too. If I were him.