During the 17 hours of NFL pregame show coverage yesterday, there was "not a word" said about the Al Jazeera story that connected Broncos QB Peyton Manning to HGH, according to Bob Raissman of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. The "only outlet touching this story" yesterday was WFAN-AM's Mike Francesa, who interviewed CBS' Jim Nantz. Nantz revealed that he "had no use for the Manning story." Asked if he would bring up the story during yesterday broadcast of Chargers-Broncos, Nantz said, "No, why would we? If we talk about it we would only continue to breathe life into a story that on all levels is a non-story. Why add another layer to it?" Raissman writes Manning’s "media spin ... worked -- big time" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/4). In Boston, Ben Volin wrote the feeling regarding the Al Jazeera report is that "unless some sort of documentation emerges directly linking Manning to HGH use, he’s going to skate on this one." The NFL did not test for HGH in '11, Manning has never failed a drug test, and the league will "tread carefully about impugning one of its top stars" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/3). In Orlando, Jerry Greene writes, "Let's start trusting people again until it is proven they are not worthy of trust." At the moment, Manning has "been proven guilty of no wrongdoing" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/3).
TRYING TO BACK IT UP: Al-Jazeera reporter Debora Davies said that the network "had a second source who corroborated the allegations made against Manning and his wife," Ashley. Davies during an appearance on CNN yesterday said the second source is "absolutely impeccably placed, knowledgeable and credible who confirmed exactly" what the original source, pharmacist Charlie Sly, said. Davies added, "Shipments of HGH were repeatedly, repeatedly sent to Ashley Manning in Florida and other places in the U.S." (DENVERPOST.com, 1/3).
