Peyton Manning hasn't talked to the media since Super Bowl 50, as he considered retiring from the NFL, so Monday was the first time to ask Manning about the long-ago incident with an athletic trainer at the University of Tennessee that gained traction after Super Bowl 50.
It was uncomfortable after an emotional speech announcing his retirement, but it gave Manning his chance to address the issue, and it was a legitimate question after all of the debates about how that case from 1996 could affect his legacy. Manning was accused by a former female athletic trainer at Tennessee of placing his "naked butt and rectum" and his genitals on her face during a training session.
And Manning said he didn't do it.
"First of all, this a joyous day, nothing can overtake this day," Manning said. "I think it is sad that some people don't understand the truth and facts. I did not do what has been alleged, and I'm not interested in re-ligitating something that happened when I was 19 years old."
That's no surprise, considering Manning was quoted in court documents from many years ago as saying he just mooned a teammate as a prank for a second.
The facts of the case have been disputed, with both sides being dissected in the media for about a month. It's unlikely we'll get any true answers on the case, especially from Manning, who didn't want to discuss what happened other than denying the allegations.
"This is a joyous day, this is a special day, and like Forrest Gump said, 'That's all I have to say about that,'" Manning said.
No comments:
Post a Comment