Posted on 02/13/2016 9:07:31 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Just one week after Peyton Manning triumphed in Super Bowl 50, the Denver Broncos quarterback's reputation has been called into question due to his alleged involvement in a sexual assault during his time at the University of Tennessee.
According to Shaun King of the New York Daily News, in court documents from 2003 that were recently obtained, it was alleged that in 1996, Manning sexually assaulted Dr. Jamie Naughright, who was serving as the associate athletic trainer for the Volunteers football program.
Per the document, which was drafted by Naughright's lawyer, when Naughright was examining Manning's foot for a potential stress fracture, he allegedly "forcefully maneuvered his naked testicles and rectum directly on her face with his penis on top of her head." She later reported the incident to the Sexual Assault Crisis Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Manning reportedly denied the incident, while Naughright's superior and athletic trainer Mike Rollo said it was an accident that occurred when Manning mooned teammate Malcolm Saxon.
Saxon denied that explanation and claimed that he lost his eligibility at Tennessee for not going along with the story in a letter sent to Manning, according to King:
First, I have stuck to my same story throughout this drama. I told Mike Rollo the next day and Coach [Phillip] Fulmer a week or two afterwards. I had nothing to hide at that point and I have nothing to hide today. I have never been on Jamie's side or on your side [contrary to what the athletic department was telling you and telling her]. I stuck to the truth and I lost my eligibility for it. My redshirt request sat on Mike Rollo's desk for months as the process was going forward. I'm not angry about it anymore, just getting a little tired of it!!
Peyton, you messed up. I still don't know why you dropped your drawers. Maybe it was a mistake, maybe not. But it was definitely inappropriate. Please take some personal responsibility here and own up to what you did. I never understood why you didn't admit to it.
Naughright left the University of Tennessee soon after. She and Manning reportedly agreed to not discuss the alleged incident publicly as part of a settlement.
She later took a job at Florida Southern College, but on May 16, 2001, she received transcripts from a book written by Manning and his father, Archie Manning, titled Manning, in which disparaging things were written about her.
This led to her losing her job at Florida Southern College and also prompted her to file a defamation lawsuit.
Per King, Peyton Manning accused Naughright of regularly using vulgar language, which is something several Tennessee football players and colleagues of Naughright's denied.
Also, Manning ghostwriter John Underwood said under oath that Archie Manning suggested to him that "Naughright was going into the dorms and having sex with large numbers of black student-athletes," which was also never substantiated.
The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount in 2003, according to King.
While both Mel Antonen and Christine Brennan wrote stories about the documents for USA Today in 2003, per King, many within the media were recently unaware of the allegations, including ESPN.com's Sarah Spain:
Incredible details I haven't seen anywhere before -- KING: Peyton Manning’s squeaky-clean image was built on lies https://t.co/mgMoAC023B— Sarah Spain (@SarahSpain) February 13, 2016
The details come to light during a time when Manning's NFL future is up in the air. Most expect the 39-year-old to retire, but he has been noncommittal, as he was on the Today Show (h/t WTHR 13):
Whatever the decision is, I have real peace about it. I'm going to enjoy this Super Bowl victory and celebrate with my family and friends. I'll keep doing it for a few more weeks, and then at the appropriate time, I think I'll make a decision. I have to tell you, though, I'm very much at peace with it.
Manning also recently dealt with accusations that he received human growth hormone from the Guyer Institute in Indianapolis while rehabbing his neck injury in 2011.
Manning has denied the allegations, per ESPN.com.
I read the article, it is very interesting.
I will look for more articles and everything to say something negative about Peyton.
But our heroes, Lance Armstrong, Bill Cosby and I’m sure there are others, it’s disappointing. If it is true, then, I think per public opinion, PM should be grilled on it.
But it’s 20 years ago or something.
Nobody posted this yet, I looked earlier. Anyway, I’m not going to rag on PM; but I am watching the story.
Hey! There are 57 genders. Celebrate!
there was no criminal complaint in 1996...20 years ago?
If not, it didn't happen.
like i said earlier,
my cat is much more perverse. Every time he sits on me he backs his butt into my face!!
i swat his butt but he does it again.
i’m thinking of having him registered!!
Sounds like the most ridiculous story all around, even if it’s true.
1 year searching for proof of removing air from footballs and finding none?
Hopefully, the hypocrisy is clear, no matter which side anyone is on.
Why is this being resurrected now? I heard about this (and disregarded it) years ago.
From my first reading on it a few months ago, it seems she and Peyton had some sort of misunderstanding or verbal confrontation and it seems he decided to have the last word, so to speak.
Oh blow it out your....
“Our heroes?” Speak for yourself. Strange you did not include BJ Bill Clinton, his eminence and “reverend” Al Sharpton. Has he ever given a sermon as a “reverend”?
Let me know, as I would surely like to read it and see if his flocks of churchgoers are in favor of his theology.
Old news being dragged back out by the white BLM guy who pretended to be black
its nuts that we have to go back decades to drag this crap up...
I think if we really new how some of these athletes behave we would be greatly disappointed.....
“if” not it....
Shaun King is low-life scum. I would be highly doubtful of anything he has to say.
That article gave about 12 long paragraphs dedicated solely to singing the praises of the alleged victim... and in the end, the worst allegations made in this “sexual assault” are that he mooned someone in front of her, and plopped his genitalia on top of her head and she as bent over in front of him looking at his foot... 20 years ago. A stupid college kid thing to do, and certainly not in what we imagine to be the character of Peyton Manning... but also not nearly worth the immense article here either. It seems more like an attempt to topple yet another hero the moment that his Christian faith seems to be getting noted.
We make heros out of the wrong people, those worthy of admiration aren’t in the national media. I had the pleasure of waiting on one such person tonight. She and her husband were out with their adult children, one of whom was mentally disabled. The mom radiated enthusiasm, positivity and kindness. I delivered their food as they were toasting Valentine’s Day.
That woman is what I aspire to be and I don’t even know her name.
Other than Brady accepting punishment early in the process... and that investigation was by the NFL, not by Manning.
For non-NFL fans... this is why nobody likes Patriots fans
These aren’t new allegations. The allegations were made and reported on by the media years ago. Most people at the time didn’t think there was any merit to it. It’s beyond ridiculous that it’s being brought up again now, I assume, to simply tarnish Manning’s reputation.
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