Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has been one of the premier faces of the NFL for over the last decade. Needless to say, it was a bit shocking when an Al Jazeera report cited Manning as having used HGH during his recovery process from neck surgery in 2011, causing him to miss the entire 2011 season.

"What hurts me the most about this," Manning said. "Whoever this guy is, this slapstick trying to insinuate that in 2011 when more than less I had a broken neck--I had four neck surgeries--it stings me whoever this guy is to insinuate that I cut corners, I broke NFL rules in order to get healthy. It's a joke. It's a freaking joke."

The report from Al Jazeera was published online and aired on television later that day. The source for the information was identified as Charlie Sly. Sly, a former pharmacist intern in Indiana, lied, saying that Manning ordered HGH through his wife's name. Sly recanted his story to Al Jazeera after he had admitted to using "made up" information.

"Disgusted is really how I feel, sickened by it," Manning said.

Other players noted it the report include Packers Mike Neal, Julius Peppers, and Clay Matthews as well as Steelers linebacker James Harrison.  Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman were also listed in the report. Sly referred to the drug given to the players as Delta-2, a recently banned substance by the NFL and MLB.

"I'm trying to understand how someone can make something up about somebody, admit that he made it up and yet somehow it gets published in the story."

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