Clay Matthews

Report: NFL will interview Peyton Manning, too, in PED investigation

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:33 p.m. ET

Dan Graf

Add Peyton Manning to the list of names the NFL will interview about the Al Jazeera America report that last winter attempted to link him and four active players to PED use.

Manning’s name was the biggest on the list, but he was not included when several outlets last Friday released a letter from the NFL to the NFLPA requesting interviews with the players named in the report.

Given that the five-time league MVP retired after winning the Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos, it seemed that the NFL was turning its focus to three big-name linebackers (Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, James Harrison) and one free agent (Mike Neal) named in the report. But NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy on Monday revealed to Pro Football Talk that Manning will be interviewed as well.

Matthews, Peppers and Harrison (if he consents) will be interviewed on the first day of camps, and Neal will get his talk no later than July 22. Manning – though he has repeatedly denied the allegations in the report, many of which were already recanted by the defunct network’s chief source -- has already said he’ll cooperate and will need his name in good standing if he ever returns to the league as an executive.

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Clay Matthews

Denver Broncos

National Football League