Was Peyton Manning Really Arrested For Drugs?
Yes, Peyton Manning was arrested for possession of drugs! However, this Peyton Manning is an 18-year-old Nashville woman who happens to have the exact same name as Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. She was arrested this past Sunday for possession of marijuana, reports WRCB.
According to a more comprehensive report from WKRN, Miss Peyton Manning got pulled over for using high beams in the middle of traffic, which as you likely know is a big no-no. Upon pulling her over, cops detected the strong smell of marijuana. This prompted them to ask Manning and the vehicle’s owner, Kenneth Sowards, for permission to search the car. They agreed for whatever reason, which led to the officers discovering “44 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, and a pill crusher.”
The Tennessean also reports that there were “baggies of cocaine dissolving in a cup of Coca-Cola.” Plus, officers found text messages on Manning’s phone that mentioned using cocaine and selling marijuana.
Both Peyton Manning (not the Broncos football star) and her accomplice were immediately arrested. And since the arrest occurred within 1,000 feet of a church, they were subsequently charged with felonies for possession of drugs in a drug-free zone. Sowards received an additional charge for trying to dispose of the cocaine in the cup of cola. Manning is currently in jail on a $20,000 bond.
This story is obviously only getting mainstream media attention because the woman in question is named after Peyton Manning. What’s interesting is that the name Peyton was not always popular in Tennessee. It wasn’t until young football star Peyton Manning led the University of Tennessee to its first win against Alabama in a decade that the name Peyton suddenly cracked the top 100 names in the state. Since that fateful day in 1995, the name has skyrocketed in popularity and continues to dominate, reports Sports Illustrated:
From 1996 through ’98, a total of 68 Peytons were born at the University of Tennessee Medical Center alone, compared with 10 the decade before. By 1997, according to babynames.com, Peyton was the 51st most-popular newborn boy name in the state.
Of course, the Peyton in question today is obviously not a boy (or man), which makes this story even stranger. Regardless, it’s a shame that she inadvertently besmirched such a great name. She’s not likely to get signed to any national football teams anytime soon, but we sure do hope she receives the help she clearly needs!
Image via [The Tennessean]
