Tweet, tweet: Twitter not the place to follow thoughts of Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning (AP Photo)

If you want to know what Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning is thinking -- and don't you just know you do -- Twitter isn't the place to go.

While there does exist a twitter account bearing Manning's name, it hasn't been updated in more than three months.

Another account bearing Manning's name has been deactivated.

The reason?

"Strange activity," and while I'll resist the urge to wonder if twittering itself doesn't fall somewhere near the category, according to Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer, Manning was among several sports celebrities recently victimized in what likely will be an ongoing issue in the twitter world -- the process of people setting up bogus accounts under athletes' names and twittering false updates to thousands of followers.

This issue came into the mainstream view recently when Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger addressed rumors he had skin cancer after Twitter, Facebook and My Space accounts bearing his name featured posts saying so.

Manning hasn't been the victim of any post so specific, and anyone who has followed Manning closely could probably figure that the posts from twitter.com/Peyton_Manning -- an account with more than 10,000 followers that was last updated in February -- weren't from the meticulous, detail-oriented quarterback:

. . .There is great talent in this years draft. I wonder who Bill Polian is looking to pick. I think I heard the words Percy Harvin. (8:40 PM Feb 17th from web).

. . .Would anyone like seeing T.J. Houshmandzadeh in a Colts jersey next season? Haha. (5:11 PM Feb 17th from web).

. . . The Bucs fired John Gruden. Are they hoping to get Tony Dungy back? Haha. Maybe Mike Shanahan? (5:21 PM Jan 16th from web).

Now, Manning is many, many things, and those who know him far better than I talk often of his quick wit and penchant for humor. What he is not is flippant and carefree with his thoughts in a public forum, which is why Kathleen Hessert -- whose company, Sports Media Challenge, represents Manning -- told the New York Times in January:

“It’s not the right fit for Peyton, he’s not that spontaneous. If Peyton did it he would plan it all out and make sure he did the best — he wouldn’t have any typos.”

Couldn't agree more, also agree with Farmer who wrote that this sort of story likely will continue until Facebook, Twitter and similar sites devise a system for ensuring people are who they claim to be.

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