Eli Manning lookalike arrested for throwing live alligator into Wendy's drive-thru (PHOTO)

A 23-year-old Florida man — with an uncanny resemblance to Eli Manning — landed himself in jail after the dimwitted prankster threw a live alligator into a Wendy's drive-thru window.

Joshua James is accused of assault with a deadly weapon and illegally capturing an alligator after throwing the scaly creature into a Royal Palm Beach Wendy’s fast food joint.

And damn, if he doesn't look like a young Eli.

Florida man charged on assault with deadly weapon after tossing gator in Wendy’s drive-thru https://t.co/womNaAHj2m pic.twitter.com/fDSIgjF9lM

— WPTV (@WPTV) February 8, 2016

The alligator wrangler allegedly picked up the gator off the side of the road before shoving the three and a half foot reptile from the back of his car through the cashier’s window and saying see ya later.

His mother told WPTV that her son is not violent and that the alligator was part of a joke aimed at his friend who works at the Wendy’s.

“He’s a prankster. He does stuff like this because he thinks it’s funny,” she said.

As for Eli, we all know how the former Ole Miss star must feel about Gators, but lucky for Peyton's brother, everyone knew where the stone-faced Giants quarterback was this weekend. And I mean everyone.

Reaction when somebody aced the test you were hoping to get a curve on. https://t.co/uiyMiC0zw8

— Eric Nolan (@heftylefty17) February 9, 2016

The alligator was not injured and released into a nearby canal.

As for Eli, he was only charged with looking dumbfounded ... again.

Colorado school district bans students from wearing Peyton Manning jerseys

While Peyton Manning gets ready to play possibly his last game in the NFL, one Colorado school district has banned students from wearing the future Hall of Famer’s No. 18 jersey — and it's not because they are Cam Newton fans.

That's because Manning’s iconic jersey number could be used to show loyalty to the local “18th Street Gang, according to officials at Greeley-Evans School District 6.

Manning's No. 18 makes it one of six numbers identified by the district — which operates 25 schools — as having potential gang associations.

So all you Owen Daniels fans are out of luck too.

The five other numbers identified as gang-related by the district and can’t be worn by students in the public district, about an hour from the Bronco’s Mile High Stadium, are 13, 14, 31, 41 and Daniels' 81. Meaning you won't see any Trevor Siemian, Cody Latimer or Omar Bolden jerseys cruising the halls either.

“Gangs use those items of clothing for a few reasons,” school district spokeswoman Theresa Meyers told The Tribune, of Greeley. “They use them to recruit and they use them to intimidate.”

But the No. 1 sported by Newton, quarterback of Denver’s Super Bowl opponent the Carolina Panthers, will be allowed.

Manning has worn No. 18 since his collegiate days at University of Tennessee, and his jersey has been a big seller in Colorado since he became a Bronco in 2012.

But even with the Broncos in Sunday’s NFL championship, and schools around the state holding “Broncos Days,” Greeley-Evans hasn’t had to field any real complaints about its dress code.

“I think as time has gone on, it’s just an expectation,” Meyers said. “Now, people are just like, ‘That’s the rule.’”

Peyton Manning takes swipe at Al Jazeera America closing

If anyone was upset by news that cable news channel Al-Jazeera America was closing after only two years, Peyton Manning was definitely not one of them.

The Denver Broncos quarterback — who was linked to a banned human growth hormone by the network last month — made light of the announcement that Al Jazeera will soon shut down after failing to attract a wide enough audience in the US.

"I'm sure it's just devastating to all their viewers," Manning sneered at a press conference in Colorado Wednesday.

And with good reason.

The fledgling news outlet  aired a documentary, The Dark Side: Secrets of the Sports Dopers, and reported that Manning ordered shipments of HGH which were shipped to his wife Ashley while he was rehabilitating from a neck injury in 2011.

The 39-year-old Manning has vehemently denied Al Jazeera's accusations and denounced the report as "complete garbage" before threatening to sue the network.

Manning did miss the entire 2011 season as he was undergoing career-saving neck surgeries leading to his departure from the Indianapolis Colts before rebounding to a successful run in Denver.

In October 2013, the channel was launched after opening 12 bureaus in the United States and a state-of-the art studio in New York — backed by a $500 million investment.

However it had trouble persuading cable and satellite companies to carry it, and only had about 30,000 viewers in prime-time. 

A spokesman for Al Jazeera — which is owned by the Quatari royal family — told The Washington Post that news of the closure will not affect the department that reported the alleged doping scandal.

So far, nothing has come from the allegations and it doesn't sound like Peyton is too worried about them anyway.

Peyton Manning's wife was repeatedly sent HGH according to 'impeccably placed' source: Report

Peyton Manning returned to action on Sunday night, getting behind center in the third quarter of the Broncos' game against the Chargers and helping his team land the AFC's top seed. But, rising up with the quarterback's game is another source who alleges that the NFL superstar's wife, Ashley, had human growth hormone sent to their home.

A second "impeccably placed" source reportedly confirmed that HGH was repeatedly mailed to Manning's wife while he was recovering from neck surgeries in 2011.

Journalist Deborah Davies, who worked on last week's Al Jazeera documentary, which claimed Manning was linked to banned performance-enhancing drugs, said another anonymous source backed up the allegations made by pharmacist Charlie Sly.

Sly was secretly filmed saying Ashley Manning was sent human growth hormone while getting treatment at the Guyer Institute but retracted his words after discovering he had been recorded.

Davies told CNN: "We had a second source. Absolutely impeccably placed, knowledgeable and credible who confirmed exactly what Charlie Sly said.

"Shipments of HGH were repeatedly sent to Ashley Manning in Florida and other places in the US," said Davies. 

"This is a source we cannot name, we could not name. The value of that source was to add to the level of confidence we already had in what Charlie Sly was saying."

Last week the Broncos quarterback furiously denied the allegations in a seven-minute long rant on ESPN, claiming the allegations against his wife were "a freaking joke."

The investigative documentary shows Sly telling British amateur hurdler Liam Collins he was "part of a medical team that helped [Manning] recover" from neck surgery. 

"All the time we would be sending Ashley Manning drugs," Sly boasts. "Like growth hormone, all the time, everywhere, Florida. And it would never be under Peyton's name, it would always be under her name.

"Him and his wife would come in after hours and get IVs and s---."

Sly's account of the story was dismissed as hearsay after it was found out he didn't even work at the clinic in 2011.

Dr. Dale Guyer, from the Guyer Institute, has come forward to say the allegations were "completely fabricated."

HGH, along with other performance-enhancing drugs, is banned by the NFL and no one has tested positive for it since it was outlawed in 2011. The league has only been routinely testing players for it since 2014.

Alabama lights up traditional stogies after beating Tennessee (PHOTOS)

Call it close, but yes cigar.

It's a tradition, when Alabama beats Tennessee, cigars are smoked. And on Saturday, those stogies were lit after the Crimson Tide eked out a 19-14 win over the Volunteers in Tuscaloosa.

After two touchdowns from running back Derrick Henry, the Heisman candidate celebrated quite appropriately with his coach Nick Saban:

While the PC Police will find so much wrong with these pictures, you have to love that Alabama don't give a lick.

One last time to spark the cigars with lil bro #BPsiPhi #FlyHighMyGuy #HeyVols #WeJustBeatTheHellOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/FFBFf1OJng

— John Fulton (@_Elvis_Freshley) October 24, 2015

The host team preserved their lead after the Vols fumbled with little over a minute left in the contest:

This left Peyton Manning, who was watching the game on the sideline of his alma mater, with what looks like well ... smoke in his eyes.

Peyton Manning visits site of Chattanooga shooting to pay respects

Peyton Manning quietly paid his respects to the victims of last week's horrific shooting at a Tennessee strip mall over the weekend. 

The Denver Broncos quarterback visited the Naval Marine Corps Reserve base near Amnicola Highway in Chattanooga where five American military servicemen were killed last Thursday.

After Manning's visit, officers posted photos on social media. 

One police officer and a Marine recruiter also suffered injuries after being shot during the deadly incident, which first began at a military recruiting center.

Manning has many ties to the state of Tennessee.  He played his college football at the University of Tennessee, married his wife Ashley in Memphis and he and his wife are minority owners of the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team.

NBC 3 reported that Manning showed up at the reserve late Saturday night to visit with military personnel and police officers.

The reserve is still an active crime scene that is being investigated by both local police and the FBI as they try to determine whether this was a domestic terrorism incident. 

Derek Jeter and Hannah Davis celebrate her SI Swimsuit cover together: Report

For all you yahoos wondering if Hannah Davis’ sexy Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover meant the stunning model was somehow moving on from boyfriend Derek Jeter — dream on.

Davis may be showing off the goods, but she and the former Yankees captain were spotted celebrating her controversial cover together at the Manhattan hot spot,  Hunt & Fish Club, on Saturday night.

Via Page Six of the N.Y. Post:

We’re told the couple entered the restaurant separately, then were joined by a small group of friends and family inside.

Despite the drama surrounding Davis’ risqué cover shot, one impressed spy exclaimed: “Hannah is breathtakingly beautiful. Even dressed in jeans and a sweater, she had the dining room buzzing. While men were talking about Hannah, the women were excited to get a glimpse of ‘Captain Clutch.’”

Davis has defended the SI image that shows her pulling her bikini down low, saying, “I think . . . it’s the year of the torso.”

And, in case you miss old No. 2, Jeter will also be in the spotlight this weekend. He is scheduled to join Peyton Manning as the designated athletes among the hosts appearing on a special broadcast celebrating the 40th anniversary of "Saturday Night Live."

Remember. Retired or not, he’s still Derek Jeter.

Former NFL QB Ryan Leaf released from Montana prison: Report

Ryan Leaf —arguably one of the NFL's all-time historic busts — and notably one of its most famous footnotes — was released from a Montana prison on Wednesday after more than two years behind bars, reported the Great Falls Tribune.

It's been 16 years since the great debate over who would be the 1998 No. 1 draft pick between Peyton Manning and the record-breaking quarterback out of Washington State but, if you imagine what each man was doing yesterday, sadly, you can see how far apart they are now.

Manning was taken No. 1 by the Colts and the strong-armed Leaf No. 2 by the Chargers. As Manning continues his assault on the NFL record books and has the Broncos primed for another deep playoff run. Leaf is starting yet another new chapter in his life — as an ex-con.

Leaf, who lasted three disastrous seasons in the NFL, went to prison after breaking into a house near Great Falls, Montana in 2012 in order to steal prescription pills.

A spokesperson for the Montana Department of Corrections told the Tribune that Leaf is now being supervised by probation and parole officers in Great Falls. The newspaper reported the ex-NFL player has already made his first appointment with his parole officer.

Leaf's legal woes date back to his stint as the quarterbacks coach at West Texas A&M when he was busted for robbing a player's house in 2008. The resulting investigation found that Leaf had illegally gotten his hands on close to 1,000 pain pills from area pharmacies.

He eventually plead guilty to multiple counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.

The Montana native started nine games as a rookie for the Chargers and despite his ideal physique — 6-3 and 245-pounds — was almost forgettable from the start.

A shoulder injury slowed him down in year two and after a second chance with the Cowboys in 2001, Leaf was done in the NFL after just three seasons.

His final NFL career numbers include a 4-17 record with 36 career interceptions.

Broncos players weren't very happy after kicker missed FG (VIDEO)

With the Denver Broncos trailing the Miami Dolphins, 21-17, in the third quarter Sunday, Denver kicker Brandon McManus missed a routine 33-yard field goal when it hit the upright.

And that didn't sit well with Broncos guard Manny Ramirez or wideout DemaryiusThomas.

The two players were hardly the only players who were angry over the botched chip shot — McManus has now missed three of his last six field-goal attempts — but there was probably one teammate the kicker especially hoped he wouldn't run into on the sidelines — namely one Peyton Manning.

The missed field goals by McManus have re-ignited comparisons to clutch kicker Matt Prater, who was released by the Broncos in October following his four-game suspension and who has since signed with the Lions.

Somewhere, you know Prater is getting a real kick out of this.

Peyton Manning calls out Mile High scoreboard operator for noise (VIDEO)

If Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning seemed a little irked at Broncos fans for making too much noise late in the fourth quarter during Thursday night's win over the Chargers, you weren't alone.

Manning kept shaking his head and signaling the crowd to quiet down while it took the fans a little too long in bringing the noise level down:

Peyton Manning needed Denver fans to shut up: (Vine via @19jms) http://t.co/X4z5iKQbRQ https://t.co/AIgpqsBMgx
— SB Nation (@SBNation) October 24, 2014

Manning was still not happy after the game but, as it turned out, it wasn't really the fans Manning had an issue with, it was the scoreboard operator he wanted to take to task.

After the game, Manning addressed the problem of crowd noise by calling out the man in the booth at his post-game presser:

"I have no problem with our fans. Our fans are great. I've got a problem with our scoreboard operator," Manning said. "I'm gonna have a little talk with him. I'm not sure what he's doing.

"He was playing music, showing people -- showing players dancing, getting the crowd fired up while we had the ball. I don't think we should be doing that. I don't think we should be showing their quarterback on the sideline. I thought that was kind of disrespectful. Our fans are great, our fans are loud, so the scoreboard operators ... it wasn't his best night."

[VIDEO]

49ers did one thing Sunday night that made Peyton Manning really mad (GIF)

For most of the game against the 49ers Sunday night Peyton Manning had a big grin on his face. And why not? The Broncos quarterback had set an NFL record for career touchdown passes, toyed with the Niners defense and even got to spend the fourth quarter relaxing on the bench during his team's 42-17 blowout win.

Then the visitors called a useless timeout while they were trailing 42-10 with three minutes left in the game to preserve the clock, and Manning just shook his head.

But when San Francisco also took a timeout before an extra point attempt after scoring a touchdown with one minute left, Manning's dismay turned into a WTF.

Read his lips:

At least he can smile knowing he has the historic football to take home with him. Oops, about that spot on your mantle, Peyton.

NFL tweet lists all of Peyton Manning's 509 TD pass recipients (PHOTO)

In case you didn't know, Peyton Manning is the NFL's new leader in career touchdown passes. And, while his receivers were playing keep-away with the milestone ball Sunday night, the NFL wasted no time in letting everyone know who was on the the receiving end of all 509 scores. 

The league posted this tweet and graphic:

This is what 509 TDs look like. #Peyton509 pic.twitter.com/jBoeRAWBW2
— NFL (@nfl) October 20, 2014

Marvin Harrison, Manning's favorite target in Indianapolis, led the pack with 112 while Demaryius Thomas, the recipient of the historic second-quarter catch, has 29.

And there's a whole lot of guys with one TD catch who can now say they are part of NFL history.

Peyton bounces back from lame rap video with hilarious Gatorade spots (VIDEO)

It looks like it's time for Peyton Manning to dump his straight man (we're talking about about you Eli) and get back to what he does best — starring in funny TV commercials all by himself.

After this summer's less than sidesplitting DirecTV's new Fantasy Zone commercial with his bro, the Denver Broncos quarterback has bounced back with a couple of hilarious spots for Gatorade.

In the first, a thirsty customer strolls up to a convenience store counter with a bottle of Gatorade, only to be cut off by the cashier for not perspiring enough. Then the red-vested clerk asks to check with his manager, who just happens to be Manning.

The unsuspecting woman — having a rough time after a night out — is told to "sweat it to get it" by the demanding Manning before he sets up and goes deep with a bottle of Gatorade across the store.



In the other spot, Manning the manager has another woman get on the floor and do a "chaturanga" yoga move — "We're gonna need some back sweat going" — in the middle of the store aisle.



The spots are a little mean-spirited, since the women don't seem to recognize the straight-faced 6-foot-5 NFL star, but it's funny.

Eli and Peyton joined by some Jets in a new DirecTV rap video (VIDEO)

If it's August in the NFL, it can only mean one thing — another Manning brothers DirecTV jam.

Eli and Peyton Manning — who had a YouTube hit with last year's DirecTV rap "Football on Your Phone" video, are at it again with a similar gangsta theme but they added a few new friends.

"Fantasy Fottball Fantasy" comes out today promoting the network's new fantasy football channel, Via For The Win.

Along with the pair's white guy rapping cadence, you'll get a few other curiosities, including:

• New Jets running back Chris Johnson giving someone his trademark dreadlocks.

•  Ex-Jets quarterback Joe Namath cuddling a mother while she's making stew (don't ask,         just watch).

• Eli getting auto-tuned before his father Archie Manning joins him in outer space.

Just don't look for any Seattle Seahawks though.

Last year's video caught everyone by surprise and seemed fresh and spontaneous. This one doesn't seem to hit the mark. You be the judge:

Eli says Peyton is a better QB, but gives himself an edge in the bedroom

Sometimes Too Much Information becomes TWO Much Information — especially when it comes down to the Peyton and Eli Manning rivalry. And this little tidbit might be the last thing even the most dedicated fan would want to know about either of the brothers. 

During a radio interview on the Jay Mohr Sports show on Fox Sports Radio Wednesday, Mohr got Eli to admit that while Peyton is the better NFL quarterback, he is a better singer and ... wait for it ... a better lover.

During the interview, Mohr gave the Giants quarterback a "pop quiz" comparing himself to his older brother, including which son is better liked by their parents and, of course, who is the better signal caller.

Eli revealed that he is his mother Olivia's favorite while dad Archie prefers Peyton before getting to the icky part.

He conceded Peyton is better on the playing field, but when it comes to action between the sheets, he gets the nod.

And why not? Eli has more experience getting sacked and who wants to hear someone incessantly yelling 'Omaha' in the heat of passion?

I guess one man's audible is another one's sweet nothings.

Omaha zoo names baby penguin after Peyton Manning (VIDEO)

Peyton Manning has endeared himself to Nebraskans with his pre-snap calls of "Omaha" but now another Peyton is ready to warm their hearts.

The Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha announced Sunday that it would name one of its five new penguin chicks born late last December after the Broncos quarterback who helped give Nebraska's largest city a little free publicity.

Peyton the penguin's name is a direct nod to the quarterback whom zoo officials and Nebraska Tourism wanted to honor with the name.

"We thought it would be a really 'cool' way to say thanks to Mr. Manning for using the word Omaha in his pre-snap chants," zoo director Dennis Pate said in a statement. "We hope that Mr. Manning and his family will consider coming to Nebraska to say hi to his namesake sometime in the near future.”

The Broncos beat the New England Patriots 26-16 Sunday to secure Manning's third trip to the Super Bowl, where they will face birds of another flock — the Seattle Seahawks  — at MetLife Stadium.

If the weather forecast is correct, penguin Peyton might want to give football Peyton a few tips on handling the cold temperatures.

Aaron Hernandez can’t watch AFC title game says sheriff: Report

While every New Englander and their grandmother will be watching Tom Brady duke it out with Peyton Manning in Sunday's AFC Championship game, inmate Aaron Hernandez can only hope to get game updates from an over-enthusiastic guard or maybe a fellow jailbird's kite.

“He’s not allowed to watch any TV,” Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson told The Associated Press on Friday. “As far as finding it out, if they hear an officer talking about it they might find out that way. He could probably hear about it if some other inmate were to call home and he were to yell out.”

The former tight end was once part of the New England Patriots lineup, but he now sits in solitary confinement after missing the entire 2013 season — charged in June with murder in the shooting death of Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old semi-pro football player.

The Patriots released Hernandez on the day he was arrested. He has pleaded not guilty.

Regular prisoners can watch some TV... but Hernandez is being kept in isolation - no interaction with prisoners and no TV #wcvb
— Scott Isaacs (@ScottIsaacs) January 17, 2014

Hernandez is being held without bail at the Bristol County House of Correction in North Dartmouth, Mass., under “special management,” a classification that allows him only three hours outside his cell. He isn’t allowed out at the same time as another inmate and he isn’t allowed any TV privileges, Hodgson said.

There are currently four inmates in the eight-cell unit, and they can talk through their cell doors, according to Hodgson.  Hernandez is also allowed telephone privileges, but not necessarily around game time.

Other inmates in the prison get two hours of television per night, and they usually choose to watch sports, Hodgson said. “Even they won’t be able to watch the two games,” he said.

Because Sunday’s game starts at 3 p.m., they will probably catch the end of the AFC title game during their regular window of 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

If the Patriots beat the Broncos on Sunday and reach the Super Bowl, the general population inmates would be able to catch the first 90 minutes or so of the big game, which is scheduled to kick off at around 6:30 p.m. EST.

Hernandez will probably be doing push-ups in his six-by-eight.

Peyton Manning explains the meaning of 'Omaha' … sort of (VIDEO)

The true meaning of "Omaha" still remains one of the best-kept secrets in the NFL — even after Peyton Manning offered an explanation on Wednesday.

Manning yelled the name of Nebraska's largest city 44 times during the Denver Broncos' 70 offensive plays as they defeated the San Diego Chargers in their AFC divisional-round playoff game on Sunday.

One reporter asked Manning the obvious question about the meaning of the repeated call during the quarterback's media presser yesterday. After Manning asked her if it was "a fan written-in question," the Broncos' quarterback delivered an answer that really didn't explain anything.

"I know a lot of people ask what Omaha means," Manning said. "Omaha is a run play, but it could be a pass play or a play-action pass depending on a couple things: when, which way we're going, the quarter and the jerseys that we're wearing. So it varies, really, play to play. So, that's — there's your answer to that one."

Remember Bill Belichick — it's the jerseys.

Here's each of the 44 "Omaha" calls in case you missed it.

ICYMI: How many times did Peyton Manning yell Omaha on Sunday? WATCH: http://t.co/2vaAjPx4gG #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@nfl) January 13, 2014

Peyton was mic'd up when he broke single-season TD record (VIDEO)

Everyone knows about Peyton Manning's record breaking day last week against the Texans. Now see and hear the Bronco quarterback's reactions as he throws touchdowns number 48 through 51.

Peyton Manning was mic'd up when he broke the single-season TD record. Winner: Football Fans!!! WATCH: http://t.co/dSQPeCrwN8
— NFL (@nfl) December 26, 2013

Peyton Manning was worried about getting record-setting ball back from Julius Thomas (VIDEO)

Peyton Manning reclaimed the record for throwing the most touchdown passes in an NFL season on Sunday. The Bronco quarterback's fourth touchdown toss— in an AFC West-clinching win against the Texans— a 25-yard completion to tight end Julius Thomas with 4:28 left in the game, gave Manning 51 touchdowns for the season.

At the post-game presser, the humble Manning said his record-setting touchdown pass was a “team record” and expects it to be broken, but he will savor it for now.

“I’m sure it’s just a temporary record, but I will enjoy it,” he said.

Manning did admit he was worried about getting the historic ball back from his tight end after the catch.

"It wouldn't surprise me if Julius  went and handed it to some babe up in the stands and tried to get her phone number in exchange for the ball, " joked Manning. "That would be right up Julius' alley ... pretty in line with his thinking all the time."

Manning received a standing ovation at Reliant Stadium after breaking the record and got plenty of love from his teammates and coaches on the sideline.

Later, Broncos coach John Fox presented Manning with the game ball in the locker room and Manning was ready to walk away before his teammates implored him to make a speech.

“Like coach Fox said, the best news I heard all day, we won our division today,” Manning told his teammates in his typical style. “That’s a heck of an accomplishment. Let’s keep it going next week. I just can’t thank you guys enough. A lot of people contributed to this (record.) I really think this is a team accomplishment – defense getting us the ball back, receivers catching a lot of passes.”

No way Thomas was handing that ball to some chick in the stands.