Some see HGH jab in Cam Newton's farewell post to Peyton Manning

DENVER, March 7 (UPI) -- While NFL legends past and present praise Peyton Manning's greatness, his final opponent might have hidden a slant in his tribute, some said Monday.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton posted a photo to Instagram Monday with an interesting caption. Manning announced his retirement earlier in the day, following a decorated 18-year career.

Newton posted the picture of himself hugging Manning after the Super Bowl. The caption reads: "I am grateful to have shared the field in your LAST game but most importantly I am grateful to have mimicked a style you created to bring out the best in MË! And that style is/was mastering the art of: PREPARAT1ØN. You have changed this game in ways you will never no and I admire the man you are on and off the field. You set the bar H1GH....extremelyHiGH and knowing your family, I know that's just the norm. I came into this league gagging and still gagging my talents to this day off of the things that YOÜ have done and accomplished; because you are and you will FOREVER be the STANDARD! So long SHER1FF! #omahaOMAHA #1STpickGÄNG #iWmW -1OVE."

In the post, Newton capitalizes the word "high" twice. But he replaces the letter 'I' with a No. 1 -- in some other words, too. Some on social media wondered if that was a reference to HGH, human growth hormone.

Manning denied allegations last season and still this year about procuring HGH from the Guyer Institute in 2011.

The accusations first surfaced after a report from Al Jazeera. The report stated that a Guyer Insitute pharmacist mailed HGH to Manning. The pharmacist said the package was addressed to Manning's wife.

Manning has since hired a legal team and private investigators to look into the source of the Al Jazeera report.

"It's garbage from the first day it came out and still garbage today," Manning told USA Today before the Super Bowl.

Manning, 39, was the No. 1 pick in the 1998 NFL Draft and holds nearly all of the top All-Time statistical records for quarterbacks. The two-time Super Bowl champion and 14-time Pro Bowl selection completed 13-of-23 passes for 141 yards and an interception in the Feb. 7 Super Bowl in Santa Clara. Newton completed 18-of-41 passes for 265 yards and an interception, while rushing for 45 yards.