The Jon Gruden chatter reached a new level on Saturday as Calhoun’s On the River restaurant became the center of the latest Grumors that connected Gruden with Tennessee’s head coach vacancy.

Early in the night, word circulated that Peyton Manning was seen at the restaurant with the former NFL coach and Monday Night Football analyst. Even upper management added to the chatter with a tweet that all but referred to Gruden. Suddenly, people who had former roommates working on the staff appeared to confirm the possibility, and a photo purportedly of Gruden and Manning seated at a table also made the rounds.

In the end, none of it ended up being true.

Later in the night, the restaurant issued a statement of apology after a staff member expressed doubt that Gruden was, in fact, at the restaurant.

“It was never our intention to spread rumors,” the statement said. “… We are just as disappointed as everyone else about the uncertainty.”

An ESPN spokesman also sent a tweet that said Gruden was in Seattle in production meetings preparing for the Atlanta Falcons-Seattle Seahawks game on Monday.

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