ESPN has released the first tidbits from Jeremy Schaap’s exclusive off-camera interview with Manti Te’o. According to ESPN, Schaap spoke with Te’o for two and a half hours about the fake dead girlfriend hoax. Two and a half hours. Here’s the entire tease they provided at midnight on Friday.

“No. Never,” Te’o said in an interview with ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap.

“I wasn’t faking it,” he said. “I wasn’t part of this.”

“When (people) hear the facts, they’ll know,” he said. “They’ll know that there is no way that I could be part of this.”

Well, that answers my questions. Especially the timing. And the fact that ESPN will probably release this three sentences at a time.

Update: From ESPN’s Mike Humes:

We had no parameters on questions. While no tv cameras were permitted and use of audio was limited, we can use anything from the interview across our outlets.

No cameras and “limited” audio. With his lawyer present. I’m convinced. Expect ESPN to release an entire transcript on the anniversary of Lennay Kekua’s death.

[ESPN, Image: @CJZero]

Previously: Manti Te’o Got a Call Dec. 6th From the Dead Girlfriend’s Phone Saying She Faked Her Own Death to Avoid Drug Dealers (Seriously)
Previously: Manti Te’o Reportedly Moved on From Fake Dead Girlfriend With Real Live Girlfriend Named Alexandra del Pilar
Previously: Ronaiah Tuiasosopo Admitted the Manti Te’o Hoax in December, ESPN’s Outside the Lines Reports