Hargrove makes most of chance with Saints
METAIRIE — No one arrived at the New Orleans Saints training camp last season with more uncertainty than defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove.
The Saints were the only one of the 32 NFL teams willing to give Hargrove a chance after he had been suspended for the 2008 season for multiple violations of the league’s banned substance policy. It was unclear if Hargrove could even stay clean, let alone regain NFL-caliber form after a year away from the game.
But Hargrove, who was moved to tackle from end during training camp last summer, authored as good of a sub-plot as anyone during New Orleans’ Super Bowl-winning season. He stayed clean, became a consistent contributor on the big-play defense, and endeared himself to the team, fans and reporters with his play, friendliness, positive attitude and forthrightness about his off-the-field transgressions.
“Any time his name comes up, the first thing you have to do is check up with his personal life,” defensive line coach Bill Johnson said. “Just in that he’s been a success.”
New Orleans now knows what it has as Hargrove continues his daily fight to stay clean and works on solidifying an even bigger role on the defensive line.
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