Saints GM: We'd like to keep DL Anthony Hargrove

QBREES9 · 03-23-2010, 07:19 AM

ORLANDO -- The Detroit Lions have not approached the Saints about a trade for defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis said today at the NFL owners’ meetings.

Loomis declined to comment, however, on whether he would be interested in a deal and how far the Saints would be willing to go to keep Hargrove, a restricted free agent who visited the Lions last week.

“Anthony’s a restricted free agent, so he has the right to go out and explore his market and his opportunities, and we’re going to respect that,” Loomis said.

Coach Jim Schwartz said Sunday that the Lions brought in Hargrove to meet him, give him a physical and “maybe start the ball rolling.” The Lions have until April 15 to sign Hargrove to an offer sheet. The Saints would have the right to match the offer or receive a third-round draft pick as compensation. The teams also could work out a trade.

The Saints tendered Hargrove at the second-lowest level. They could have offered him more money, which would have required another team to give up more in compensation to acquire him -- a second-round pick, a first-round pick or first- and third-round picks.

But asked about the Saints’ level of interest in bringing back Hargrove, Loomis said: “Clearly, we want to have him back. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have made that tender.”

Hargrove, 26, missed the 2008 season because of a drug suspension. But he played every game for the Saints last season as they marched to a Super Bowl victory. He had five sacks while playing mostly defensive tackle. He played defensive end earlier in his career, and Schwartz said the Lions would play him at end on first and second down and tackle on third down.

“He did a great job for us,” Loomis said. “He was a contributor to our Super Bowl win, no question about it. We like Anthony. We like the adversity that he’s been able to overcome. So we’ll see what happens.”

03-23-2010, 07:19 AM	#1
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,989	Saints GM: We'd like to keep DL Anthony Hargrove ORLANDO -- The Detroit Lions have not approached the Saints about a trade for defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis said today at the NFL owners’ meetings. Loomis declined to comment, however, on whether he would be interested in a deal and how far the Saints would be willing to go to keep Hargrove, a restricted free agent who visited the Lions last week. “Anthony’s a restricted free agent, so he has the right to go out and explore his market and his opportunities, and we’re going to respect that,” Loomis said. Coach Jim Schwartz said Sunday that the Lions brought in Hargrove to meet him, give him a physical and “maybe start the ball rolling.” The Lions have until April 15 to sign Hargrove to an offer sheet. The Saints would have the right to match the offer or receive a third-round draft pick as compensation. The teams also could work out a trade. The Saints tendered Hargrove at the second-lowest level. They could have offered him more money, which would have required another team to give up more in compensation to acquire him -- a second-round pick, a first-round pick or first- and third-round picks. But asked about the Saints’ level of interest in bringing back Hargrove, Loomis said: “Clearly, we want to have him back. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have made that tender.” Hargrove, 26, missed the 2008 season because of a drug suspension. But he played every game for the Saints last season as they marched to a Super Bowl victory. He had five sacks while playing mostly defensive tackle. He played defensive end earlier in his career, and Schwartz said the Lions would play him at end on first and second down and tackle on third down. “He did a great job for us,” Loomis said. “He was a contributor to our Super Bowl win, no question about it. We like Anthony. We like the adversity that he’s been able to overcome. So we’ll see what happens.” Attached Thumbnails
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