Register All Albums FAQ Community Experience
Go Back   New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com > Main > Saints

Saints DT Hargrove never thought he’d make team in ‘09

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; METAIRIE, La. ― Anthony Hargrove came to the Saints as a project, a player with tremendous potential but an explosive past. A year later, he’s an integral part of an aggressive, chaos-creating defense. “(I’m) going into training camp and giving ...

Closed Thread
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-06-2010, 09:20 AM   #1
Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: New Haven Ct
Posts: 23,985
Saints DT Hargrove never thought he’d make team in ‘09

METAIRIE, La. ― Anthony Hargrove came to the Saints as a project, a player with tremendous potential but an explosive past.

A year later, he’s an integral part of an aggressive, chaos-creating defense.

“(I’m) going into training camp and giving it my all,” Hargrove said of August 2009. “I remember thinking to myself, ‘Man, there’s no way. I’m playing d-tackle now. I’m trying to learn a new defense. I’m heavier. How am I even going to compete to even play?’

“At that point, they wasn’t really playing me on special teams. I’m like, damn. (I’m) just praying it works. But they kept me. The rest is history.”

Hargrove played the 2009 season as an inspiration to those who followed his story. He was out of the NFL twice in his past for drug-related transgressions. He spent more than a year in drug rehab facilities.

And when he got out, the Saints were the only team to give him one final chance.

He responded with 63 tackles, five sacks, four fumble recoveries and a touchdown.

“It wasn’t really about me playing football as much as it was about me finding a better life,” Hargrove said. “That was the opportunity they gave me. For that, I can’t thank them enough.”

This year on cut day, Hargrove wasn’t worrying.

Now he’s comfortable as a member of the team.

“I don’t feel like that guy on t he outside looking in where I don’t know anybody,” Hargrove said. “I only knew a few coaches last year and didn’t really know anybody’s name, just walking around here smiling at people thinking, ‘What do they think about me?’

“Now I talk to everybody. It’s nothing but love. It’s very comfortable. “

Saints DT Hargrove never thought he



www.sportsshooter.com/johnjcoleman

" Anyone can take a picture Only a Photographer can take a photograph "
QBREES9 is offline  
Old 09-06-2010, 09:30 AM   #2
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Mandeville, LA
Posts: 38,044
Blog Entries: 29
Here's to some Hargrove love!
SmashMouth is offline  
Old 09-06-2010, 09:33 AM   #3
In Doh We Trust
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 7,027
Blog Entries: 16
In a year full of good stories Hargroves was still one of the most uplifting!!
homerj07 is offline  
Old 09-06-2010, 10:31 AM   #4
12,000 BS Posts
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Metairie, LA
Posts: 13,457
Blog Entries: 5
As long as he takes Favre out for a series or two... everything will be forgiven.
foreverfan is offline  
Old 09-06-2010, 02:52 PM   #5
Bounty Money $$$
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA.
Posts: 24,043
He's a key piece of GW's chess pieces. I hope he really meant it about turning his life around.
Rugby Saint II is offline  
Old 09-06-2010, 03:54 PM   #6
Resident Swede
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Märsta, Sweden
Posts: 8,017
I he keeps on the straight and narrow he should be able to have a great second career as a motivational speaker. Just hope he can help bring the Saints a couple of more championships first
Crusader is offline  
Closed Thread


Posting Rules


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:33 PM.


Copyright 1997 - 2020 - BlackandGold.com
no new posts