METAIRIE, La. (AP) -Taped to one side of Anthony Hargrove's locker, next to photos of his two young children, is a letter with the NFL's trademark shield at the top and commissioner Roger Goodell's signature at the bottom.
Hargrove pushes aside his hanging gold New Orleans Saints uniform pants to fully reveal the text, then begins reading.
``It says, 'It's important when I emphasize that your reinstatement is the beginning of the road back to a productive career in the league. I'm counting on you to continue to demonstrate that you can conduct yourself in a reasonable manner. You should understand this is your opportunity to prove that you belong in the NFL.'''
The letter, dated Feb. 12, 2009, formally opened the way for the talkative, energetic defensive lineman to resume his NFL career following his yearlong suspension for drug abuse.
``It's a reminder of what I'm supposed to do,'' Hargrove said. ``A lot of guys, if they get kicked out of the league, they don't make it back. ... I want to be an inspiration. I want to be a testimony for people to be like, 'Listen, if he can do it, what did he do?'''
A third-round draft choice by the St. Louis Rams in 2004, Hargrove seemed to have a promising career ahead when started 15 games in his second season and ranked second on the club with 6 1/2 sacks.
Then he proceeded down a path toward throwing it all away.
Unexcused absences and declining performance, related to what Hargrove now readily admits was drug and alcohol use, got him traded to Buffalo in 2007. He was arrested and briefly suspended after a fight outside a night club during the 2007 preseason, then suspended again in 2008 for a full season.
Now getting another chance in the ``City that Care Forgot,'' Hargrove has so far proved that he cares about his career enough to attend three meetings a week for recovering substance abusers in an effort to stay sober in this city of drive-thru daiquiris stands. He also hasn't forgotten how to play football, as he showed last weekend during New Orleans' 30-20 victory over Carolina.
Seeing an increase in playing time at defensive tackle in recent weeks because of starter Sedrick Ellis' sprained right knee, Hargrove was credited with three tackles, one forced fumble and a pair of fumble recoveries, the second of which he returned for a 1-yard touchdown.
For that, he was named the NFC defensive player of the week, then reacted to the honor with a reference to the wholesome ``Cosby Show.''
``In the words of my friend, Theodore Huxtable, I'm taking it all in stride,'' said Hargrove, now trying to be a straight-shooting role model for his son, Tre, and daughter, Amiah Grace.
``It's just a blessing. ... I have to thank this New Orleans Saints organization for the opportunity because if it wasn't for them, none of this would have been possible - without them and God also.''
Hargrove smiles and speaks openly, without a hint of embarrassment, about his difficult early childhood in Brooklyn, N.Y., or his more recent troubles with substance abuse.
``Hopefully if anybody that's struggling hears this, maybe they'll open up themselves.'' Hargrove said. ``I have to get it out, I have to express it one way or another. And it's working. It keeps me on the right track. It keeps my mind down. It keeps the stress low and anxiety low.''
Hargrove lost both of his parents by the time he was 9. His mother died of AIDS. His father died in a fire. He spent teenage years in Florida, excelled in football at Port Charlotte High School and went on to Georgia Tech, where he performed well enough to get the attention of pro scouts before flunking out.
At 26 years old, he still could have a number of productive season ahead if he doesn't slip up off the field. His teammates are well aware of his past problems and are pulling for him.
``It is an uplifting story to see how in no way does he deny his past or shy away from it,'' Saints right tackle Jon Stinchcomb said. ``It's not a point of pride, but it's also something that he openly will recognize, that he's made some bad choices. ... It's good for most of the guys in this locker room to see somebody who has fallen and get back up and try to do things the right way.''
This Sunday, Hargrove will return to St. Louis, the place where he saw his first NFL snaps, and where his life began to spiral out of control just when he was getting his first taste of stardom.
Hargrove said he still feels like he let those old teammates down. Some of them, like defensive end Leonard Little, running back Steven Jackson and quarterback Marc Bulger, still play for the Rams. Hargrove said he is looking forward to seeing them.
``I'll probably cry,'' Hargrove said. ``I get to see some of the faces that was there when I was and put a little more closure to some of these things. ... Once I finally say hi and get a few hugs in, it will settle a lot of things.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
