Former New Orleans defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove is appealing the eight-game suspension that the NFL handed him for supposed involvement in the Saints bounty arrangement. He is alleged to have been involved with a leg injury to Brett Favre, although he is adamant about his innocence in an overall case that likely has not fully played out yet.
However the appeal unfoldsif errors have been made, a reduction of the number of suspension games is a possibilityit is unlikely to have Hargrove, signed by the Packers on Mar. 29, available when the Bears play at Green Bay on Thursday, Sept. 13.
That game in during week two and even cutting Hargroves suspension in half would have him out beyond the first Bears-Packers game.
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Its not Hargroves first suspension. The NFL banned him for four games in 2007 for violating the leagues substance-abuse policy, then sat him down for a year (2008) after another substance violation.
The Packers are Hargroves fourth team, beginning with his third-round selection by St. Louis in the 2004 draft, a trade to Buffalo, two seasons with New Orleans, a training-camp stop with the Philadelphia Eagles and then the Seattle Seahawks for the 2011 season before the Packers.
It was his collision last Dec. 18 that caused the spinal injury that has wide receiver Johnny Knox out following surgery.