Packers Agree to Terms with Defensive Lineman Anthony Hargrove

The Packers have reportedly signed free-agent defensive end Anthony Hargrove.

Ted Thompson has mostly shied away from free agency since taking over as Green Bay Packers general manager in 2005, but he certainly looks determined this offseason to fix problem areas on his roster by any means necessary. That process includes dipping into the NFL's scrap heap for another body on the defensive line.

According to ESPN's NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert, the Packers have agreed to terms with former New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove.

Hargrove's signing marks the second time in as many weeks that Thompson has brought in a free agent on the defensive line. The Packers agreed to terms with street free agent Daniel Muir last Friday.

Hargrove, 28, made a visit to Green Bay last week.

A rotational player in 2011, Hargrove registered 18 tackles and three sacks for the Seahawks over 15 games and zero starts. Before brief stints in Seattle and Philadelphia, he was a disruptive member of the Saints' defensive line from 2009-10, including the team's Super Bowl winning season of '09 in which Hargrove tallied five sacks in 16 games and six starts.

Drafted in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams, Hargrove has weathered through an up-and-down NFL career.

After serving as mostly a reserve in his rookie season, Hargrove broke out for 6.5 sacks during 2005 as the Rams' starting defensive end. Things came crashing down the next season when Hargrove strangely missed several practices, which led the Rams to deal Hargrove to the Buffalo Bills mid-way through 2006.

A four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy then put a dent in Hargrove's 2007 season, and a year later, he was banned from football for 12 months after becoming a multiple offender.

Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams gave him a chance at defensive tackle after he was reinstated in 2009, and he flourished as a pentrating inside pass-rusher. Listed currently at just 272 pounds, Hargrove played at closer to 300 while in New Orleans.

Given the Packers' need to address a defensive line that struggled to replace Cullen Jenkins last season, Hargrove will likely be asked to play the five-technique in Green Bay. He could fit in well along the Packers' defensive line if he can get his weight up near 300 pounds while avoiding any off-the-field incidents.

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Comments (29)

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Evan's picture

March 29, 2012 at 11:43 am

I like it!

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Mike's picture

March 29, 2012 at 11:48 am

As long as it's a non-guaranteed, low cost deal, this is a great flier signing. The big thing will be how heavy he actually is right now and how much good weight he'll be able to put on by opening day...

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Mike's picture

March 29, 2012 at 11:51 am

Nvm - this tweet by Seifert helps to answer my question about his weight:

https://twitter.com/#!/espn_nfcnblog/status/185399020867420161

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bryce's picture

March 29, 2012 at 12:12 pm

If he's not suspended for bountygate, I can roll with it.

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Mel's picture

March 29, 2012 at 12:14 pm

Hope all the TT haters can see if the right player for the right price is around he will sign them. Seems to me a lot of teams are throwing big money at average talent. I like the signing a lot.

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jack in jersey city's picture

March 29, 2012 at 12:16 pm

i like it. he doesn't seem like "packer people" but hopefully the rest of the team will be a positive influence on him

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snackpack's picture

March 29, 2012 at 07:42 pm

From I've read he had substance abuse problems in the past but went to rehab and has really cleaned up his act. Seems like a positive, high energy guy.

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pkrNboro's picture

March 29, 2012 at 12:16 pm

it's not been 4 hours yet...

...but I may have to contact my doctor anyway!

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paxbak's picture

March 29, 2012 at 03:26 pm

Great post!! I hope we didn't pay much for this guy (1.5M tops) he's worth a shot it looks like

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PackersRS's picture

March 29, 2012 at 12:36 pm

2 worries.

Money, but that shouldn't be a worry, given the MO of the front office (case in point Saturday).

Suspension by bountygate.

If those clear up, another very good signing.

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Mike's picture

March 29, 2012 at 01:10 pm

I do believe the second is the bigger matter at hand but for some reason I don't see the league going that far as to suspending individual players...

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PackersRS's picture

March 29, 2012 at 01:16 pm

I think you're onto something. Thinking about it it'll be hard for Goodell to explain to the NFLPA why they're banning players for doing what their coaches wanted them to.

Different case is players offering money for bounties, a la Vilma.

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Mike's picture

March 29, 2012 at 01:28 pm

Definitely agree on the Vilma situation. I think the most Goodell would be able to get past the NFLPA would be to fine players like Hargrove who have been caught on tape possibly referring to the Bounty program. But even that seems like it'd be a hard sell.

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New cow smell's picture

March 29, 2012 at 01:27 pm

Who cares if he's suspended a couple games? As we all learned last year-the regular season doesn't mean jack.

As long as he's around for the playoffs.

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PackersRS's picture

March 29, 2012 at 01:42 pm

The more snaps he plays with the team the more he's familiar with the scheme and players.

But you're right. 2 games is nothing, I was thinking more in terms of year round suspension.

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Evan's picture

March 29, 2012 at 12:58 pm

Someone smarter than me: what's the story with Aubrayo Franklin? I remember him as a stud with the 49ers and then he signed with the Saints last year but now he's just sitting out there as a FA. Any fit with the Pack?

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PackersRS's picture

March 29, 2012 at 01:21 pm

My take is that he had one very good year, which so happened to be a contract year, and then he shut down.

He's 32. And he's definitely not what the Packers need, he had 3 career sacks...

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Evan's picture

March 29, 2012 at 01:22 pm

I was thinking more of a run stuffer/space eater, a la Howard Green.

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Evan's picture

March 29, 2012 at 01:26 pm

That said, you're probably right.

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greenbowl's picture

March 29, 2012 at 01:19 pm

Awesome! Can't wait for the draft!

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FITZCORE1252's EVO's picture

March 29, 2012 at 01:24 pm

Good get. We need more able bodies on D. And hopefully this will put to rest the myth of "Packer People", I've said it all along, that term is a sham. That being said, I heard an interview with Hargrove when Seattle brought him in. It was pretty impressive. He owned his past and said he made a lot of changes... Including getting away from some of his longtime friends who were poor influences. Seemed sincere.

GBP 4 LIFE

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Ruppert's picture

March 29, 2012 at 03:36 pm

And as as extra added bonus, Vikings fans will whine about him from his work in the '09 NFCC game. We get an upgrade at a D Line position AND we get to keep Queens fans whining?

THAT'S a win-win.

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kparis99's picture

March 29, 2012 at 04:18 pm

...best take so far.

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Lars's picture

March 29, 2012 at 01:26 pm

Meh, another journeyman signing for camp fodder. Muir and Hargave simply replace Neal and Green. An upgrade, for sure, but nothing to get too excited about.

Even if they sign Tollefson (another marginal player) the Packers still don't possess a single 5-tech outside of Wilson on the roster. The draft can't come soon enough.

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Evan's picture

March 29, 2012 at 01:27 pm

Upgrades are good.

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Rocky70's picture

March 29, 2012 at 01:48 pm

Doubt Neal gets replaced unless TT just 'cuts the cord'. Green is already gone (UFA). Both Muir and Hargrove are likely upgrades over Wynn & Wilson.

The real upgrades will be drafted in either rounds 1, 2 or 3 and another later in the draft (maybe even the 4th).

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Mike's picture

March 29, 2012 at 01:33 pm

I'm hoping the board on draft day drops as follows:

1st Rd - We get the chance to draft one of:
Merciless, Branch, Perry, Curry

2nd Rd - Go after 5-Tech player:
Tyrone Crawford, Reyes, Worthy, or (even though people seem to have forgotten him) Jared Crick

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philip's picture

March 29, 2012 at 04:46 pm

you're right about jared crick. . . totally forgot about him. good talent, but under the radar for some reason. i hope we pick him up. as long as he brings the right kind of nastiness to the d (see suh, ndonkeykong for a poor example) i'm rooting for it.

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pkrNboro's picture

March 29, 2012 at 08:41 pm

I call him "Damnit Kong Sue"

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