Bills DE Hargrove Suspended 4 Games By JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer 2 hours ago BUFFALO, N.Y. - Troubled Buffalo Bills defensive end Anthony Hargrove was suspended for four games without pay by the NFL on Saturday for violating the league's substance abuse policy. In announcing the suspension, the league did not say what banned substance Hargrove tested positive for. Under league rules, players face a minimum four-game suspension for the first positive test, followed by an eight-game suspension for second-time violators. Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold declined comment citing a confidentiality clause that's included in the substance abuse policy. Hargrove's agent Philip Williams, did not immediately return a message. The Bills were off Saturday, a day after a 13-10 win at New Orleans. They return to practice Sunday afternoon at their training camp facility in suburban Rochester. The suspension is the latest problem for Hargrove after the third-year NFL player was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors stemming from a confrontation with police outside a Rochester nightclub last weekend. Hargrove pleaded not guilty to the charges and also apologized to fans and his teammates, saying: "I need to hold myself up better than this. ... It's time for me to be a man and take responsibility in myself." He is next scheduled to appear in Rochester city court on Aug. 21. Hargrove's suspension begins Sept. 1, and he'll be eligible to return to the Bills' active roster on Oct. 1, a day after the team's game against the New York Jets. He will, however, be allowed to practice with the team and play in the Bills three remaining preseason games. Hargrove is entering his second season with Buffalo after the Bills acquired him in a trade with St. Louis in October. He appeared in 10 games with Buffalo last season and was expected to continue his role this year as one of the team's two primary backups. His suspension leaves the team with three experienced ends, starters Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay, and backup Ryan Denney. A restricted free agent this offseason, Hargrove was re-signed by the Bills to a one-year, $850,000 contract. Before he was traded to the Bills, Hargrove lost his starting job with the Rams after skipping two days of practice and meetings. The third-round selection out of Georgia Tech in 2004 failed to show at Rams Park on consecutive days in September 2006 and was fined an undisclosed amount. He apologized for his absence but did not say why he took time off without notifying the team. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.
Bills Considering Releasing DE Hargrove Bills Considering Releasing DE Hargrove By JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer 2 hours ago PITTSFORD, N.Y. - Anthony Hargrove is running out of second chances with the Buffalo Bills, who are considering releasing the defensive end after he landed in trouble for the second time in a week. "Releasing him is an option," coach Dick Jauron said Sunday, a day after the NFL suspended Hargrove for the first four regular-season games without pay for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Jauron said he's still gathering information before deciding the status of Hargrove, who is entering his fourth season. But Jauron added the team will attempt to add a veteran defensive end to bolster the position, where the Bills only have three experienced players. The suspension capped a difficult week for Hargrove, who was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors stemming from a confrontation with police outside a Rochester night club in the early morning of Aug. 5. Police say Hargrove broke an officer's glasses. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 21. Hargrove potentially faces further punishment if the NFL determines he violated its code of conduct policy. Citing a confidentiality clause, the league did not announce what banned substance was found in Hargrove's system. Jauron had stuck by Hargrove following his arrest, saying: "Anthony is not guilty of anything at this point." That changed with the suspension. "I'm certainly not going to deny that this changes our perspective on a number of things. It has to," Jauron said on Sunday. "We're disappointed, but we'll deal with it as we move forward kind of on a daily basis." Hargrove was both nervous and apologetic in briefly addressing reporters after the training camp practice in suburban Rochester _ the team's first since a 13-10 preseason-opening win Friday at New Orleans. "The last two weeks, as you guys have known, have been rough," said Hargrove, who is allowed to practice and appear in preseason games until his suspension begins Sept. 1. "I'm trying to put those things behind me to move on, to be a better man." Hargrove hoped the Bills would stand by him. "I'm going to give it my all. And if the team decides whether I'm good enough to stay, and they wait for me, I'm all for it," Hargrove said. "If not, I'll deal with things as they come." "I love this game and I love this team," Hargrove added. "And I'm really here to say I'm sorry for putting them into a situation where they've got to make a decision like this." The Bills were counting on Hargrove and fifth-year veteran Ryan Denney to serve as regular backups behind starters Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay. With Hargrove out of the mix for the start of the season, the Bills are left with Eric Powell, who was inactive for all 16 games last season, and rookie seventh-round draft pick C.J. Ah You. Jauron said he was not sure how much practice time he'd give Hargrove, because he needs to develop other players for the start of the season. The Bills re-signed Hargrove to a one-year contract this spring after acquiring him in a trade with St. Louis in October. The Rams deemed Hargrove expendable after he lost his starting job and skipped two days of practice. The third-round selection out of Georgia Tech in 2004 apologized for his absence but did not say why he took time off without notifying the Rams. In 10 games with Buffalo last season, Hargrove registered 25 tackles and a sack. In 45 career games, including 19 starts, he's been credited with 152 tackles and nine sacks. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.
