Hargrove's redemption helps

For Anthony Hargrove, heading out on the town during Super Bowl week means an afternoon trip to his old drug and alcohol recovery clinic.

The Saints' defensive lineman watched last season's Super Bowl at the Transitions Recovery Program in North Miami Beach. A year later, he has returned for all the right reasons.

"I remember always being in treatments and people coming back with these success stories and you're sitting there like, 'Man, when am I going to have my success story?'" Hargrove said.

"I'm doing something different with my life and I'm finally living a good life," he said. "It's probably one of the best feelings I've ever had."

Hargrove joined the Saints last spring after serving a year's suspension for multiple violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy. In the City that Care Forgot, home to Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras and drive-thru daiquiris stands, Hargrove has stayed clean and had a productive season. He finished third on the team in sacks with five and made a slew of other big plays, including a strip and fumble return for a touchdown.

"I'd hate to know where we'd be without him football-wise," Saints defensive line coach Bill Johnson said. "He had a lot of ball disruptions, hitting people hard, jarring the ball loose. He's a heavy ol' dude, you know? And he's just played good."

Now Hargrove is playing for an NFL championship in another city renowned for nightlife, during a week full of parties boasting star-studded guest lists. He is popular with teammates who would probably look out for him if he tagged along - just to socialize; no drinking - but he doesn't even want to attempt it.

"I don't go. It's as simple as that," Hargrove said. "It's about understanding boundaries and limits and plans. Before I came down here I had to have a plan of action - what I was going to do each day, and I had to have people around me that were going to keep me to that plan."

When he's not at practice or in team meetings, Hargrove intends to lay low with close friends and family, or in his hotel room studying film of the Indianapolis Colts and "trying to get every little edge on Peyton (Manning)".

On Tuesday, after media day at Sun Life Stadium, he spent a couple hours at the clinic.

Source: China Daily