Packers add Hargrove to defensive line

Published Mar. 29, 2012 11:19 a.m. ET

foxsports

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Defensive end Anthony Hargrove is officially a member of the Green Bay Packers.

Hargrove's agent, Phil Williams, confirmed the deal Thursday, but he would not reveal terms of the contract. Earlier in the day, Hargrove posted a photo on Twitter of the top of the contract he received in the mail. He was trying to prove the accuracy of his claims earlier in the week that he would be a Packer.

Hargrove, 28, played for the Seattle Seahawks last season and recorded 3.0 sacks and 18 tackles in 15 games. His best season came with New Orleans in 2009, when the Saints won the Super Bowl. That year, Hargrove had 5.0 sacks, 42 tackles and one forced fumble.

It is likely Hargrove will start alongside B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett in defensive coordinator Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme. At 6-foot-3, 272 pounds, Hargrove is also capable of playing defensive tackle when Green Bay plays in nickel packages.

The signing of Hargrove is critical for the Packers for two reasons. First, their defense ranked last in the NFL in yards allowed and 27th in sacks in 2011. Second, the Packers will be without defensive end Mike Neal for the first four games of the regular season because of his suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing drugs.

In 2008, Hargrove had to sit out the entire season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

Given that Hargrove played for the Saints in 2009 and 2010, it is possible he could face discipline from the league if it's determined he played any role in the bounty system that was in place in New Orleans at the time. So far, the NFL has yet to suspend or fine any players from those Saints teams and has taken action against only the coaches and general manager.

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