FanHouse Anthony Hargrove

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Though 2006 was arguably the best season in New Orleans Saints history, the campaign was only the beginning of this streak of NFL competitive relevance in the Crescent City. Despite steps backwards in 2007 and 2008, the team has quietly been adding front-end talent and admirable depth since that NFC Championship appearance against the Bears. Now, as Drew Brees put it, "...we're at this stage in our careers where this is kind of our prime. ... So this is our window of opportunity. This is our chance to walk together forever, to go down in history together." After over 40 years and just two playoff wins, is this the year the Saints finally break through?

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It's August, meaning we all think our favorite teams are Super Bowl contenders. Some teams get more championship hype than others, however. In this series, we look at those fawned-over franchises and their potential flaws and advise: Don't Believe the Hype.

Saints fans are no strangers to preseason hype; it seems the only year this decade the team wasn't predicted to be a contender was in 2006, when they of course went 10-6 and made the NFC championship game. This offseason is no different. Jon Gruden thinks they've got a real shot at the big game. And he's not alone.

The team significantly improved its defense via personnel and the hiring of coordinator Gregg Williams, and the offense remains intact (and might actually be improved if Robert Meachem makes the jump to every-down receiver, as has been discussed). If the defense can improve, the team should be dangerous. But alas, there are issues ...

Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove has failed a drug test and will be suspended for the entire 2008 NFL season, according to a Sirius NFL Radio report, via WKBW and PFT.

Hargrove was suspended for four games during the 2007 season for a failed drug test, and the NFL's substance-abuse policy dictates a one-year suspension for the next offense following a four-game suspension. Just before training camp, Hargrove was arrested on charges of harassment, resisting arrest and criminal mischief.

Hargrove is a talented player who was the Rams' third-round pick out of Georgia Tech in 2004, but this latest development means there's a good chance he has played his last NFL game. The Bills considered cutting him before the 2007 season. Is there really any way they'll want him back in 2009?

If you were one of the hundreds of millions who missed the Dolphins-Bills tilt yesterday, just know this: Miami might've played their worst game of the season. And at 0-13, that's no easy task. The team had five turnovers, rookie quarterback John Beck was benched after just two pass attempts, and backup Cleo Lemon got knocked down on roughly every other play.

By the way, I don't know if it was by design, or if the right side of Miami's offensive line was playing a lot of pass-blocking-optional schemes, but Bills backup defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove was crushing Lemon for most of the afternoon.

Unsurprisingly, some Dolphins' players aren't all that jazzed with how things are playing out this season:

Everything had happened so fast, Dolphins left tackle Vernon Carey didn't realize how bad it'd actually been. Going over his team's 38-17 loss Sunday in Buffalo, Carey couldn't believe some of the things he found out.

He did know the Dolphins had reached a new low, becoming the first team since the 1986 Colts to start 0-13. But ...

"Eight fumbles?" Carey said to the fellow tackle L.J. Shelton. "We're playing like a (expletive) high school team."

High school football teams everywhere would like to disagree.

Anthony Hargrove's short tenure in Buffalo could soon be coming to an end. According to the Associated Press, the Bills are considering releasing him; Coach Dick Jauron stating that it's "an option."

Jauron says he's still gathering information before deciding on Hargrove's status. But the coach added the team will attempt to add a veteran defensive end to bolster its corps, which is now down to three experienced players.

The troubled defensive end, who the Bills acquired from the Rams last season, has seen his career go up in smoke this month. First, he got arrested following a scuffle outside a Rochester area nightclub and then he was suspended for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

It's amazing how fast things can fall apart for someone who doesn't seem to care. Like so many other spoiled athletes, Hargrove had the world in the palm of his hand and just let it slip away.

It's been a bad, bad week for Bills defensive end Anthony Hargrove. It began over the weekend when he was arrested on various charges including harassment, criminal mischief and resisting arrest and continued a few days later when he made what had to be an embarrassing apology.

Well, that was just the tip of the iceberg apparently. The Associated Press is now reporting that Hargrove has been suspended for four games without pay by the NFL after violating the league's substance abuse policy.

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.

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.

Although the NFL announced the suspension, they did not say what banned substance he tested positive for.

Hargrove's suspension will begin on September 1st (pending appeal) and will run through October 1st. Until then, he is free to practice with the team and play in their next three preseason games.

Buffalo Bills defensive end Anthony Hargrove found himself in front of a judge yesterday after being arrested over the weekend on charges of harassment, resisting arrest and criminal mischief. When asked to enter a plea, Hargrove predictable stated "not guilty."

This situation is certainly not something he's proud of and he expressed that last night after practice.

"First and foremost, I'd like to start out by apologizing to the city of Rochester," Hargrove said. "My first time in camp and I didn't want it to go like this. I want to apologize to the NFL, my teammates, my coaches and everybody that was affected by the situation."

Hargrove is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday; the same time the Bills will be traveling to New Orleans for their preseason opener on Friday. However, head coach Dick Jauron says he will join the team in Louisiana and will suit up for the game.

No indication has been given on what, if any, disciplinary action will be taken.