NFL Notebook: Ex-Saint says it's not his voice in clip
BY Associated Press
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
6/20/12 at 3:46 AM
Former New Orleans defensive end Anthony Hargrove says it's not his voice saying "Give me the money" in a video used by the NFL as evidence in its investigation of the Saints' bounty program.
A day after Hargrove and three of his ex-teammates made appeals of their suspensions at NFL headquarters, he returned to the sidewalk outside the league offices Tuesday for an informal news conference.
"I've never offered nor received money to intentionally hurt a player," Hargrove said.
On Monday, the NFL showed reporters a clip from the 2010 NFC championship game in which Hargrove purportedly made the "money" comment about injuring then-Vikings quarterback Brett Favre. Hargrove insisted it was someone else uttering those words, although he said he didn't know who.
Hargrove was flagged and subsequently fined $5,000 for a flagrant hit on Favre, who returned to the game.
"This happens," Hargrove said, looking into the TV cameras. "Brett, I'm truly sorry."
Luck not worried about unsettled contract: Andrew Luck is keeping his focus on football. He'll let others worry about his new contract.
The No. 1 overall draft pick says that even though he cannot attend training camp until he signs a deal, he is not worried about the lack of one becoming an impediment for reporting to training camp. The Colts report to Anderson University, an NCAA Division III school about 30 miles northeast of Indianapolis, on July 28.
Chargers' Turner expects tough competition to make roster: With all the offseason changes - and the urgency of getting back to the playoffs - Norv Turner thinks the competition to make the 53-man roster will be the hardest since he took over the San Diego Chargers in 2007.
"We have some really great competition on this team. No. 1, I think we'll have the best competition we've had to make the 53-man roster," Turner said. "I think it's going to be a hard team to make.
San Diego was 8-8 last year and 9-7 in 2010, missing the playoffs both seasons after winning four straight AFC West titles. San Diego has only one playoff win in the last four seasons.
Leaf sentenced to treatment for drugs: Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf was sentenced to nine months of lockdown addiction treatment followed by time in a prerelease center after pleading guilty last month to breaking into a house and illegally possessing painkillers.
Leaf told the judge he was humiliated and embarrassed for himself and his family and added that since his April arrest, jail "has been a sanctuary."
A prosecutor in Texas also is seeking to revoke Leaf's 10-year probationary sentence from a 2010 plea agreement for stealing prescription pain medicine.
Vikings' Allen wants sack record: Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen says he wants the NFL sack record more than ever.
Allen reported to the team's mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, the first time he has worked out with the Vikings this offseason. He is coming off a 22-sack season, a half-sack short of Michael Strahan's single-season record of 22.5.
Allen says getting 22 sacks last season showed him that breaking the record was a real, attainable goal.
