Hargrove: "I was told to Lie"

By Mike Conroy

CREATED May. 7, 2012

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  • Image by Associated Press

By Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel

 

Green Bay -- Defensive end Anthony Hargrove sent a written declaration to the NFL that he was instructed by Gregg Williams and Joe Vitt to lie to the league about any involvement in a bounty program, per this Yahoo! Sports report. The former Saints' defensive lineman reportedly sent the letter to the league through the NFLPA. 

While Hargrove hoped to show that he was following orders, the declaration also ended up being proof that Hargrove was involved with the program.

The declaration, which is signed April 13, explains that Williams called Hargrove into a meeting in late February of 2010. Initially, they discussed football. And when Vitt joined in, the conversation turned to the bounty program and how the NFL was going to visit the Saints' facilities about the matter. Per the report, Williams and Vitt both told Hargrove that the NFL was going to come to the Saints' facility and that he should deny the existence of a bounty program.

In the document, Williams said: "Those [expletives at the NFL] have been trying to get me for years" and if all the Saints "stay on the same page, this will blow over."

Hargrove said that he did meet a NFL official in March 2010 and denied the existence of such a program.

The new Packers defensive end is suspended for the first eight games of this season for his involvement. On Monday, he reportedly appealed.