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Hargrove Suspended For Next Season After Positive Test

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The Associated Press

Published: January 22, 2008

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Buffalo Bills defensive end Anthony Hargrove was suspended without pay for all next season Monday by the NFL after violating the league's substance abuse policy a third time.

The violation was Hargrove's second since August, when he was suspended without pay for the first four games of the regular season.

A third violation triggers an automatic one-year suspension, and Hargrove must apply to Commissioner Roger Goodell for reinstatement.

The NFL did not disclose how Hargrove violated the policy. Violations can result from positive tests, failure to cooperate in the testing program or failing to comply with a treatment plan.

Hargrove's agent, Philip Williams, was out of the country and not immediately available for comment.

The Bills declined comment beyond issuing an NFL release announcing the suspension, which came three weeks after Buffalo (7-9) completed its season.

Though Hargrove has said he hoped to re-sign with the Bills, his future in Buffalo was already uncertain. He has completed his one-year contract and was eligible to become a free agent.

Steeler WR's Girlfriend Held After Standoff

WEXFORD, Pa. - The girlfriend of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Cedrick Wilson was in custody after a nearly 12-hour standoff at Wilson's home that led to the evacuation of about 70 neighbors, police said.

Lindsey Paulat, 26, of Tarentum, was charged with aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Paulat was not immediately arraigned because she was being held Monday, but police could not say where or why under federal medical privacy rules. Northern Regional police chief Robert Amann told The Associated Press on Monday that he hoped Paulat would be released and arraigned later this week.

The standoff began a few hours after an argument Saturday morning between Wilson and Paulat, Amann said. Wilson left his Pine Township home about noon, and Paulat's mother came to talk to her.

While her mother was there, Paulat fired two shots from Wilson's handgun into a wall, police said. No one was injured.

Rivers Had Surgery Before AFC Title Game

SAN DIEGO - Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said Monday that he had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee a week ago in order to play in the AFC Championship Game, and that he'll need surgery on the torn anterior cruciate ligament in the same joint.

Rivers made it through Sunday's 21-12 loss to the perfect New England Patriots despite the damage to his knee, which he sustained in an upset win over the Indianapolis Colts a week earlier.

Rivers said he'd like to have surgery as soon as possible on the torn ACL.

"It's gone," he said. "I don't know exactly the details on that. I'll be ready by training camp."

PATRIOTS: Coach Bill Belichick rebuffed claims that defensive lineman Richard Seymour played dirty in the AFC championship victory against San Diego.

New England beat the Chargers 21-12 on Sunday to advance to the Super Bowl, and after the game San Diego center Nick Hardwick called Seymour "a dirty, cheap, little pompous expletive."

"I'm surprised," Belichick said Monday. "That's the last thing I would say about Richard."

Hardwick also accused Seymour of stomping on feet, slapping heads and punching people in the back.

"He's cheap and dirty, and the head man just let him get away with it the whole time," Hardwick said.

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