Tony Hargrove traded to the Bills (1 Viewer)

[Jene Bramel]

NFL.com

ST. LOUIS (Oct. 16, 2006) -- Defensive end Anthony Hargrove, who lost his starting job with the St. Louis Rams after skipping two days of practice and meetings this season, was traded to the Buffalo Bills for a fifth-round draft choice in 2007.

Hargrove was inactive Oct. 15 when the Rams lost 30-28 to Seattle, and has played in only three games this season. The third-round selection out of Georgia Tech in 2004 played in 35 games for St. Louis with 19 starts. He has only two tackles, one assist and a half-sack this season.

Last month, he failed show at Rams Park on back-to-back days. Hargrove was fined an undisclosed amount and did not make the trip to Arizona for the Rams' 16-14 victory on Sept. 24. Rookie Victor Adeyanju, a fourth-round pick, took over Hargrove's spot. Hargrove apologized for his absence but did not say why he took time off without notifying the team.

The Rams (4-2) have a bye week. The team said coach Scott Linehan would discuss the trade during an afternoon news conference.

Hargrove could get immediate playing time in Buffalo. The Bills pass rush has been ineffective, and the team is thin on the defensive line. Buffalo was down to three defensive tackles after placing rookie first-round pick John McCargo on injured reserve Oct. 14 after he broke his left foot against Chicago on Oct. 8.

Buffalo (2-4) has managed only six sacks over the past four games. The Bills also have struggled against the run, allowing 287 yards rushing in the past two games.

Buffalo starts two rookie safeties, and rookie fifth-round defensive tackle Kyle Williams has had significant playing time.

 

[The Gator]

Victor Ayonbdndnooyoyo :hi:

 

[Rozelle]

NFL.com

ST. LOUIS (Oct. 16, 2006) -- Defensive end Anthony Hargrove, who lost his starting job with the St. Louis Rams after skipping two days of practice and meetings this season, was traded to the Buffalo Bills for a fifth-round draft choice in 2007.

Hargrove was inactive Oct. 15 when the Rams lost 30-28 to Seattle, and has played in only three games this season. The third-round selection out of Georgia Tech in 2004 played in 35 games for St. Louis with 19 starts. He has only two tackles, one assist and a half-sack this season.

Last month, he failed show at Rams Park on back-to-back days. Hargrove was fined an undisclosed amount and did not make the trip to Arizona for the Rams' 16-14 victory on Sept. 24. Rookie Victor Adeyanju, a fourth-round pick, took over Hargrove's spot. Hargrove apologized for his absence but did not say why he took time off without notifying the team.

The Rams (4-2) have a bye week. The team said coach Scott Linehan would discuss the trade during an afternoon news conference.

Hargrove could get immediate playing time in Buffalo. The Bills pass rush has been ineffective, and the team is thin on the defensive line. Buffalo was down to three defensive tackles after placing rookie first-round pick John McCargo on injured reserve Oct. 14 after he broke his left foot against Chicago on Oct. 8.

Buffalo (2-4) has managed only six sacks over the past four games. The Bills also have struggled against the run, allowing 287 yards rushing in the past two games.

Buffalo starts two rookie safeties, and rookie fifth-round defensive tackle Kyle Williams has had significant playing time.

Cool

 

[Buckle]

For us Hargrove owners, what do we do? Cut him and pickup Victor Adeyanju for now? Buffalo is looking a little crowded for Hargrove right now with Schobel, Kelsay, and Denney.

 

[lord_helmet]

For us Hargrove owners, what do we do? Cut him and pickup Victor Adeyanju for now? Buffalo is looking a little crowded for Hargrove right now with Schobel, Kelsay, and Denney.

Should be good news for Adeyanju owners, won't be long before he's in on passing downs. He could be a very nice surprise next season, when he has had an oppurtunity to pick up a few moves and work on his technique

 

[Jene Bramel]

For us Hargrove owners, what do we do? Cut him and pickup Victor Adeyanju for now? Buffalo is looking a little crowded for Hargrove right now with Schobel, Kelsay, and Denney.

I'd cut him. He's had off the field issues all year long and now he moves into what appears to be a four man rotation at DE. Adeyanju should get every opportunity to play full time now -- he'll probably be inconsistent, but will have the benefit of getting more snaps.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

very strange trade for the Bills. they are hurting at DT, but go out and trade for a DE.

I assume they might try to play Kelsay/Denney inside at DT more, but I don't see that helping the run defense and I also don't think it will open up many opportunities for Hargrove.

Levy has also put a huge emphasis on character since taking over...so trading for a guy with some off-field issues seems even more odd.

 

[Bob_Magaw]

hard to interpret as any other way than no brainer positive for adeyanju...

i'll probably be cutting hargrove, but i don't need to make decision in that league until next year... if i had to make it this season, i'd cut him...

 

[The_Hunchback]

That Levy guy is a shrewd GM, this is sarcasm if you couldn't tell.

 

[-OZ-]

wow.

I'm less surprised by the Rams trading him (off field, Adeyanju) than by the Bills being the receiving team. He has talent, I would have thought other, contending, teams would have had an interest.

 

[Bob_Magaw]

if hargrove is flaky, undependable & has maturity/professionalis issues (that carries a pretty severe stigma)...

i cover the rams defense in offseason IDP coverage, & i was blindsided by the no show, no call situation this season... i had always heard positives about his work ethic... he sure cost himself a lot of money with that stunt in a contract year...

than again, this was supposed to be breakout year for him, & he didn't do munch with opportunity before then, so maybe he isn't is good as i thought... he has awesome measurables (similar to will smith in 04 draft who went two rounds earlier & probably conssensus best DE in that draft), and will flash promise occasionally (bulled through walter jones to get to alexander on a sweep last season in a way i had never seen done... jones works on his functional, football strength in offseason by towing CARS! )...

but he was very raw (prep QB, just two years at GA tech, coming out year early after academic ineligibility suspension... supposedly a technicality, but in light of recent events, maybe part of deeper pattern & indicative of underlying issue), & i thought it might take few years for light to come on... maybe the pilot went out & gas company needs to come out & restart it...

 

[Rozelle]

Think I'm gonna hang on to him for a while and see how the Buffalo thing plays out.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

from Chris Brown at buffalobills.com:

Bills Acquire Hargrove in Trade with Rams

by Chris Brown, Lead Journalist Last Updated: 10/16/2006 12:51 PM ET

The Bills saw an opportunity to make their pass rush stronger and acquired some young talent with the NFL trade deadline looming. Buffalo acquired defensive end Anthony Hargrove from the St. Louis Rams in exchange for an undisclosed 2007 draft pick.

"Bill Kollar coached him there and thought a lot of him," said head coach **** Jauron. "It won't be finalized until he passes a physical."

"He's a real fast guy that plays real hard, so we feel he fits right in with us in terms of tracking the football down all over the field," said Kollar. "He does a decent job rushing the passer."

Hargrove is a former third-round pick of the Rams out of Georgia Tech. The 6'3" 272-pound defensive end is in his third season. Thus far this season he has five tackles and a half sack as he was the backup right defensive end behind the Rams' behind starter Victor Adeyanju.

He's known as a player with a good upfield burst and has good initial quickness. Tremendously athletic, Hargrove played quarterback and safety in high school before growing into his 6'3" frame.

"He's real athletic and he can run," said Kollar. "He had a 40 inch vertical jump when he was coming out of college so we hope he turns out to be a good fit for us."

The Bills newest defensive end has already shown an ability to rush the passer after posting 6.5 sacks last season when he started 15 games for St. Louis.

But he is also now the biggest defensive end on the roster in terms of weight. That fact isn't lost on Kollar who used him at defensive tackle on passing downs here and there in St. Louis.

"We have some ends that we're pretty happy with, so what we'd like to do is to see what he's able to do inside," said Kollar. "When I had him there we worked him a little inside and we'll see what we can get out of him in there."

Buffalo's head coach concurred with Kollar about his satisfaction with the play of the ends already on the roster. Jauron said the acquisition isn't a reflection on the job his top three defensive ends have done thus far this season.

"It wasn't that we needed to (make this trade)," said Jauron. "It was an opportunity to, and it's hard to find enough of those guys with the right speed and work ethic that we look for. We like the guys that we have here. It was just too good an opportunity to pass up."

Hargrove, having played in a very similar version of Buffalo's cover-two scheme, figures to become part of the Bills defensive line rotation this Sunday.

"I don't see any problem with him playing right away," said Kollar. "I think he'll be able to play this weekend."

To make room for Hargrove on Buffalo's roster, the Bills put linebacker Josh Stamer on injured reserve. Stamer sprained his knee in last week's game against Detroit and was moving around on crutches in the locker room on Monday.

Buffalo currently has four defensive ends on their roster in Ryan Denney, Chris Kelsay, Eric Powell and Aaron Schobel.

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4272

Today Posted By: Chris Brown | Time: 4:28 PM ET | Link

HARGROVE TRADE: I can't fault the Bills for acquiring another pass rushing defensive end. They were trying to land another pass rusher in free agency this past offseason. If you remember they signed RFA Israel Idonije of the Bears to an offer sheet, but Chicago matched it.

Hargrove will be a restricted free agent after this season, so the Bills will likely tender him or if they really like what they see out of him they could sign him to a long term deal. Buffalo could have options with their defensive ends. Kelsay is going to be a free agent after this season, so if someone throws big money at him before the Bills can re-sign him at least the cupboard isn't bare here.

I like the fact that they're going to try to use him inside on passing downs. He's the heaviest of the ends at 272, but is still athletic. It'd be nice if he adds an extra boost to the pass rush.

I know he was fined and suspended by the Rams a month ago for missing two days of work, but **** Jauron said they investigated it with all their resources and were satisfied with the information they acquired on the situation to still make the trade.

Plus Kollar knows what kind of player he is as well. He called him a hard worker and very athletic when I spoke to him. For more from Kollar you can click on Bills Focus later this afternoon.

I know some fans were complaining that it was the DT position the Bills should have been trying to fortify, but the fact is that there aren't many teams willing to deal a decent defensive tackle knowing they're in such short supply in the league.

The Bills got an end that should help them more than any day two pick could help them with the pass rush. And Hargrove may be able to help on passing downs inside. Not to mention that his best football is probably ahead of him at just 23 years old.

The organization is at least trying to make a difference.

http://buffalobills.com/blog/index.jsp?blogger_id=1

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

BILLS NOTEBOOK

Rams' Hargrove arrives

By RODNEY MCKISSIC

News Sports Reporter

10/17/2006

Looking to bolster a defensive line that has recorded just six sacks in the past four games, the Buffalo Bills on Monday made a trade for defensive end Anthony Hargrove from the St. Louis Rams.

In exchange for the 6-foot-3, 269-pound Hargrove, the Bills gave up a fifth-round pick in the 2007 draft.

"It's hard to find enough of those guys with the kind of ability we're looking for," said Bills coach **** Jauron. "We like our guys at end, but we thought it was too good an opportunity to pass up."

To make room for Hargrove, the Bills placed linebacker Josh Stamer, a key member of the special teams units, on injured reserve. Stamer hurt his knee during the Bills' loss Sunday at Detroit, although Jauron didn't know the degree of the injury, he did say it was more severe than a sprain.

Hargrove will be added to the rotation behind Aaron Schobel, Ryan Denney and Chris Kelsay and while he'll be used primarily at end, Jauron didn't rule out moving him inside to defensive tackle on passing downs.

"You're constantly trying to improve your ball club, and if it's a player available the organization felt that he could help us," said Bills linebacker London Fletcher. "I know they talked about a lot of potential for him coming out of college so hopefully he can come in here and help us."

Hargrove does, nevertheless, come with some baggage.

Hargrove lost his starting job with the Rams after skipping consecutive days of practice and meetings. He was fined an undisclosed amount and did not play in the Rams' win over Arizona on Sept. 24. He later apologized for his actions although Hargrove didn't mention why he took the unexcused time off.

"We were concerned enough to investigate all of our sources," Jauron said. "We were also satisfied with everything we found out so we feel pretty good about it."

Hargrove has played in just three games this season and was not active for the Rams' loss to Seattle on Sunday. He has just two tackles and a half a sack this season.

"We just have to take him and answer any questions that he may have," Kelsay said. "Our defense is pretty simple up front, so it's a matter of getting the job done. I don't think it will be tough for him."|

But the Bills like the potential of the former third-round pick out of Georgia Tech, who started 19 of the 35 games he played for the Rams, and Jauron praised Hargrove's work ethic and speed.

"He's a young player so he's got a lot of future in front of him," he said. "We think he'll fit into our rotation for us."

The deal won't be finalized until Hargrove passes a physical.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20061017/1065950.asp