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Hargrove upset by bounty leak

SUSPENDED FORMER Saints defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove says that he is disappointed his sworn statement regarding the NFL's bounty investigation was leaked and also that the league has "grossly mischaracterized" his words.

SUSPENDED FORMER Saints defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove says that he is disappointed his sworn statement regarding the NFL's bounty investigation was leaked and also that the league has "grossly mischaracterized" his words.

In a statement emailed to the Associated Press on Wednesday by his agent, Phil Williams, Hargrove said he hoped the NFL would not discuss the signed declaration publicly.

"Call me naive, but I did not expect them to publicize the fact that I had sent them 'the Declaration.' But since they did, and because they grossly mischaracterized my words, it obviously became a hot item and subsequently was leaked by someone," Hargrove's statement said.

Hargrove's declaration explains how ex-Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and current assistant head coach Joe Vitt instructed him to deny the existence of a bounty program in New Orleans when he was interviewed by NFL investigators in March of 2010.

Hargrove, now with the Green Bay Packers, acknowledges that he acted on Williams' and Vitt's instructions to "play dumb" if asked whether he was aware of bounties being placed on former Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre or any other player.

The declaration does not go into specifics, however, about just what Hargrove knew or did not know about the bounty program in New Orleans.

Noteworthy * 

Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said he's confident he'll play for the Baltimore Ravens this season after having surgery on a partial tear of his Achilles' tendon. Suggs told the Baltimore Sun that "everything went good" with the surgery.

* Former Chargers stars Dan Fouts, Rodney Harrison and LaDainian Tomlinson are scheduled to speak at a memorial service for Junior Seau on Friday evening at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Seau committed suicide on May 2 at his home in suburban Oceanside, Calif. He played 20 seasons in the NFL, the first 13 with the Chargers.

* The Dallas Cowboys have filed a brief in their challenge of a $10 million salary cap reduction by the NFL. Owner Jerry Jones said his team followed the rules before being penalized. A hearing is set Thursday before arbitrator Stephen Burbank on appeals by the Cowboys and the Washington Redskins, whose cap was reduced by $36 million. The two NFC East teams were penalized for overloading contracts in the 2010 uncapped season despite league warnings. In other news, Jones said he isn't planning on trading cornerback Mike Jenkins and hopes to keep him long-term despite drafting Morris Claiborne out of LSU with the sixth overall pick in April's draft and signing free agent Brandon Carr to a 5-year, $50.1 million deal in the offseason.

* The Pittsburgh Steelers signed second-round draft pick Mike Adams (offensive tackle) and seventh-round picks David Paulson (tight end) and Terrence Frederick (cornerback). Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

* Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee late last season, is progressing ahead of schedule, and said he expects to being ready for the season opener.