by SHELDON MICKLES; Advocate sportswriter; , The Advocate

Hargrove, a five-year veteran, won the honor after coming up with two fumble recoveries in a 43-second span in the final three minutes of the Saints' 30-20 win against Carolina. He also had three tackles.

His first recovery came with 2:43 left and the Saints clinging to a 23-20 lead. The second came after the Panthers got the ball back on their own 2 when Hargrove knocked the ball loose from running back DeAngelo Williams, then picked it up and ran 1 yard for a game-clinching touchdown.

Hargrove is the first Saints defensive tackle to win the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award since La'Roi Glover was honored three times in 2000.

Hargrove, who was signed in May after being suspended for the 2008 season for repeated violations of the NFL substance abuse policy, gave the credit to the team and his teammates for giving him a chance.

"It feels good, but if it wasn't for this organization and my teammates giving me a chance to come here, this isn't happening," he said. "For me, we're the NFC team of the week. There's nothing I've done by myself."

Flu strikes

Saints coach Sean Payton said wide receiver Marques Colston and tackle Zach Strief did not participate in Wednesday's practice because of the flu.

Payton said he didn't think the players had the swine flu and expects both to return today.

"Right now, the way I understand it with both of those players, it's just a common flu," said Payton, who noted that the players received vaccinations for the flu a couple of weeks ago.

"We've talked to guys about making sure they're doing a good job with all the things that (trainer) Scottie (Patton) and his crew preach about to keep (the flu) it from spreading."

Injury report

Not working on Wednesday because of injuries were defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (knee), free safety Darren Sharper (knee), cornerback Jabari Greer (groin), center Jonathan Goodwin (ankle) and wide receiver Lance Moore (ankle). Payton said Greer, Goodwin and Sharper were all injured against the Panthers.

Fujita returns

Strongside linebacker Scott Fujita, who has missed the last three games with a strained left calf, worked on a limited basis. But his availability for Sunday's game at St. Louis remained uncertain. "It felt good, it was a good start," said Fujita. "I got a lot of work in. Hopefully, it'll respond well (today)."

Harper remembers

Strong safety Roman Harper said there was a sense of calm among his family Tuesday night after the execution of D.C. sniper John Muhammad.

Harper's aunt, Claudine Parker, was killed during an attempted robbery in Montgomery, Ala., in Sept. 2002. He said several weeks after her death, the murder was linked to Muhammad and accomplice Lee Boyd Malvo.

"It was definitely a tough ordeal," said Harper, whose mother and uncle, Parker's sister and brother, made the trip to Virginia for the execution. "It was a long day. It was a process."

When he played at the University of Alabama, Harper would pay tribute to his aunt by writing her name on his wrist tape each week. "You can't write on your wrist (in the NFL), you'll get fined," he said. "But I still pray about it before I go out. ... I ask her to look upon me, so it's still with me."

Practice squad addition

The Saints signed rookie defensive tackle Earl Heyman, who was with the team in training camp, to the practice squad on Wednesday. Heyman takes the place of DeMario Pressley, who was signed to the active roster last week when Kendrick Clancy was put on injured reserve.

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