Super Bowl can give sinning Saint final redemption

Anthony Hargrove will line up as defensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints in Sunday's Super Bowl but watched last year's big game from a drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic.

The 26-year-old was serving a one-year ban for failing two drugs tests but will complete a dramatic return if Saints beat Indianapolis Colts in Miami.

"When I was in the rehab centre football wasn't even part of the equation, it was something taken away for at least one year," he said.

"To even get reinstated to the league there seemed to be so much that was against me. The plan wasn't about football. The plan was: how are you going to live now?'"