Report: New Orleans Saints Release Junior Galette
After reportedly mulling over multiple options, the New Orleans Saints have opted to release linebacker Junior Galette. The was first reported by local Saints reporter Lyons Yellin and later confirmed by national league insiders. Galette signed a four-year, $41.5 million contract extension last year, which included a guaranteed $12.5 million bonus paid in March.
The #saints have just released Junior Galette.
— Lyons Yellin (@LyonsYellin) July 24, 2015
UPDATE: Galette has called his release by the Saints “the worst call they’ve ever made. It was a terrible call to mick me when I’m down.”
After going undrafted in 2010, the Siants signed Galette as an undrafted free agent to the team. In five seasons, Galette has 31.5 sacks, 22 of which have come in the last two seasons. He earned the starting outside linebacker job in 2013 after starting just two games in the previous three years.
Performance is certainly not the reason Galettte is looking for a job. Galette was arrested this offseason on domestic violence charges, which were later dropped by the accuser. Following those accusations, a video surfaced that appeared to show Galette hitting a woman twice with his belt on a beach and included Galette shoving and punching multiple beach-goers. Galette and his camp have denied he is the man in that video on multiple occasions. The NFL was reportedly investigating the tape and met with Galette in the beginning of the year. The Saints were not happy with the timeline of events leading up to today, as well as the alleged incidents, resulting in his release.
Second round pick Hau’oli Kikaha will start camp as the front runner to the starting outside linebacker job. The Saints selected Kikaha out of Washington, but he needs to continue to learn the position. He started as a 4-3 defensive end in college, but is reportedly making the transition well. “Love the quickness, the passion, the way he plays the game,” Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan said. “He’s really done a good job working with Joe Vitt on getting his zone drops and things like that, something that he hasn’t had a lot of experience doing. He’s come a long way in just the few days that we’ve had him.”