Saints Will See Some Familiar Faces In 2015 Opponents
OLB Junior Galette (Washington Redskins)
Aug 1, 2015; Richmond, VA, USA; Washington Redskins linebacker Junior Galette (58) jogs off the field prior to afternoon practice as part of day three of training camp at Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
This will be a matchup that both Galette and the Saints fans if not the Saints themselves are looking forward to.
The story of the pass rusher’s humble beginning as an undrafted free agent in 2010 to a double digit sack master in 2013 and 2014 , leading to a 4-year, $41.5 million dollar contract is well known.
Equally familiar is his subsequent downfall from once playfully brash personality to locker room cancer in an equal amount of time.
His well publicized off-the-field issues culminated in a video allegedly showing a person thought to be Galette in a beach brawl striking a woman with a belt in 2013 has been deconstructed by fans in a manner that rivals CSI.
The Saints felt warranted enough that it was Galette and turned the video in to NFL investigators for review.
He was released on July 24th which lead to an emotional Galette telling the media it was the “worst call they’ve ever made.”
After concerns by other teams that Galette’s issues may trickle over, the Redskins were the only team to show a public interest and signed him a week later to a 1-year, $745,000 contract.
But Galette couldn’t help but take one last parting shot at his former team by saying after the signing that he was thankful to be with a “functional organization” and that signing for the veteran minimum was less about the money but more about the “relationship” with his teammates.
In the end, his time in New Orleans will be remembered more for the obscene dead money counting against the Saints cap space($5.45 million in 2015, $12.1 million in 2016) than his 22 sacks in two seasons.
The Saints will travel to Washington on November 15 to play the Redskins for a 12:00 p.m. CST game.
Next: In the Lions' Den