On the field, Junior Galette is a great pass rusher, coming off back-to-back double-digit sack seasons. But Galette’s off-field issues got him cut by the Saints on Friday -- and those off-field issues go beyond two separate accusations of violence against women.
A long story by Katherine Terrell of the Times-Picayune details several problems Galette caused in the Saints’ locker room, ranging from a fight with a teammate to a perception that he got lazy after he got his new contract.
One former Saints teammate said of Galette, “He stayed focused long enough to get paid, then the real Junior came out. Sad.”
According to the report, teammates resented the lucrative contract the Saints gave Galette last year, especially in an environment in which other players were sent packing because they were too expensive. Players noticed that Galette got his new deal at a time when the Saints fought to define Jimmy Graham as a tight end so they could pay him less than he would make if he were a wide receiver.
Galette also fought with former Saints defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick before a preseason game last year, according to the report.
Overall, the report paints a picture of a Junior Galette who was not a popular man in the locker room, and whose departure won’t be mourned by his teammates. New Orleans doesn’t seem like it will miss him. At least off the field.
