That is a remarkable financial hit for the club, which also loses a productive pass rusher.
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General Manager Mickey Loomis added that the team’s brass has been examining all aspects of the organization ever since last season ended and that they have even turned a critical eye on themselves. He is listed as an outside linebacker, but is a pure pass rusher who wasn’t often used in coverage by the Saints. Today the team is going to take an up-close look at former Saints linebacker Junior Galette. I wish Junior (Galette) the best.
Ray Rice is also looking for a second chance and it could be very hard for him to find a team.
Though Galette later denied it was him or someone representing him, somebody went on an vulgar Twitter rant Saturday blasting Payton and some of Galette’s former Saints teammates. In January he was arrested on a domestic violence charge. This will be under investigation by the NFL.
Galette has a lot hanging on the investigation.
In addition to the social media firestorm came the news of the NFL upholding the four-game suspension for New England Patriots quarterback Tim Brady in the “Deflategate” scandal. His brash personality rubbed some the wrong way. Kerrigan just signed a multi-year contract extension to stay in the nation’s capital.
Where would he play? If signed by the team, he’d nearly certainly start opposite Ryan Kerrigan at the other OLB spot. “Obviously it became a decision about the team”, Payton said.
It should be noted that while coming to town for a physical and meetings indicates more than casual interest in signing a contract, it doesn’t mean that a deal will get done.
When asked if the comments made by Galette after he was released by the team validated his decision, the Saints GM answered, “I think you always have to keep in mind that is emotional for a player, particularly an accomplished player to be told he is not wanted anymore”. The Redskins might not like what they hear when they talk to Galette. In the wake of his release – a release which will cost the team somewhere in the vicinity of $18 million in dead money – rumors and reports emerged of his issues off-the-field.
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It will be interesting to see how this one develops.
