METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) – General manager Mickey Loomis said the Saints are ready to move forward, after officially waiving veteran outside linebacker Junior Galette earlier this week.
“It is a hard decision and certainly there are a lot of variables involved. The financial aspect is certainly one of them,” said Loomis Wednesday at a media briefing at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. The Saints begin practice there Thursday morning.
The Saints paid Galette a $12.5 million bonus in March. By cutting Galette in July, the Saints absorb a $12.1 cap hit in 2016.
Galette, who joined the club in 2010 as an undrafted free agent, had 31.5 career sacks.
“Ultimately we made the decision that the best thing for our team going forward is to part ways with Junior Galette. He did a lot of great things for us over the last five years (and was) a really productive player,” said Loomis.
“He came a long way from being an undrafted free agent to being a starter on our team and look we haven’t forgotten that either. It was a very tough decision and there were a lot of variables involved but it was a decision that we made with the best interest in our team.”
Loomis said the Saints waited to cut Galette until he could pass a physical. He tore a pectoral muscle weightlifting in the offseason. Loomis said the Saints were also waiting on possible discipline on Galette from the NFL. Galette was arrested in January for an alleged domestic incident at his home in Kenner. Those charges were later dropped.
