Pending free agent linebacker Junior Galette has fired his agent due to his unhappiness with ongoing contract negotiations, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Galette must wait five days to replace the fired Peter Schaffer, and talks with Washington are currently suspended.
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Per Jones, Galette is intent on signing a one-year, “pillow” contract, similar to the deal he signed with Washington last season after being cut by the Saints. The club, however, is countering with multi-year proposals featuring incentives that, despite being recommended by Schaffer, are of no interest to the 27-year-old Galette.
While still being paid $12.5MM by New Orleans, Galette last year agreed to a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum — an option that Galette is not considering this time around, per Jones. “[Washington is] who my heart is with,” said Galette “I just want a one-year deal, and it has to be a fair deal. I’m not putting a number out there, but it has to be fair.”
Despite wanting to remain in Washington, Galette says he is open to entertaining offers from other teams. And while other suitors might be out there on the open market, Galette is still a bit hamstrung — his 2015 contract allowed Washington the right of first refusal in 2016, so the team has the option of matching any offer Galette receives from another NFL club.
Galette, of course, never actually played for Washington in 2015, having torn his Achilles in August. According to Jones, Galette’s recovery has gone well, and he remains on track to fully participate in offseason work with Washington — or his next team.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.