Junior Galette Suspended Two Games by NFL, Will Serve While on IR

Junior Galette was a controversial signing when it was announced in August due to video of a fight that appeared online, and other violence allegations against him. Scot McCloughan addressed those concerns and discussed the decision to sign Galette.

On signing linebacker Junior Galette:

"The thing about it is, we have a process with the Redskins that on every team we have reports on every player and we rank them from 1-53 and the practice squad guys. It’s our job, especially my job, that the 90 [-man roster] is strong as it can possibly be, and the 53 is as strong as it can possibly be. We did thorough, thorough research. We brought him in, met with him for hours interview-wise, and you know, I’ve been lucky enough to be in this league a long time and to be able to talk to the right people on other teams, our own players and other players and coaches. And the decision was made because we really believe he’s a Redskin, and that’s why we signed him."

On how Galette tried to convince him about his character:

"The thing about it, it wasn’t ‘convincing,’ it was just him being himself. I told him, ‘I want you to be you. The reason I’m here is to sit down with you face to face, one on one – hour, two hours, three hours, it doesn’t matter, I want to get to know you as a person, that’s what matters to me. I know your football ability, but I want to know you as a person.’  And he is so sincere and so excited about the opportunity to prove that he’s a good guy, prove that he’s a good football player, prove that he’s got a great career ahead of him. It was plain and simple."

On who is involved in the decision making process for signing players like Galette:

"On this process it was myself, it was Bruce Allen and it was Jay Gruden. We all three met with him, I met with him a lot longer than the both of them. It’s us three, but when it’s all said and done, final say, it’s my call. Right or wrong, it doesn’t matter because when it’s all said and done, it’s on my shoulders. I felt really, really strong about it."

On signing players like Galette:

"It’s not that [he’s] a bad guy. All players have issues. We all have some kind of issue. We’ve all made mistakes or something. I don’t want repeat offenders. I don’t want the guy that’s not going to be the good guy and bring him in our locker room. I think we have a very good defensive staff. We have a very good defensive meeting room, where you can bring a guy in and say, ‘Understand this, OK, boom, you do it again, you’re going to be gone. If you don’t do it again, we’re rocking and rolling.’"

Today, the NFL has announced a two game suspension for Galette stemming from a January 5th incident where Galette and his cousin allegedly tried to force a woman from his home and and injured her during during the dispute. Galette was booked for simple battery involving domestic assault. The charges were later dismissed, but the alleged victim filed a civil case against Galette which was also dismissed when the plaintiff failed to appear in court.

The NFL's domestic violence policy allows the league to suspend players for incidents off the field involving domestic violence, and they have determined that Galette violated the Personal Conduct Policy. He will begin serving his suspension immediately while he is on IR recovering from an Achilles injury, and will miss two weeks worth of pay this season. Galette signed a 1 year deal with the Redskins worth $745,000, but the team has the right of first refusal which will allow them to match another team's offer if they want to re-sign him next season.

STATEMENT BY AN NFL SPOKESPERSON:

Junior Galette of the Washington Redskins has been suspended without pay for two games for violating the NFL Personal Conduct Policy.

Galette, who is currently on the reserve/injured list, will begin serving his suspension immediately.