Another free agent who wasn’t hearing what he wanted to hear has fired his agent, this time eliminating a conflict of interest in the process.
According to Mike Jones of the Washington Post, linebacker Junior Galette has fired agent Peter Schaffer, putting any negotiations for a comeback on hold for at least five days. While these things happen reasonably often — Schaffer is Galette’s fourth agent — it’s interesting because the veteran agent also represents Washington General Manager Scot McCloughan.
“I just need to find an agent that’s on the same page as me,” Galette said.
He wants to return to Washington, and the team wants him back as well, as he comes back from a torn Achilles tendon.
But while that injury will depress the market, he didn’t want to sign the multi-year deal the team was offering which included low base salaries and incentives, preferring a one-year contract which would allow him to hit the market again in 2017. Of course, locking in a potential pass-rusher would have been a good piece of business for McCloughan, who brought Galette in last year on a one-year deal after he was bounced by the Saints.
“I know I’m coming off of the Achilles, but I’m doing great, I’m 27 years old, and I’ve seen older players come back from this injury and have great years,” Galette said. “My body fat is down to 8 percent, I’m eating and sleeping better than I ever have, I’ve matured and I’m hungrier than I’ve ever been. I know I can dominate again this season. . . .
“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.”
And since defining fair is subjective, Galette has chosen to work with someone who will look out for his interests exclusively.