Saints linebacker Galette overcame trouble at Temple

METAIRIE, La. - New Orleans Saints linebacker Junior Galette says his three seasons at Temple were highly beneficial, even if he wasn't able to finish what he started.

Galette may not be a household name, but he could be soon. This season, his fourth with the Saints, he finished sixth in the NFL with 12 sacks. He will return to Lincoln Financial Field for Saturday's wild-card playoff game against the Eagles.

"I have a lot of great memories" from Temple, Galette said after Wednesday's practice at the Saints facility. "Nowadays I enjoy the bad memories there more than the good memories, knowing I overcame those bad memories."

One of those bad moments during the spring of his junior year led to his departure. Galette had a younger cousin staying with him at the time. His cousin was caught stealing two laptop computers from a dorm.

Because his cousin was staying with him, Galette faced suspension from the team. Galette, who accumulated 161/2 sacks in 31 games at Temple, decided to transfer to Division II Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The Haitian-born player started anew at Stillman.

"It kind of made me more grateful and humbled me to know I was now playing a game and there would be 100 people in the stands [at Stillman]," said Galette, who had 91/2 sacks in his one season there. "It was a learning experience and a great experience, knowing I overcame that."

Then he had to overcome the stigma of being an undrafted free agent with the Saints. In his first NFL season, in 2010, Galette appeared in just four games.

"The biggest transition in his rookie year, second year, was making a name for himself and earning a roster spot," Saints coach Sean Payton said.

Even though he didn't record a sack in his first season, the 6-foot-2, 258-pound Galette showed a hunger, not to mention the potential, to get to the quarterback.

"Junior was a player that had come in and had shown a specific skill set, speed, agility, the ability to be able to rush the passer," Payton said. "To his credit, he has gotten stronger and he has also has really become a pro."

Payton admires the linebacker's attention to detail.

"He is a film-study guy," Payton said "I would say a lot has changed for him - leaving college and the transitions he had in college, some of the challenges that he had and then taking advantage of this opportunity. You know he is a guy that I am real proud of."

Over his next two seasons in New Orleans, Galette totaled 91/2 sacks.

This season, the Saints changed from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense under new coordinator Rob Ryan. Galette, who is listed as a linebacker, is really employed more as a lineman, with his main job being to get the quarterback.

"It has been crucial that Coach [Ryan] has inserted me in the starting lineup, and knowing I have a key role with the team has given me more opportunities to make plays," said Galette, who added that a number of friends from Temple will attend the game.

Despite the difficult path to the NFL, Galette said his vision never wavered.

"The vision was to be in this exact spot, one of the primary guys on a top-five defense," he said. "Being a guy who can lead other guys and tell other guys what to do and not to do and what they can learn from my mistakes."