The Sports Xchange

The New Orleans Saints reportedly decided to release pass rusher Junior Galette on Friday.

Galette, who has 22 sacks over the past two seasons and just signed a four-year, $41.5 million contract last September, is being investigated by the NFL for two alleged assaults.

He also has been recovering from a torn pectoral muscle.

The team did not announce or explain the move, which is expected to be made after Galette passes a physical this weekend.

Galette told The Times-Picayune the decision by the Saints is “the worst call they’ve ever made. It was a terrible call to kick me when I’m down.”

The NFL has talked to Galette about his arrest in January for domestic simple battery, and the league is now investigating a 2013 video that purportedly shows Galette striking a woman with a belt during a scuffle in South Beach, Fla.

Galette, 27, was not charged in the domestic violence incident, which allegedly took place on Jan. 5 at his home in Kenner, La.

The beach video came to light last month, and the Saints forwarded it to the NFL.

In June, Galette apologized to Saints fans for his arrest.

“Really, at this level, you can conduct yourself as good, as choir boy, as you want; sometimes the trouble comes to you,” Galette said. “In that situation, there was nothing I could do. If I could do it all over again, there’s not much different that I can do as far as what this person wants for me out of my life.

“You really don’t know what are the warning signs for that. If somebody’s going to cross you and try to take everything you have, basically, but it is what it is. I’ve learned my lesson, and I just want to play football again. That’s all that matters right now.”

Galette joined the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2010 and had 12 sacks in 2013, earning the contract extension just before the 2014 season. He tallied 10 sacks last season.

Releasing Galette will be expensive for the Saints, who will take a $5.45 million hit on this year’s salary cap and a $12.1 million hit next year.