83-Steelers-43
12-11-2006, 08:26 AM
Porter's latest put-down out of line
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, December 11, 2006
Joey Porter's in trouble again.
Porter talks a lot. Sometimes, he talks enough for the entire Steelers team.
There are times when Porter talks too much -- like late Thursday night, when he called Browns tight end Kellen Winslow a derogatory name to describe someone's sexual orientation.
Sometimes when players talk a lot -- and Porter can trash talk with them best of them -- they're trying to motivate their teammates.
This wasn't the case.
Porter crossed the line of good taste.
Apologize, Joey. You were wrong -- dead wrong.
Why waste valuable time and energy verbally jousting with a third-year player on a terrible team who did next to nothing in the Steelers 27-7 win?
Save your rants for Carolina wide receivers Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson, who face the Steelers on Sunday.
Let's be honest. The Browns just aren't that good. Neither are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Steelers beat the Browns twice and Tampa Bay for their last three wins and are starting to feel good about themselves again.
The Steelers feed off Porter's energy the way Kobayashi devours hot dogs. He's their designated motivator.
Coach Bill Cowher turns Porter loose because Porter doesn't mind taking one for the team.
Porter couldn't care less what we think of him.
But there's a time and place for everything.
Porter's timing was all wrong. Not because he ripped Winslow. But for the way he ripped him.
Porter's tirade stemmed from Winslow's blocking linebacker James Farrior from behind at the end of a play. Farrior had relaxed and could have been seriously injured. Winslow received a personal foul penalty and incensed Porter.
Don't think for a minute that Farrior's upset at the way Porter came to his defense. That's what teammates are supposed to do. Porter is a great teammate.
But the man does has a track record for controversy.
The week prior to Super Bowl XL, Porter ripped Seattle tight end Jerramy Stevens (what is it with Porter and opposing tight ends, anyway?) following Stevens' remarks that the Seahawks were going to spoil Jerome Bettis' homecoming to Detroit.
There are two major differences between how Porter handled that situation and this one.
Last year, the Steelers were a red-hot playoff team on the verge of winning a championship. Porter, remember, was having a fabulous postseason that included making Colts quarterback Peyton Manning run for his life, after promising to do just that before the teams played. Given the way Porter and the Steelers were playing, Porter was well within his rights to boast.
This year, the Steelers are in danger of missing the playoffs. And Porter hasn't been the same dominant player. As a result, Porter's words don't carry the same weight.
Second, while Porter attacked Stevens' manhood, he didn't insult an entire group of people like he did with Winslow. He didn't have to, because he was on top of his game and didn't have to resort to cheap insults.
Porter is 29, an eight-year NFL veteran who has been to three Pro Bowls and ranks fourth in franchise history with 60 sacks. He's going to continue speaking his mind, because Cowher has empowered him to do so. It's too late to turn back now.
Porter is one of Cowher's all-time favorite players. Cowher needed Porter to win a Super Bowl. Now that he's won one, Cowher has no choice but to allow Joey to keep being Joey. Cowher could have done without Porter's latest meltdown, but in the coach's own words, it is what it is.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_483597.html
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, December 11, 2006
Joey Porter's in trouble again.
Porter talks a lot. Sometimes, he talks enough for the entire Steelers team.
There are times when Porter talks too much -- like late Thursday night, when he called Browns tight end Kellen Winslow a derogatory name to describe someone's sexual orientation.
Sometimes when players talk a lot -- and Porter can trash talk with them best of them -- they're trying to motivate their teammates.
This wasn't the case.
Porter crossed the line of good taste.
Apologize, Joey. You were wrong -- dead wrong.
Why waste valuable time and energy verbally jousting with a third-year player on a terrible team who did next to nothing in the Steelers 27-7 win?
Save your rants for Carolina wide receivers Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson, who face the Steelers on Sunday.
Let's be honest. The Browns just aren't that good. Neither are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Steelers beat the Browns twice and Tampa Bay for their last three wins and are starting to feel good about themselves again.
The Steelers feed off Porter's energy the way Kobayashi devours hot dogs. He's their designated motivator.
Coach Bill Cowher turns Porter loose because Porter doesn't mind taking one for the team.
Porter couldn't care less what we think of him.
But there's a time and place for everything.
Porter's timing was all wrong. Not because he ripped Winslow. But for the way he ripped him.
Porter's tirade stemmed from Winslow's blocking linebacker James Farrior from behind at the end of a play. Farrior had relaxed and could have been seriously injured. Winslow received a personal foul penalty and incensed Porter.
Don't think for a minute that Farrior's upset at the way Porter came to his defense. That's what teammates are supposed to do. Porter is a great teammate.
But the man does has a track record for controversy.
The week prior to Super Bowl XL, Porter ripped Seattle tight end Jerramy Stevens (what is it with Porter and opposing tight ends, anyway?) following Stevens' remarks that the Seahawks were going to spoil Jerome Bettis' homecoming to Detroit.
There are two major differences between how Porter handled that situation and this one.
Last year, the Steelers were a red-hot playoff team on the verge of winning a championship. Porter, remember, was having a fabulous postseason that included making Colts quarterback Peyton Manning run for his life, after promising to do just that before the teams played. Given the way Porter and the Steelers were playing, Porter was well within his rights to boast.
This year, the Steelers are in danger of missing the playoffs. And Porter hasn't been the same dominant player. As a result, Porter's words don't carry the same weight.
Second, while Porter attacked Stevens' manhood, he didn't insult an entire group of people like he did with Winslow. He didn't have to, because he was on top of his game and didn't have to resort to cheap insults.
Porter is 29, an eight-year NFL veteran who has been to three Pro Bowls and ranks fourth in franchise history with 60 sacks. He's going to continue speaking his mind, because Cowher has empowered him to do so. It's too late to turn back now.
Porter is one of Cowher's all-time favorite players. Cowher needed Porter to win a Super Bowl. Now that he's won one, Cowher has no choice but to allow Joey to keep being Joey. Cowher could have done without Porter's latest meltdown, but in the coach's own words, it is what it is.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_483597.html