Joey Porter

Infobox NFLactive

---

name=Joey Porter
|width=300px
caption=Porter on Super Bowl XL media day
currentteam=Miami Dolphins
currentnumber=55
currentpositionplain=Linebacker
birthdate=birth date and age|1975|3|22
birthplace=Kansas City, Missouri
country=USA
heightft=6
heightin=3
weight=250
debutyear=1999
debutteam=Pittsburgh Steelers
highlights=
* First-team All-WAC (1998)
* Third-team All-American (1998)
* 3x Pro Bowl selection (2002, 2004, 2005)
* 3x All-Pro selection (2002, 2004, 2005)
* Super Bowl champion (XL)
college=Colorado State
draftyear=1999
draftround=3
draftpick=73
pastteams=
* Pittsburgh Steelers (1999-2006)
* Miami Dolphins (2007-present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=553
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=65.5
statlabel3=INTs
statvalue3=12
nfl=POR135132

Joey Eugene Porter (born March 22, 1977 in city-state|Kansas City|Missouri) is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Colorado State.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Porter earned a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers in Super Bowl XL.

Early years

Porter's prep career took place at Foothill High School in Bakersfield, California. He was a two-time All-Conference selection as wide receiver and runningback for the Trojans. His senior season, he led the team to a 9-2 mark and a berth in the sectional playoffs, rushing the ball 86 times for 1,086 yards. After his final season at Foothill, he was named to the All-Section and All-State teams. He lettered twice in football, plus twice in basketball. He also played soccer and got a scholorship for it by Penn State University.

College career

After his time at Foothill, Porter was a standout on the football field for the Colorado State Rams. He began his college career as an H-Back and didn't see his first action on the defensive line until his junior year. He was a third-team All-America and All-Western Athletic Conference first-team selection by The Sports Network. He registered 22 career sacks. As a senior, he recorded 53 tackles (36 solos) with eight quarterback pressures and 12 tackles for losses of 67 yards. He finished third in NCAA Division I-A with a school single-season record-tying 15 sacks for minus 63 yards.

Professional career

Pittsburgh Steelers

1999

Porter was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round (73 overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. He finished the preseason as the team's leading tackler, compiling 22 total tackles, including 18 solo stops. He also registered a team-high four sacks and forced a fumble. He went on to excel on special teams during the regular season, with his time on defense increasing as the year went on. His first career sack came on Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch on September 12, when he also forced a fumble on the play. He partially deflected a punt against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 2. In the season finale against the Tennessee Titans, Porter accumulated six tackles and a sack. He also forced and recovered a Neil O'Donnell fumble and returned it 46 yards for a score.

2000

In 2000, Porter finished second behind Jason Gildon and set a career high with 10.5 sacks on the year. He and Gildon also tied a franchise record with 24 sacks as a duo. On the year, he registered 74 tackle (51 solo), one interception, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He was voted the AFC Defensive Player of the Month in October. Against the Cincinnati Bengals on October 15, he registered eight tackles (seven solo), three sacks including one for a safety, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. He had five tackles and two sacks in a game against the Baltimore Ravens two games later. Porter's first career interception came against the Tennessee Titans on November 5 on a pass from Steve McNair. His second career touchdown came on a 32-yard fumble recovery against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 12. He closed out the season with 1.5 sacks against the San Diego Chargers on December 24.

2001

Porter had a career day against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 21, 2001, recording six tackles, four sacks and a pass deflected while earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Two weeks later he registered four tackles and two sacks against the Baltimore Ravens. He missed the season finale against the Cleveland Browns - the first time he failed to play in his NFL career - due to a shoulder injury. Porter finished with 59 tackles and nine sacks on the season.

2002

In Week 2 of the 2002 season, Porter had what is likely the best game of his professional career. In a 30-17 loss to the Oakland Raiders on September 15, Porter racked up seven tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and two passes defensed. The performance, during which he returned one interceptions 84 yards, earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He recored five tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in a 34-7 blowout against the Cincinnati Bengals on October 13. On the year, Porter had nine sacks - the third straight year of eclipsing the mark - while setting career highs in tackles (88), interceptions (4) and interception return yards (153). He was selected to his first Pro Bowl following the season.

2003

In 2003 Porter recorded the lowest sack total of his career since his rookie year, while missing two games due to a gunshot wound on August 31, 2003 outside of a Denver bar, just before the beginning of the season. He recorded a sack and recovered a fumble in his first game back against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 21. On October 26 against the St. Louis Rams, he had six tackles, a pass defense and two sacks - his only multiple-sack game of the year. In 14 games played, Porter totaled 65 tackles, five sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and four passes defensed.

2004

Porter bounced back in 2004 with the second Pro Bowl selection of his career. In an October 31 win against the New England Patriots, Porter had four tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles. He was selected the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. He recorded two sacks against the Washington Redskins on November 28, and had his lone interception of the season on December 26 on a pass from Baltimore Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller. He finished the year with 53 tackles, seven sacks and an interception.

2005

Porter had one of his best years in 2005 as his team went on to beat the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. Porter was named to the third Pro Bowl of his career and the second in two years. On the year, he tied a career high with 10.5 sacks while adding 56 tackles, two interceptions and four forced fumbles. He recorded a sack in four of the team's first five games of the season. In a 41-0 blowout win over the Cleveland Browns on December 24, Porter had five tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble.

2006

In what would be his final year as a member of the Steelers, Porter had what many would consider a down year. He recorded 6.5 sacks on the year, but six of them came in three games against the mediocre offensive lines of the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the other half sack came against the Cleveland Browns. In the season opener against the Miami Dolphins, he intercepted a Daunte Culpepper pass in the fourth quarter to seal a victory. He missed two contests in October while nursing a hamstring injury. Porter finished the year with 55 tackles and 6.5 sacks.

Miami Dolphins

2007

With the Steelers in transition under new head coach Mike Tomlin, the team released Porter on March 1, 2007 in lieu of paying him a $1 million roster bonus. He received immediate interest from a handful of teams, including Pittsburgh's three division rivals - the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. The Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and San Diego Chargers were also in the mix, but it came down to the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins. After Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron and general manager Randy Mueller flew to Porter's home in owner Wayne Huizenga's jet, Porter was persuaded to sign with the Dolphins.

Porter was officially signed by the Dolphins on March 8, 2007. He received a five-year deal worth approximately $32 million. The deal includes a $12 million signing bonus and $8 million in guaranteed money. [ [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07066/767408-66.stm Bouchette, Ed. "Porter, Dolphins reach agreement", "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette", March 7, 2007. Accessed March 8, 2007.] ] He immediately clinched the starting strong side linebacker, playing opposite Jason Taylor - the 2006 Defensive Player of the Year - as the team moves toward the 3-4 defensive scheme. Porter will continue to wear No. 55, which was most recently worn by linebacker Junior Seau from 2003–05.

Controversies

During his career, Porter has become known for his conflicts with other players, league officials and other teams, as well as a few off-the-field incidents.
*In 2003, he was shot on the left side of his buttocks outside of a bar in Denver, Colorado. He was in town for the Colorado-Colorado State football game. However, he was an innocent bystander in this incident.
*Porter was ejected from a 2004 game against the Cleveland Browns after getting into a fistfight with Browns running back William Green. Green was also ejected for this altercation.
*Porter was heavily criticized for shoving an injured Todd Heap from the Baltimore Ravens when the TE lined up injured so the offense could spike the ball and save time out.
*Porter is known to bare his belly and taunt other teams during warm-ups, as in the Green altercation.
*Before Pittsburgh's 2005 divisional playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts, Porter commented::"They don't want to just sit there, line up and play football. They want to try to catch you off guard. They don't want to play smash-mouth football, they want to trick you with candy and bring you into their car and lock all the doors. ...They want to catch you substituting. Know what I mean? They don't want to just call a play, get up there and run a play. They want to make you think. They want it to be a thinking game instead of a football game."ref|1
*After the Indianapolis game, Porter claimed that the referees had unfairly called an interception by Troy Polamalu an incompletion because they favored the Colts, stating:"The whole world wanted Indy to win so bad, they were going to do whatever they had to do. I mean, look at the O.J. trial"ref|2 Although Porter was expected to be fined for these comments, he never was, perhaps because the NFL later condemned the official's decision.ref|3
*Leading up to the Steelers' traditional Super Bowl champions visit to the White House on June 2, 2006, Porter generated headlines by suggesting that he would criticize President George W. Bush. The "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette" quoted him as saying: "Yeah, I got something to say to Bush, I'm going to have a swagger when I walk in there, too," Porter said, laughing loudly. "I'm looking forward to it. I have something to tell him, too. I don't like the way things are running right now. I feel like he has to give me some of my money back, so I got something to tell Bush." The Steelers later released a statement saying that Porter had been joking and that he meant no disrespect. At the White House, in an effort to downplay the controversy, he was put as far as possible from the president on the bleachers behind him, in the back row on the right, wearing sunglasses.
*Porter was fined every game for wearing yellow gloves with the Steelers. Even though they are the team's color, the league still does not allow his yellow gloves to be worn.
*On September 21, 2006, his two dogs (a mastiff and a pit bull) got loose and killed a neighbor's 29-inch miniature horse. [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06264/723752-54.stm]
*Porter was voted as the second-dirtiest player in the NFL in a 2006 players' poll (Receiving 6% of the votes). [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2631666]
*On December 7, 2006, following a victory over the Cleveland Browns, Porter used a homosexual slur in his comments against Browns' tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. regarding a late hit penalty he committed against Steelers linebacker James Farrior.

"It was late, that's what faggots do. He's soft. He wants to be tough but he's really soft." [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_483265.html]

After criticism of the comment as anti-gay, Porter clarified that he "didn't mean to offend anybody but Kellen Winslow." [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2696023]
*On March 192007, the "Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel" reported that Porter was cited in Las Vegas for misdemeanor battery after an altercation at the Palms Casino where he allegedly punched Cincinnati Bengals OT Levi Jones in the face, cutting open Jones. It has also been reported that Levi Jones accused Porter of stealing his jewelry during the altercation. On May 30, Porter pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. Porter was docked 3 game checks for his actions. Later reports into the incident revealed that it was not just Porter, but also 6 of his friends who attacked Jones. [http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/04/03/levi-jones-says-six-of-joey-porters-buddies-attacked-him]

Jerramy Stevens

In the weeks before Super Bowl XL, Porter was angered by comments made by Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens. Stevens was quoted as saying that::"The story of Jerome Bettis returning to his hometown (Detroit) is heartwarming, but it's going be a sad day when he doesn't walk away with that trophy." Stevens then said "I don't think he (Porter) is going to have such an easy day against Walt." Porter responded by saying: :"now I'm looking for him on game day, now I'm looking for Stevens, he has to line up in front of me, and that information you gave me just got me started so I'll be out there looking for him at the 50-yard line. That information will go a long way because Stevens can't hide from me. He has to line up in front of me and I'll remind him of [what he said] every time I put him on his back." He then said, "he should know his role, he hasn't done anything that makes anybody fear him, while Jerome is a Hall of Famer and everybody knows about him. Meanwhile, this guy is almost a first-round bust who barely made some plays this year. He has the nerve to say what Jerome is not going to do when he isn't going to be the deciding factor whether that happens or not. I'm going to make sure he don't have anything to do with the outcome of the game. I would think someone would say something, but I wouldn't think it would be him, he's too soft to say something like that. He'll have the opportunity to back up his words, but I'm going to have an opportunity to back up my words." Later, Porter challenged a reporter to pick whom he would want by his side while walking down a dark alley, him or Stevens. When the response wasn't immediate, Porter said: :"“You're lying. You're taking too long. You don't want to tell the truth... . Y'all both will get mugged."

Guest Appearances

In 2007 Joey appeared on Sport Science to measure the NFL's hardest hits.

Notes

#cite web | title=Colts choose their words carefully in response to Steelers | work=ESPN.com | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=2290027 | accessdate = 2006-01-23
#cite web | title=Porter won't be fined for cheating remarks. | work=FoxSports.com | url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5259162 | accessdate = 2006-01-23
#cite web | title=NFL: Polamalu overturned interception the wrong call | work=ESPN.com | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs05/news/story?id=2294309 | accessdate = 2006-09-07

References

External links

* [http://www.joeyporter.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/team/roster/playerBio.asp?docid=27295 Miami Dolphins bio]