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Joey Porter News & Rumors

Arizona Cardinals' Joey Porter placed on injured reserve, likely ending his career
December 22
Arizona Republic
 
"Porter missed the last eight games with a knee injury that required surgery earlier this season. Porter wasn't going to play even if he had returned healthy. Sam Acho has played well as Porter's replacement. Porter never provided the pass rush the Cardinals hoped when they signed him in 2010. He had five sacks in 14 games last season and accepted a paycut from $5.75 million to $1.5 million in 2011. This is the last year of his contract."
Cardinals' Todd Heap, Joey Porter form new alliance in red
September 7
Arizona Republic
 
"That wasn't always the case between Todd Heap and Joey Porter. For six bloody years, they were in the middle of the NFL's most vicious rivalry. Porter was an instigating, bone-crushing linebacker for the Steelers. Heap was a quiet tight end for the mouthy Ravens, a team that delighted in matching Pittsburgh's Old World toughness. And then it became personal. "Joey and I obviously have a very good relationship now," Heap said. "But I wasn't too fond of him for a long time." Their relationship soured early in the 2004 season, after Heap injured his ankle near the end of the first half. He hobbled to the line of scrimmage, in no condition to play. The Ravens decided to spike the ball"
Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter understands pay cut
July 31
Arizona Republic
 
"Outside linebacker Joey Porter wasn't taken aback when the Cardinals asked him recently to restructure his contract and take a pay cut. Porter had five sacks last season and was due to make $5.75 million in salary. He's 34. He can do the math. So Porter agreed to the restructuring, the details of which are not yet available. "Early in my career, I probably would have been mad about it," Porter said. "You get five sacks, they don't really want to pay you $5.7 million base the next year. You have to be smart enough to understand that. "I knew that would be asked of me. That was my decision. If I'd played better last year, I wouldn't have been in this situation.""
Ken Whisenhunt defends Joey Porter's performance
February 26
Arizona Republic
 
"There are a handful of reasons outside linebacker Joey Porter might not return to the Cardinals this season. He's coming off an unproductive season in which he produced five sacks. He turns 34 in March, and he's due to receive $5.75 million in salary, $4.5 million more than last season. Coach Ken Whisenhunt defended Porter on Friday at the NFL scouting combine, saying Porter was put in an unfair situation because of injuries to other outside linebackers.

"Joey was in a situation that was tough for him," Whisenhunt said. "He was playing a tremendous amount of snaps and for a player his age that was tough and that was not our intent. Our intent was to rotate players in there and"

Joey Porter: 'We didn't play like we wanted to win'
October 4
Arizona Republic
 
"The Cardinals shoddy defensive performance against the Falcons in week two prompted a players-only meeting where finger-pointing and desire were discussed. Those topics could be on the agenda again this week if defenders choose to have another meeting to discuss their performance in a 41-10 loss to the Chargers. "We didn't play like we wanted to win the game," said outside linebacker Joey Porter. "We knew we were up against the No. 1 offense but it's still a pride thing. It's a little embarrassing when you come up here and put out a performance like we did today. It's a bitter taste." Defensive coordinator Bill Davis traced the Cardinals problems to failure to stop the run. The Chargers"
Joey Porter brings much-needed intensity to defense
August 13
Arizona Republic
 
"Training camp football is hard on the eyes. The best entertainment often comes in the form of a garbage can and a side wager. Such was the case Wednesday morning, when Joey Porter took on Matt Leinart in a test of throwing accuracy from 20 yards away. "I think that's the one drill that keeps fans into the practice," Leinart said. After numerous misses, Porter put one in the bottom of the can. The crowd erupted. Leinart rallied to tie his teammate, pumping his fist in relief. Their competition ended in a draw, to be continued at a later date. "One for 20 for a linebacker ain't bad," Porter said. For a quarterback, well, that's a story for another day. The addition of Porter, a headstrong"
Joey Porter contributes on multiple fronts
May 27
Arizona Republic
 
"Joey Porter is eight sacks shy of 100 for his career, and Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt says the linebacker's contributions are not limited to the playing field. Porter, in his 12th season, is a four-time Pro Bowl selection who won a ring with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL, and Whisenhunt was the offensive coordinator. Porter signed with the Cardinals as a free agent after spending three years in Miami. "Besides the good play - a part of the reason for bringing in a guy like Joey is because I know the way he works in practice, I know the way he works in the weight room, I know what kind of teammate he is, and that type of leadership is what's important," Whisenhunt said."
Report: No charges against Porter
April 1
Arizona Republic
 
"A Bakersfield, Calif., television station is reporting the local District Attorney's office won't file charges against Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter. Porter was arrested last weekend on suspicion of driving under the influence, resisting arrest and assault on a police officer. The story said the television station is waiting on an interview with the DA's office."
Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter off to rocky start with team
March 31
Arizona Republic
 columnist Dan Bickley
"The Cardinals have done the unthinkable. They have cleaned up their act with a high-pressure hose, transforming one of the worst brands in sports. They are now a respectable, competitive franchise that took flight with role models and good guys, including a head coach known to draw up plays while sitting in church. And then Joey Porter went down in a Taco Bell parking lot. "Something we always talk about with our players is their image in the community, how important that is, and how people will look up to you as role models," Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "And maybe there's a perception with Joey around the league, from people who've played against him. But I've been around"
Ex-Steelers LB Porter says police officer struck him
March 31
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The Bakersfield Californian reported Tuesday that Arizona Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter has accused a California Highway Patrol officer of unlawfully striking him the night the former Steelers star was arrested on charges of drunken driving, battery on a peace officer and resisting arrest. Porter's allegation is under investigation in the context of the whole incident, Sgt. Larry McGuire said Tuesday. He also said there is no internal affairs complaint or investigation against Officer Jeritt Greer, who arrested Porter early Saturday morning at a Taco Bell parking lot. Greer has a pending drunken driving charge against himself stemming from an October arrest, according to the Kern County"
Joey Porter needs to leave baggage behind
March 30
Arizona Republic
 columnist Paola Boivin
"Joey Porter put his body through a workout Monday on Day 1 of the Cardinals' off-season program but gave his mouth a rest. That's a good thing. Not for those of us who value colorful characters but for an organization hungry to justify signing one of the NFL's bigger headline-grabbers. Eight days after coming to terms with the Cardinals, Porter was arrested for allegedly driving drunk and resisting arrest in his hometown of Bakersfield, Calif. He deserves the presumption of innocence but will find the benefit of the doubt harder to come by. That's the price of testing the realm of good decision-making too many times. At the least, in exchange for a nice contract, he owes the Cardinals a"
Cardinals' Joey Porter arrested for drunken driving, other charges
March 28
Arizona Republic
 
"Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Joey Porter was arrested Saturday morning in his hometown of Bakersfield, Calif., for driving under the influence, battery of a police officer and resisting arrest, according to the California Highway Patrol. The incident, first reported by the Bakersfield Californian, occurred about 1:20 a.m., according to a release by the California Highway Patrol. Officers pulled over a friend of Porter's in the parking lot of a Taco Bell, and Porter pulled in behind the patrol vehicle. Officers smelled alcohol on Porter and asked for his driver's license. Porter declined, and the officer asked him to leave the vehicle."
Dolphins can void Joey Porter's contract when labor agreement expires
March 4
Palm Beach Post
 
"The Dolphins took care of a couple of minor housekeeping issues Wednesday leading up to a major one: The departure of Joey Porter. Once the labor agreement between NFL owners and players expires at midnight Thursday - rendering 2010 an uncapped year - Miami can get back to what it tried to do three weeks ago: voiding the remaining two years on Porter's contract. While that produces a $4.8 million cap hit, it also frees up $5 million for this season that won't be paid to the former All-Pro linebacker. While this season is uncapped, the Dolphins have given no indication of their spending plans. The Dolphins did tender two of their three restricted free agents, running back Ronnie Brown and"
Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland on Joey Porter
February 26
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland, who had insisted there was "no fire" to put out in regard to Joey Porter a month ago at the Senior Bowl, had a different approach to questions about the controversial sack artist here on Thursday. How much, the national media wanted to know, did Porter's coast-to-coast media tour during Super Bowl week have to do with the (botched) decision to release him on Feb. 12? "It had nothing on the bearing of why we released Joey, or the intent was to release Joey that day," Ireland said. "None of the talk off the field had anything to do with why we attemped to release him. It's all basically performance on the field is why we attempted to release him." Notice he"
Dolphins try to cut Joey Porter, but they're still stuck with him
February 13
Palm Beach Post
 
"Disgruntled Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter isn't gone, after all. But it's likely only a matter of time before the Dolphins manage to release him, which they tried but failed to do Friday. During Super Bowl week, Porter had sought out every media outlet available to campaign for his freedom from the Dolphins. They tried to accommodate him by cutting him Friday afternoon. But a few hours later, they were forced to reinstate him because the club was not able to absorb the required salary-cap hit, an NFL source confirmed. When Porter signed a five-year, $32 million deal in March 2007, he received a $12 million signing bonus, which is prorated at $2.4 million a year. Releasing him with"
Cowboys could be a fit for linebacker Joey Porter
February 13
Dallas Morning News
 
"

Joey Porter's wish was granted Friday by the Miami Dolphins: They released him. The four-time Pro Bowl linebacker campaigned last week to be waived, saying in broadcast interviews he was frustrated about his reduced role in 2009 and doubted his relationship with coach Tony Sparano could be repaired. Mike Florio of profootballtalk.com thinks Porter could be a good fit for the Cowboys. "The Cowboys could be an alternative, if Porter is willing to accept a backup role behind DeMarcus Ware or Anthony Spencer. Former Dolphins defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, who worked with Porter each of the past two years, has returned to the defensive staff in Dallas. "Of course, there's a"

Dolphins try to cut Joey Porter, but told they must wait
February 13
Miami Herald
 
"Like a broken couple awaiting a divorce to be finalized, the union between linebacker Joey Porter and the Dolphins still exists as far as the rules are concerned. Just don't expect to see any cuddling on Valentine's Day. Both sides must wait three more weeks before they can officially be done with each other -- despite the Dolphins' failed efforts Friday to release Porter from his contract. There's still no question about this much: The relationship is over. Much like his tenure in Miami, Porter's exit has been a dramatic one, which has now been prolonged even more because of a salary-cap oversight by the Dolphins. On Friday at 3:49 p.m., Miami issued a statement announcing its decision to"
Who fills Joey Porter's shoes?
February 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"The Miami Dolphins and Joey Porter aren't officially divorced just yet because the NFL rejected the roster money due to salary cap ramifications. But Friday's attempt to release Porter clearly indicates the three-year marriage between South Florida's beloved football team is clearly coming to an end. The Dolphins want the world to know they are better off without the 11-year veteran, and his inevitable release will allow them to avoid paying the $1.2 million he was due this offseason in roster and workout bonuses. Of course it didn't help matters that Porter spent all of last week campaigning for his release, citing irreconcilable differences. Well, the Dolphins plan to give Porter, who"
NFL tells Miami Dolphins they can't release Joey Porter … yet
February 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"For a couple of hours Friday afternoon, it looked as though Joey Porter had received an early Valentine: his football freedom. However, after first announcing they had released the disgruntled linebacker, ending his tenure in South Florida after three up-and-down seasons, the Miami Dolphins were forced to restore him to their roster. A league source said this was due to NFL salary cap rules. "The release of Joey Porter was determined to be an invalid termination," the team said in a statement. "Therefore, at this time, Porter reverts back to the Miami Dolphins roster." The Dolphins apparently will have to wait three more weeks before officially cutting ties with Porter. He is due a $1"
Joey who? Pretty soon Porter will be a forgotten man in Miami
February 12
Palm Beach Post
 columnist Dave George
"Joey Porter nearly talked himself hoarse during Super Bowl week, choosing the NFL's premier event to announce that one of the league's most provocative stars might soon be available to the highest bidder. Then the game kicked off and The Who performed at halftime and, before you knew it, Joey Porter, media sensation, was reduced to The Whatever. Poor guy. By late Sunday, Joey wasn't even the most significant Porter at Sun Life Stadium. New Orleans cornerback Tracy Porter earned his headlines the hard way with a 74-yard interception return to beat Peyton Manning and the Colts. Joey, he was out there begging for his, even appearing on the NFL Network's field-level Super Bowl set on game day"
Porter says he's finished as a Dolphin
February 8
NFL.com
 
"Linebacker Joey Porter, appearing on NFL GameDay Morning on Sunday at Sun Life Stadium, said he has played his final days in a Dolphins uniform and plans to play elsewhere next season. "Probably as a Dolphin, but not the last time you'll see me in this stadium," Porter said when asked about his future in Miami. "I still have a lot of years of football left … but strapping on that jersey, yes, this year is the last time.""
Dolphins teammates still supportive of Joey Porter
February 5
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Two key cogs for the Miami Dolphins still want Joey Porter to return in 2010, even after he blasted the coaching staff and his fellow outside linebackers in public comments this week. "Definitely I'd like to have a guy like that back," Lousaka Polite, the Dolphins' fullback, said during a Thursday appearance at an NFL Play 60 event at Sun Life Stadium. "He's the heartbeat of the defense, a leader. He's a great player. He's been around this league. He knows what it takes. So who wouldn't want a Joey Porter on the team?" Cornerback Nate Jones also expressed support for Porter, who all but dared the Dolphins to release him during a two-day media tour early this week. "I love Joey," said"
Joey Porter, upset about playing time, goes to airwaves insisting on being released
February 3
Palm Beach Post
 
"In two radio interviews on Tuesday, Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter continued to vent his frustration with the 2009 season and expressed his desire to leave the team. Speaking on Sporting News Radio and 560 WQAM Miami, Porter acknowledged a rift with coach Tony Sparano following a one-game suspension and criticized the team for putting first-year linebacker Cameron Wake into games to replace Porter. Porter said he sees no alternative but to move on. "I just really don't think it works for both of us," Porter told Sporting News Radio. "You don't want someone on your sideline on your team that really doesn't want to be there." Porter said the problems began when Sparano deactivated Porter"
Joey Porter continues rant against Miami Dolphins
February 3
Miami Herald
 
"Some athletes use the Super Bowl media frenzy to promote a product. Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter is using it for a different reason: to publicly declare his unhappiness with his team, while continuing to state he wants out. For the second day in a row, Porter has used television and radio outlets to rant about Miami's coaching staff -- specifically coach Tony Sparano -- and the way the team used him. First appearing on ESPN's Jim Rome Show on Tuesday, Porter then took his gripes to Sporting News' national radio show before sitting down with teammate Channing Crowder on Crowder's weekly show, which is broadcast on WQAM. ``I don't have time to play childish games,'' Porter said on"
Joey Porter says he 'felt like an outcast'
February 3
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter continued his bridge-burning media tour Tuesday, hinting at a locker-room rift and saying he felt like an "outcast" while rarely speaking to coach Tony Sparano after a midseason benching. "The last seven weeks of the season was no fun for me," Porter said during an appearance on WQAM. "Only time I talked to [Sparano] was on game day." That coach-player relationship went sour, Porter said, after Sparano benched him for the Nov. 15 Tampa Bay game after Porter was spotted out late on a Friday night. Porter said his dinner ended by 10:30, but he was still forced to sit due to a "coach's decision." After that, Porter said, "the writing was on the wall," and"
Joey Porter has told team he wants to be traded
February 2
Palm Beach Post
 
"The Joey Porter saga picked up steam Monday. The outspoken linebacker went on the Jim Rome show on ESPN and said he doesn't want to return to the Dolphins unless he is a full-time starter. An NFL source confirmed that Porter has told the Dolphins he would like to be traded in the wake of a frustrating season. Porter missed two games - one because of injury and one because coach Tony Sparano deactivated him - and his playing time was reduced, in part to make room for younger players such as Cameron Wake and Charlie Anderson. Porter, who turns 33 on March 22, told Rome on his Miami Beach set that his situation "could easily have been fixed" by management. However, the Dolphins might decide"
Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter says team should trade him
February 2
Miami Herald
 
"Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter confirmed Monday that he no longer wants to be a part of the organization in his current role, and he has no intention of playing for the team if they plan to continue rotating him as a role player rather than a starter at weakside linebacker. ``I won't accept it no more, you know what I mean?'' Porter said while speaking to Jim Rome on ESPN. ``I accepted it last year because I'm a team guy. I just want to play, have fun and win football games. ``When you're winning, all of this stuff is [swept] away. But after seeing how last year went, asking me to come back and play that role again, I can honestly say I won't come back to do that. I can't be happy about"
Porter says he 'won't come back' to play part-time with Miami Dolphins
February 2
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Mount Peezy finally erupted. Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter, coming off a frustrating season that included a one-game benching, said Monday he isn't interested in returning as a role player in 2010. "After seeing how last year went, to ask me to come back and play that role again, I can honestly say I won't come back and do that," Porter told ESPN's Jim Rome in a beachfront interview. "I can't be happy about coming back playing that role." Porter, named Sunday to the NFL's All-Decade team, stopped short of demanding a trade but did say it "would be the smart thing to do. Why would you keep a guy there that you want to make a role player? Why pay me all that money and make me a role"
Joey Porter wondering if the Miami Dolphins want to dump him, source says
January 28
Palm Beach Post
 
"Dolphins outside linebacker Joey Porter endured injuries, a one-game benching and a reduced role during a frustrating season. Now he is wondering if he'll have to take a major financial hit and find a new team, an NFL source familiar with the situation said Wednesday. The Dolphins have until March 4 to release Porter or pay him a $1 million roster bonus. "That has not been decided yet," coach Tony Sparano said Wednesday during a break from his coaching duties at the Senior Bowl. "And that's it." Porter also is scheduled to earn a base salary of $3.8 million in 2010, plus a $200,000 workout bonus. If Miami releases Porter, the team owes him nothing. His future with the Dolphins became a hot"
Sources: Joey Porter tells Miami Dolphins he is not happy
January 28
Miami Herald
 
"Since the season's end, one of the biggest questions facing the Dolphins has centered around whether linebacker Joey Porter's tenure in Miami will be cut short within the next few months, two seasons before his contract is set to expire. The decision -- which will take into consideration his salary, his age, his production and his polarizing presence in the locker room -- now has a new set of circumstances to deliberate: Porter, 32, isn't happy. When the season concluded, Porter met with coach Tony Sparano to discuss a number of issues that bothered him, according to sources. Those issues, among others, involved the way and the amount that he was utilized. While the sides are working"
It's time to cut ties with Joey Porter
January 26
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"This week, the Dolphins will be at the Senior Bowl, looking for new players. Over the next few weeks, they'll be making final decisions about many of their holdovers. One of those holdovers is Joey Porter. And while Porter's fate may be decided partly by the Collective Bargaining negotiations -- the expected failure of which could lead to an uncapped year and the ability to clear his contract -- my belief is that the Dolphins need to part ways with him either way. This opinion is based on conversations with several sources, including teammates. It's not that they don't enjoy Porter's company. Most do. And it's not that they all believe he's done. Most think he can still be effective if"
Hampton: Porter still has love for Steelers
January 3
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter has been gone from the Steelers for three years, but his heart is still with the Black and Gold. At least that's the opinion of Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton, who played alongside Porter from 2001-2006. "In the offseason, I guarantee he is hanging out with us more than he is hanging out with his new teammates," Hampton said. Hampton expects a lot of trash talking by Porter on Sunday, especially during warm-ups, but he said fans and media shouldn't always believe what they see. "It's a show for you all," Hampton said. "We don't get into talking smack. We're too cool for that. We are better than that." Porter has played against his former team once"
Joey Porter could be playing his last game as a Miami Dolphin
January 1
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Joey Porter doesn't have to search hard for motivation this week. On Sunday, Porter will be lining up against the Pittsburgh Steelers, his former team, possible making his last start for the Miami Dolphins. This offseason the Dolphins' front office must decide whether to retain the 32-year-old pass rusher, who has contributed a career-low 39 tackles but produced a team-high eight sacks this season while playing on a troublesome right knee. Whether to extend Porter's stay is one of the tougher decisions this Dolphins regime will have to make in 2010. Porter signed a five-year deal with the Dolphins in 2007 after the Steelers dumped him that offseason to get younger at his position. He's"
Ted Ginn Jr. didn't back down from race with Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson, Joey Porter says
December 18
Miami Herald
 
"Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter verbally slapped down Wednesday's claim by Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson that Dolphins wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. backed out of a match race down Miami Beach's Ocean Drive. But Porter did acknowledge being a spark behind setting up a Ginn-Johnson race last Memorial Day weekend, when hip-hop-themed parties drew fans, entertainment celebrities and sports figures to South Beach. ``The race was supposed to be here at the [Dolphins' Davie practice] facility. You're not going to have two Pro Bowl guys like that running out there on the concrete in the street,'' Porter said Thursday. ``[Johnson] knew where the race was set up. He was in our town. It"
Dolphins' Wake must prove he's more than pass-rushing specialist
December 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Jason Taylor credits it to "good cartilage," but the NFL's active sacks leader looks at Cameron Wake with envy sometimes. The former CFL standout, who serves as Taylor and Joey Porter's pass rushing understudy in his first NFL season with the Miami Dolphins, has an admirable ability to stay low, bend his body in an awkward manner and turn the corner to beat opposing offensive tackles. "He's an amazing pass rusher," linebacker Channing Crowder said of Wake, who leads the Dolphins with 16 quarterback pressures. "He just comes off the edge with that shoulder dip, the little move he has. There are only about three or four guys in the league who can get as low as he does." Taylor compares"
Joey Porter practices for the first time this week
December 11
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Despite missing practice all week with a sore knee, Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl linebacker Joey Porter was back on the field Friday during team drills in the practice bubble. While Porter, who has been hampered by hamstring and knee ailments this season, will most likely be in there Sunday against Jacksonville, center Jake Grove looks like he will miss his third straight game with an ankle injury. After practicing on a limited basis Thursday, Grove was back on the stationary bicycle Friday, so it appears that Joe Berger will once again be delivering the snaps to quarterback Chad Henne. Cornerback Nate Jones (hamstring) and OLB Jason Taylor (shoulder) were practicing during the brief media"
Dolphins' Porter out to prove he's not all talk
November 28
Buffalo News
 
"Expect Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter to have blood in his eye Sunday when he faces the Buffalo Bills. Porter had four sacks and forced two fumbles in helping the Dolphins beat the Bills twice last season. But he missed out on the Dolphins' pass-rush party against the Bills in October. He was hurt as Miami swarmed Buffalo with six sacks in a 38-10 victory. The Bills' offensive line is in dire straits this week. Backups are set to start at left tackle (Jonathan Scott) and right tackle (Kirk Chambers), and Kendall Simmons takes over at right guard just five days after signing with the Bills. What's more, Porter is eager to pad his sack totals because his season has been much less"
Porter, Randy Starks prove to be pain to Carolina Panthers
November 20
Miami Herald
 
"It's not about him, it's about the team, Joey Porter insisted this week. On Thursday night, at key points in the game, it was about Porter and Randy Starks because what they did was about the Dolphins stuffing Carolina's offense. Porter, who came into the game with 2.5 sacks in seven games this season, yanked Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme to the ground to end two drives, including the game-opening drive that reached the Dolphins' 7. Porter finished with a team-high eight tackles and three other quarterback hurries. Starks had five tackles, a sack that killed a drive that had reached the Dolphins' 8 and two other quarterback hurries. Those sacks held Carolina to field goals when"
Joey Porter makes statement, Dolphins follow with 24-17 win over Panthers
November 20
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"OK, so maybe this wasn't "Porter's House," the weekly segment Joey Porter tapes for the league-run television arm. But the man with the self-described alter ego called "Peezy" still set the early tone Thursday night on the NFL Network. Clearly invigorated by his one-game benching four days earlier, the veteran linebacker keyed a strong Dolphins pass rush that produced four sacks and a much-needed 24-17 win over the Carolina Panthers. "Joey kind of got it started," said Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, who made the decision to sit Porter down for reasons still not fully explained. "I was pleased with the pass rush. We needed it." On an evening filled with smack talk and vicious hits, the"
Ronnie out, Porter in versus Panthers
November 17
Miami Herald
 
"Running back Ronnie Brown will not play versus Carolina on Thursday, according to head coach Tony Sparano. Sparano also said linebacker Joey Porter will play against the Panthers and the coach thinks the linebacker "will start," against the Panthers. That's what is happening inside the Dolphins at this hour: Porter, the subject of a Chris Mortensen report in which the ESPN information man said the linebacker will not play against Carolina Thursday, was asked by the Herald's David J. Neal if he saw the report Monday night. "Yeah, I saw the report," Porter told Neal. "I got no comment on that." Sparano had a definitive comment. I asked him if there was any doubt in his mind whether Porter"
Miami Dolphins' Joey Porter out, but not because of injury
November 15
Miami Herald
 
"It already was a pretty strange week as it related to Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter. On the eve of Sunday's game, it got even weirder. At around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, team representative Harvey Greene began notifying local reporters that Porter had been downgraded to ``out'' for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers at Land Shark Stadium because of a ``coach's decision.'' Greene could not give the reason for the decision, but he did note it is not injury-related. Porter missed practice Wednesday and Thursday because of a knee issue, but he was listed as probable on the team's injury report Friday after returning to practice. Whatever the reason, no one wanted to talk about it Saturday"
Porter probable, Smiley doubtful for Dolphins-Bucs
November 14
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter practiced Friday and has been upgraded to probable for Sunday's home game against Tampa Bay despite an injured knee that slowed him all week. Three Dolphins players are listed as doubtful, headed by starting left guard Justin Smiley ( shoulder). Smiley did not practice all week and was sent to see a shoulder specialist on Thursday, when he missed practice, but he was back in the practice bubble on Friday and was seen riding an exercise bike. Also doubtful are linebacker Erik Walden (hamstring) and nose tackle Paul Soliai ( ankle). Walden is a "full core" special-teams player who would be difficult to replace, Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said, while"
No offense too innovative for Dolphins
November 14
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Study, steal, repeat. If you're an NFL coach, that doesn't make you a thief or unique. It's your duty, particularly if your team has a talent deficiency, to investigate any innovation that could give you a better shot to succeed. So what if someone else thought of it first? So Tony Sparano does that, sure. The Dolphins coach does it often enough that he deems himself "a pain in the neck" to his assistants. He watches tape of opponents, sees "all these teams doing a bunch of things," identifies interesting wrinkles that might "marry something that maybe we've done," and pesters his staff with them. But Sparano and his staff have done more than the NFL norm. They haven't merely borrowed a"
Miami Dolphins' Joey Porter stifled, looking for spark
November 13
Miami Herald
 
"Three years ago, after using a derogatory slur to describe former Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter eventually delivered one of the more strangely entertaining apologies of all time. ``I would just like to say it was a poor choice of words in the comment I made toward Winslow,'' said Porter, who then played for the Steelers. ``I didn't mean to offend anybody but Kellen Winslow.'' No doubt, based on comments like those, the individual rivalry between Porter and Winslow was once among the more publicly blatant in the NFL; one that led to on-field confrontations and verbal sparring all the way through their last meeting in 2007. RIVALRY RENEWED? So will"
Dolphins' defense blows game plan, and Brady strikes again
November 9
Miami Herald
 
"As the final seconds ticked down to what already was a certain victory for the Patriots, the home team's closed-circuit feed to the Gillette Stadium scoreboard focused on a dejected Joey Porter on the Dolphins sideline. The caption below Porter's name: ``Zero tackles. Zero sacks.'' And one problem with that is it showed zero class because it needlessly ridiculed an already-beaten opponent. The other problem is Porter allowed the statistics to be accurate in the first place. The Dolphins sack leader a year ago was as invisible on the field as he was afterward in the locker room, when he bugged out without talking to reporters. Facing the opportunity to match up much of the game against a"
Players don't bite on Joey Porter
November 7
Boston Herald
 
"Some of the Patriots haven't heard Joey Porter's incendiary comments. Others just shrug it off like they did when the Jets flapped their gums during Week 2. Porter, the Dolphins linebacker, may be boosting the reputation of the AFC East as a trash-talking division, but veteran Patriots linebacker Junior Seau had a response to that. "Leave us out of that," Seau said. "We're not going to join that crew." Porter went on the NFL Network's "Around the League" and essentially said quarterback Tom Brady works from his own set of rules."
Miami Dolphins' Joey Porter readies for hated opponent
November 6
Miami Herald
 
"Like a dude who has done this a few dozen times, Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter didn't feel like being baited. He knew what was up. The media corps in New England wanted him to talk trash during a conference call this week, but Porter wasn't feeling it. ``I'm not falling for none of those little tricks,'' Porter said. ``I get mad when I want to get mad. So if that's what this conversation is going to be about, about fishing, then you guys ought to come out here to Miami. We've got some good lakes to fish here.'' On the other end of the phone line, longtime Boston Herald scribe Karen Guregian decided to engage Porter with a light-hearted jab back. ``You said `guys,' but there are ladies"
Joey Porter insists he doesn't play dirty
November 5
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"It's bad enough Joey Porter is on pace to finish with a paltry six sacks, although he promises he's still capable of reeling off eight or nine more in a hurry. "I've just got to cash in when I get the chance to cash in," Porter said Wednesday. "Ain't nothing happen to me. I'm still the same player. I'm going to be all right." What's really got the Miami Dolphins linebacker upset is a $5,000 fine from the NFL's fashion police for not showing enough white on his game socks. "That's what we're worried about," Porter said. "All the [stuff] that's going on in the game, and that's what we're worried about." Porter, who plans to appeal, said he was never warned before or during the game in"
Dolphins, Porter get last word
November 2
New York Post
 
"There's been no shortage of words exchanged between the Jets and Dolphins this season, and some of the loudest voices in the week leading up to yesterday's game belonged to Joey Porter and Kerry Rhodes. The buildup before this battle of mediocre teams led to the two players getting into a shoving match on the field at Giants Stadium before Miami beat the Jets for the second time this season, 30-25. "At some point in time, the talking and all that stuff has to come to a stop," said Porter, who made two tackles in the victory. "I told you, we could talk until we're blue in the face, but you've got to play the game." As for the pre-game fireworks between the two, Porter said: "It was"