Joey Porter
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Joey" Eugene Porter (born March 22, 1977) is an American football
linebacker
for the Arizona Cardinals
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 four-time Pro Bowl
selection, Porter earned a Super Bowl ring
with the Steelers in Super Bowl XL
. He has also played for the Miami Dolphins
.
in Bakersfield, California
. He was a two-time All-Conference selection as wide receiver
and running back
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 as a youth.
. He began his college career as an H-Back and did not 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. Majored in Exercise and Sport Science.
in the third round (73 overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft
. During the preseason, Porter wore number 95, the first Steelers to wear the number since Steelers linebacker great Greg Lloyd was released following the 1997 season
. However, despite his similarities to Lloyd in terms of playing style and vocal leadership (or perhaps because of it), Porter changed his jersey number to 55 just before the start of the regular season in order to develop his own identity. He also took 55 in honor of his childhood hero, Junior Seau
.
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.
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.
During the September 17th game against the rival
Cleveland Browns
in Cleveland
, Porter tackled punter Chris Gardocki
while Gardocki was trying to punt
the ball. While Porter would be penalized for roughing the punter, Gardocki briefly laid moitionless, then subsequently flipped the middle finger twice to Steelers head coach Bill Cowher
. The incident, caught on live television, resulted in a $5,000 fine for Gardocki. The two would later be teammates with the Steelers from 2004
-2006
.
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.
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 recorded 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.
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.
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.
On November 14 against the Browns in Cleveland, Porter and Browns running back
William Green were both ejected prior to kickoff due to a pregame fight. Porter's backup, James Harrison (who would ultimately replace Porter in the starting lineup after Porter left Pittsburgh), would get his first NFL start in place of Porter.
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.
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 and returned it for his first interception touchdown 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.
, 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. He immediately clinched the starting strong side linebacker, playing opposite Jason Taylor—the 2006 Defensive Player of the Year
. Porter struggled during the 2007 season, amassing only 5.5 sacks, his lowest total since 2003.
The 2008-2009 season saw a rejuvenated Porter return to his old indomitable form, leading the AFC and finishing second in the NFL with a career-high 17.5 sacks
; thus, Porter played an integral role in metamorphosing the 1-15 Dolphins of 2007-2008 into a 11-5 AFC East
Champion football team. Porter has since been rewarded for his strong play and award-worthy revival by earning his fourth Pro Bowl
and was named 2nd Team All-Pro
.
Porter started for the Dolphins at outside linebacker in 2009 and was named a team captain. In a poll of 296 NFL players, Porter tied Washington's Albert Haynesworth as the second dirtiest defensive player in the league. During week 9, Porter took heat from the press after calling out the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and leaving the game after recording zero tackles and avoiding the press.
The next week, Porter was suspended for one game by Dolphins coach Tony Sparano for undisclosed reasons. He was released on March 5, 2010.
, with $17.5 million in guaranteed money.
. He has participated in the Dolphins annual charity golf tournament, which benefits the Miami Dolphins Foundation.
Joey was a fan of the Chicago Bears
in his childhood, especially Hall of Fame member Walter Payton
, but also lists Junior Seau
as one of his role models. During his tenure in Pittsburgh, he hoped to see some action on the other side of the ball: "I thought I could help in goal-line situations," Joey says. "I petitioned Coach (Bill Cowher
), but he didn't see it that way."
On March 28, 2010, Porter was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and assault on a California Highway Patrol officer. It was later announced that all charges were dropped.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Colorado State
Colorado State Rams football
The Colorado State Rams football program, established in 1893, represents Colorado State University and is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mountain West Conference under head coach Steve Fairchild...
.
A four-time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection, Porter earned a Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
with the Steelers in Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
. He has also played for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Porter's prep career took place at Foothill High SchoolFoothill High School (Bakersfield, California)
Their Speech and Debate team won the State Championship in 2004. In 2003, Foothill had the league record of sending 7 students to the National Championships...
in Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
. He was a two-time All-Conference selection as wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
and running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
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 as a youth.
College career
After his time at Foothill, Porter was a standout on the football field for the Colorado State RamsColorado State Rams
Colorado State University competes in 16 sponsored intercollegiate sports, including 10 for women and six for men...
. He began his college career as an H-Back and did not see his first action on the defensive line until his junior year. He was a third-team All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
and All-Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
first-team selection by The Sports Network
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
. 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
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I-A with a school single-season record-tying 15 sacks for minus 63 yards. Majored in Exercise and Sport Science.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Porter was drafted by the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in the third round (73 overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
. During the preseason, Porter wore number 95, the first Steelers to wear the number since Steelers linebacker great Greg Lloyd was released following the 1997 season
1997 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1997 Pittsburgh Steelers was considered a transitional year heading into the season due to many key free agent losses in the offseason, as well as the first season of Kordell Stewart starting at quarterback....
. However, despite his similarities to Lloyd in terms of playing style and vocal leadership (or perhaps because of it), Porter changed his jersey number to 55 just before the start of the regular season in order to develop his own identity. He also took 55 in honor of his childhood hero, Junior Seau
Junior Seau
Tiaina Baul "Junior" Seau is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted fifth overall by the San Diego Chargers during the 1990 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Southern California and was the progenitor of the "NFL-USC linebacker".A ten-time All-Pro and...
.
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
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Tim Couch
Tim Couch
Timothy Scott "Tim" Couch is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at the University of Kentucky...
on September 12, when he also forced a fumble on the play. He partially deflected a punt against the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on December 2. In the season finale against the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, Porter accumulated six tackles and a sack. He also forced and recovered a Neil O'Donnell
Neil O'Donnell
Neil Kennedy O'Donnell is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, and Tennessee Titans...
fumble and returned it 46 yards for a score.
Jason Gildon
Jason Larue Gildon is a former linebacker for the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars . He was selected to three Pro Bowl teams from 2000, 2001, and 2002, and is currently the Steelers all-time career sacks leader with 77.0 quarterback take-downs...
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
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
Defensive Player of the Month in October. Against the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
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
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
two games later. Porter's first career interception came against the Tennessee Titans on November 5 on a pass from Steve McNair
Steve McNair
Stephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....
. His second career touchdown came on a 32-yard fumble recovery against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 12. He closed out the season with 1.5 sacks against the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on December 24.
During the September 17th game against the rival
Browns-Steelers rivalry
The Browns–Steelers rivalry is one of the most storied rivalries in the NFL. With 117 meetings and counting, it is the oldest rivalry and the most storied in the American Football Conference , surpassing any other rivalry in the conference by at least 5 contests. The two divisional foes have a...
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in Cleveland
Cleveland Browns Stadium
-See also:* List of current National Football League stadiums* Chronology of home stadiums for current National Football League teams* List of American football stadiums by capacity* List of U.S. stadiums by capacity* List of North American stadiums by capacity...
, Porter tackled punter Chris Gardocki
Chris Gardocki
Christopher Allen Gardocki is a former punter in the National Football League. Gardocki has spent time with the Chicago Bears, the Indianapolis Colts, the Cleveland Browns, and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
while Gardocki was trying to punt
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
the ball. While Porter would be penalized for roughing the punter, Gardocki briefly laid moitionless, then subsequently flipped the middle finger twice to Steelers head coach Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher
William Laird "Bill" Cowher is a former American football coach and player. Cowher resigned after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach on January 5, 2007, 11 months to the day after winning 2005–06's Super Bowl XL...
. The incident, caught on live television, resulted in a $5,000 fine for Gardocki. The two would later be teammates with the Steelers from 2004
2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers looked to rebound after a disappointing 6–10 season the year before, which saw the team go through the entire season without winning consecutive games....
-2006
2006 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 2006 Pittsburgh Steelers season began with the team trying to improve on their 11–5 record from 2005 and trying to defend their Super Bowl XL championship.-Offseason:...
.
Porter had a career day against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
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.
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
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
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 recorded 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
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
following the season.
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
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, 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.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, 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
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
on November 28, and had his lone interception of the season on December 26 on a pass from Baltimore Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller
Kyle Boller
Kyle Bryan Boller is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at The University of California.Boller has also played for the St...
. He finished the year with 53 tackles, seven sacks and an interception.
On November 14 against the Browns in Cleveland, Porter and Browns running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
William Green were both ejected prior to kickoff due to a pregame fight. Porter's backup, James Harrison (who would ultimately replace Porter in the starting lineup after Porter left Pittsburgh), would get his first NFL start in place of Porter.
Porter had one of his best years in 2005 as his team went on to beat the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
in Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
. 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.
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Rachard Culpepper is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League . Prior to joining the UFL, Culpepper enjoyed a successful National Football League career after being drafted 11th overall in...
pass in the fourth quarter and returned it for his first interception touchdown to seal a victory. He missed two contests in October while nursing a hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
injury. Porter finished the year with 55 tackles and 6.5 sacks.
Miami Dolphins
With the Steelers in transition under new head coach Mike TomlinMike Tomlin
Michael Tomlin is the current head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. Tomlin is the third youngest head coach in any of the four major North American professional sports. He is the tenth African-American head coach in NFL history, and first in Steelers history...
, 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
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
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
Cam Cameron
-External links:...
and general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Randy Mueller
Randy Mueller
Randy Mueller is an executive in the National Football League, most recently as general manager for the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints. He has over two decades of NFL front office experience.-College career:...
flew to Porter's home in owner Wayne Huizenga
Wayne Huizenga
Harry Wayne Huizenga is an American businessman who grew Blockbuster Video, Waste Management, Inc., and AutoNation into successful companies. He is the former owner of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins, the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers and the Major League Baseball's Miami...
'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. He immediately clinched the starting strong side linebacker, playing opposite Jason Taylor—the 2006 Defensive Player of the Year
NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award
The NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award is given by the Associated Press to the league's most outstanding defensive player at the end of every NFL season since 1971. Multiple-award winners include Lawrence Taylor, who won it three times, and Joe Greene, Mike Singletary, Bruce Smith, Reggie...
. Porter struggled during the 2007 season, amassing only 5.5 sacks, his lowest total since 2003.
The 2008-2009 season saw a rejuvenated Porter return to his old indomitable form, leading the AFC and finishing second in the NFL with a career-high 17.5 sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
; thus, Porter played an integral role in metamorphosing the 1-15 Dolphins of 2007-2008 into a 11-5 AFC East
AFC East
The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets...
Champion football team. Porter has since been rewarded for his strong play and award-worthy revival by earning his fourth Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
and was named 2nd Team All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
.
Porter started for the Dolphins at outside linebacker in 2009 and was named a team captain. In a poll of 296 NFL players, Porter tied Washington's Albert Haynesworth as the second dirtiest defensive player in the league. During week 9, Porter took heat from the press after calling out the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and leaving the game after recording zero tackles and avoiding the press.
The next week, Porter was suspended for one game by Dolphins coach Tony Sparano for undisclosed reasons. He was released on March 5, 2010.
Arizona Cardinals
On March 19, 2010 Joey Porter signed a three-year, $24.5 million contract with the Arizona CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, with $17.5 million in guaranteed money.
Personal
Porter and his wife Christy have four children: two daughters, Jayla and Jasmine, and two sons, Joey Jr and Jacob. Christy opened a day center for special needs children and named it after their daughter Jasmine Nyree, who has autism, located in downtown Bakersfield. The family resides in Bakersfield, CaliforniaBakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
. He has participated in the Dolphins annual charity golf tournament, which benefits the Miami Dolphins Foundation.
Joey was a fan of the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in his childhood, especially Hall of Fame member Walter Payton
Walter Payton
Walter Jerry Payton was an American football running back who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League for thirteen seasons. Walter Payton was known around the NFL as "Sweetness". He is remembered as one of the most prolific running backs in the history of American football...
, but also lists Junior Seau
Junior Seau
Tiaina Baul "Junior" Seau is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted fifth overall by the San Diego Chargers during the 1990 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Southern California and was the progenitor of the "NFL-USC linebacker".A ten-time All-Pro and...
as one of his role models. During his tenure in Pittsburgh, he hoped to see some action on the other side of the ball: "I thought I could help in goal-line situations," Joey says. "I petitioned Coach (Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher
William Laird "Bill" Cowher is a former American football coach and player. Cowher resigned after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach on January 5, 2007, 11 months to the day after winning 2005–06's Super Bowl XL...
), but he didn't see it that way."
On March 28, 2010, Porter was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and assault on a California Highway Patrol officer. It was later announced that all charges were dropped.