The Pittsburgh Steelers used the first pick in the second round of last week’s NFL Draft to select Joey Porter Jr. Porter was linked to the Steelers repeatedly at pick 17 throughout the mock draft process and was considered a top cornerback option that was a lock to be drafted in the first round by someone. After the Steelers made a bold trade to acquire Broderick Jones, it seemed like the Penn State legacy pick was not going to happen.
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Steelers father and son duo of Joey Porter Jr. and Joey Porter Sr.
The 2023 NFL Draft did not unfold as expected and after a surprising round one, Porter was available. The Steelers, despite the rumors of several attractive offers, held onto the pick and used it to bring the young man who had grown up in the Steelers’ locker room home. Most Steelers fans are very happy to have him back in Pittsburgh, but the specter of his father and a hint of nepotism by Mike Tomlin is causing some trepidation in certain media circles.
The PM Team w/ Poni & Mueller's bombastic host Andrew Fillipponi was not shy about reiterating his concerns on the afternoon sports talk show on 93.7 The Fan. He suggested that the relationship between Porter and Dino Tomlin might have been motivation for the draft pick and then laid out his biggest concern.
“I don’t think that Tomlin will put his foot down on Porter’s dad,” Fillipponi posited. “I don’t think he will tell him to stay away. I think about these situations in youth sports and high school sports. I don’t think it’s wrong to bring up the fact that we have a highly emotional person who just worked for the Steelers a few years ago.”
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Steelers' Joey Porter Sr.
Joey Porter Sr. was at the heart of a lot of the best moments in recent Steelers history. He was an emotional leader and highly productive edge rusher on a Super Bowl-winning team. Porter also was at the heart of several ugly incidents including the dubious interaction that produced a win over the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2016 playoffs. Porter is beloved by teammates and in complete fairness was a model citizen as a Penn State dad.
The advent of high-profile sports dads like Lavar Ball is cause for some concern, but Ball never reached the heights as a player that Porter did. While he may disagree from the stands, the personal relationship with Tomlin and the instincts to be a great dad are probably going to overrule any impulse to say or do anything negative. Training camp in Latrobe, PA is not the environment where parents run orange slices out to their children between drills and Tomlin is smart enough not to put the player and the team in the position for a negative incident.
“I actually hope Joey Porter Sr.’s coaching career gets back on track,” co-host Chris Mueller interjected. “He was in the XFL with the Brahmas, I hope someone says he coached really well and maybe we will give him a shot back on our staff in the NFL somewhere or maybe a major college somewhere. I think that is the best thing for all parties involved, he watches his son’s career from afar.”
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter has been added to the coaching staff for San Antonio's new XFL team.
Porter’s antics during the Bengals playoff game are going to make a return to an NFL sideline a long road to travel. He will likely have to go into college football if he wants to prove himself and that his temperament has evolved to the point where he can keep his emotions in check as a coach. The concerns about his father should not preclude the Steelers from taking a player that seems to fit the scheme that Tomlin wants to play on defense.
“Am I just to assume now that Joey Porter is never going to talk to Mike Tomlin about his son’s playing time,” Fillipponi continued. “Where he should play, how he should be used, or how he fits into their scheme. I think he will talk his ear off, and I wonder how much will go in one ear and out the other. I have serious questions about this being the right organization for [Porter Jr.] to flourish.”
Family is important to the Steelers and Tomlin. The rumors are already rampant that Matt Canada’s ties to Tomlin’s son at Maryland are the reason that the embattled offensive coordinator is still employed. It is a tremendous disservice to the Steelers head coach to think that somehow the parent of a player, no matter how close the relationship, would influence his decisions on Sunday.
“I think they got good value,” Mueller observed. “If they take him at 17 or had traded up take any corner or him at 14, that would be a problem. They got him right where I wanted them to get him. He is a player who is fully worthy of that draft spot. I think the kid has a chance to be a good enough player to justify that spot.”
Steelers' Omar Khan Spins Gold From The Straw Of Chase Claypool With Joey Porter Jr.
Zach Bolinger | Icon Sportswire
Joey Porter Jr. jumps the passing lane and attempts to make the interception in a game against Purdue.
The objections to the younger Porter in the first round after a substandard combine would have been justified at pick 17 because of his play on the field. The objections at pick 32 where his selection as a player was a tremendous value pick, centering around his father are out of bounds even for the hyperbolic Fillipponi. Pittsburgh fans have to have faith in Tomlin to manage the player on the field and let the Steelers team mom worry about what day Porter Sr. will bring the snacks.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you concerned that Porter’s dad will be too visible during his son’s career? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
