PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He was ticked off, it gave him an edge and a chip on his shoulder. But Joey Porter, Junior said a day after not being selected in the first round, it all worked out ending up with the Steelers.
“I was not expecting it,” Porter, Junior said Friday night. “After last night, anything could happen with this draft. I kinda had that going into it. There was that little voice in the back of your head ‘maybe the Steelers could draft you’. When they were on the clock and it was winding down, I was like ‘dang, they may not get me’. Then I saw that 412 number pop up and I’m like, I’m coming home.”
“This is the perfect way to end my day. I’m ready. I have a chip on my shoulder. I’m trying to prove myself. It added a little more fuel to the fire. It gives me greater reason to put on for Steeler Nation and my pops.”
His father was one of the team’s greatest pass rushers. He can be a larger-than-life figure even off the field and at times very noticeable. Porter, Junior says he has many of the same traits as his dad, but this is not about him. He’s the one that’s going to be putting on a uniform in September.
“It’s going to be my flavor to it,” Porter, Junior said. “It’s me it’s not him. He understands it’s my time to shine. He did what he had to do and it’s my time now. I’m going to play hard ball.”
Porter said he is similar to his dad in that he also talks trash on the field. He said he’s better than his father at that, but it would be a high bar. The Penn State Second-Team All-American said he grew up with the Steelers defense, he knows what it’s all about. He got the opportunity when he was in high school where he would get post-practice reps attempting to cover Antonio Brown, which he said has helped him get better and understand what you need to do to succeed at cornerback in the NFL.
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“We are going to smack you in the mouth and play aggressive,” Porter said. “I think that fits my game style. I’m going to get in your face. I’m going to talk a little trash and we are going to play.”
It’s an interesting relationship now with his head coach. Tomlin and Joey’s father used to attend his high school games together. Their families are tight. Now imagine your best friend’s father. Not only are you going to work for him, but at the most visible job in the sports world.
“Me and Coach T have a great relationship,” Porter said. “I’m close with their family. Me and Dino Tomlin are great friends. We talk every day.”
“It’s business at the end of the day and that’s what he told me. He’s like it’s kind of like a family thing, but at the end of the day it’s business and so every time I walk in here, we have to treat it like business. I’m all about that and I’m ready.”