Captain says everyone in locker room supports Porter

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Joey Porter, Junior said Tuesday as he returned to practice looking for a new contract is all new to him, it’s not for Steelers captain Cam Heyward. What advice Heyward had for the fourth-year corner and reaction from a Penn State teammate.

“Don’t take it personal but you will,” Heyward said. “It’s a business at the end of the day. There is nobody in that locker room that doesn’t want Joey on that field. That will never change.”

Last year Heyward dealt with a contract dispute with the Steelers over what he believed to be a promise for more money after hitting certain performance plateaus. The 37-year-old said it took him until being out on the field with his teammates during the first game to get over all he was feeling.

Heyward, and more notably Porter, Junior, saw three players from his draft class get new contracts this offseason-tight end Darnell Washington ($10.5 million per season), linebacker Nick Herbig ($25 million per season) and during camp Keeanu Benton ($18 million per season).

Joey Porter doesn't know if he would play in opener

“I’m always locked into my guys and I want everybody to get paid,” Heyward said. “I want everybody to be acknowledged for the work they put in because this game is not forever and we have to maximize every dollar.”

Porter, Junior went through a practice with his teammates for the first time this season on Tuesday at the UPMC Rooney complex on the South Side. It was the first time new teammate Jaquan Brisker could be out on the defense with Porter, Junior.

“That’s CB-1, King of the North,” Brisker said. “He’s a valuable part of this defense. Just for him to be out there puts a smile on everybody’s face. Great to see him out there.”

A former Gateway HS star and teammate of Porter, Junior at Penn State, Brisker said Porter is always humble and is prepared. He hasn’t seen this affect his mood saying he respects how Porter, Junior doesn’t get too high or too low. Brisker believes Porter, Junior will be ready to play.

Mike McCarthy on Joey Porter, Junior

Now it’s just either they work out a new contract or Porter, Junior decides if he will just play out the last year of his rookie deal.

“We are all just waiting, I think every player in there says Joey’s got to do what is best for him and Joey’s got to be ready for Week 1,” Heyward said. “Hopefully we can celebrate a new contract with him.”