PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In his opening statement after being announced as the Joe Greene Great Performance Award winner (Steelers rookie of the year), Joey Porter, Junior noted this was something his father never did. He said he has a little bit of a rivalry with his dad, but it’s all good.
There are so many advantages to being the son of one of the greatest linebackers in Steelers history. There are also the expectations and comparisons. Porter, Junior said he had a talk with his father early on to keep the relationship where it needed to be.
“Everybody wanted me to play linebacker or wear 55 because of my dad,” Porter, Junior said of growing up. “We had the talk way before. It was always, we are not going to compare each other.”
“This is a father-son thing. Not a lot of people get to experience this. Let’s enjoy it as it is and not try to beat ourselves up as to who had a better career or who went higher. Even since then, it has just been perfect with us and we both had the understanding.”
Being the son of an NFL linebacker helped Porter understand the stage he would be on when he turned professional. He was taught how not to overreact to what people said on the outside or how they critique his game. He said he learned from the ups and downs his father had playing in the league.
“As long as the coaches and the players are happy with how I am playing and I can go home and talk to my dad about how I am playing,” Porter, Junior said. “It doesn’t affect me.”
They talk after every game about where he can improve. He said they are honest talks and his father can be hard on him. But Porter, Junior said it’s the way he wants it.
Can you imagine the conversations about Porter, Junior struggling with tackling early in the season?
“He didn’t like it at all,” Porter, Junior said as a smile grew on his face. “He did not like it at all. It was understandable. I didn’t like it at all.”
“He was like you never want to put something on tape where you turn your head.”
“Yeah, we got to get that off my tape. I think we’ve been trending in the right direction with that and we just have to keep going that way.”
He said what really fixed the problem of tackling is to stop overthinking it. He just reacted to the player and trusted his instincts and preparation. Porter, Junior said his tackling in college was one of his strengths and as the game has slowed down, he feels he’s much improved.
Now he’s at a point where he’s counted on to move around the field and try to slow down some of the best players in the game. All of that from the same guy who couldn’t sniff a start earlier in the season, not that he ever lacked confidence he could do it.
“This might be a Porter-thing that we all just have,” Porter said of his belief. “I was like that as a kid. I wanted the biggest tasks. I want to be the guy to make the play. I want to be in those positions. I know some people get scared of the bright lights. I look forward to it. I want to be in that moment every time.”
Now he’s on the field with Patrick Peterson, who played with his father and others he grew up watching. He mentioned Minkah Fitzpatrick, TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Cam Heyward as guys who were real dawgs who he is a peer with now.
“TJ used to come to my high school games and I’m on the field turning up the crowd on third down with him,” Porter, Junior said. “There is still some stuff that doesn’t hit me until I think about it. It passed all the expectations I had.”
He kept working on his game, sticking to Patrick Peterson’s hip and when he got his chance, he came in hot. He said waiting until Week 7 to start was the right move, now he’s one of the most valuable members of the Steelers defense.
Just like his dad.
Other Joe Greene Outstanding Performance Award winners
· WR Louis Lipps (1st ever in 1984)
· QB Kordell Stewart (1995)
· WR Troy Edwards (1999, Porter, Senior’s rookie season)
· G Alan Faneca (1998)
· S Troy Polamalu (2003)
· QB Ben Roethlisberger (2004)
· TE Heath Miller (2005)
· WR Santonio Holmes (2006)
· RB Le’Veon Bell (2013)
· RB Najee Harris (2021)
· QB Kenny Pickett (2022)