It is not often that Pittsburgh Steelers legends tussle at each in the public eye, but former Steelers outside linebacker Joey Porter Sr. took aim at former teammates James Harrison and Ben Roethlisberger in critical comments on Cam Heyward’s podcast, Not Just Football.
Harrison and Roethlisberger have each been critical of the Steelers organization on their podcasts over the year, which Porter did not take a liking to as it all built up.
That channeled into Porter going off on Roethlisberger, in particular, who he deemed a poor teammate and person.
“He should never grab a microphone and really talk Steeler business,” Porter said. “If we’re talking Steelers business, his ass is foul of all foul. The (expletive) that he did is foul of all foul. He’s not a good teammate. Won a Super Bowl with him, but the person? He’s just not a good teammate. He knows that. Anybody in the Steeler building knows that. But we protected him because I’ve only won one Super Bowl, and that was my quarterback. So do I love my quarterback? Yeah. But is he a good person? No.”
Harrison and Roethlisberger have openly discussed the inner workings of the Steelers and were not afraid to go after Mike Tomlin, who Porter has been an outspoken supporter of for years despite the maelstrom of criticism he received before stepping down in January.
Harrison revealed a personal conversation he had with Tomlin on one show, which Porter took umbrage to in his comments.
“You think the head coach didn’t have his hand in making that player? So when you say he did nothing for you, that’s crazy,” Porter said of Harrison. “Then it’s like, damn, why would you take a shot at the guy who changed your life? Because [Bill] Cowher didn’t change your life. Cowher cut you three times.”
Multiple current and former Steelers have come out in support of Porter’s catching comments on both players, including current Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, who had a notably rocky relationship with Roethlisberger.
With both Harrison and Roethlisberger having podcasts, it is unlikely this is the last of this story, as both will likely respond to Porter.