Jalen Ramsey Joey Porter Jr.
Jalen Ramsey Joey Porter Jr.
How much longer will Joey Porter Jr. take to sign his contract extension?
While everybody expects Joey Porter Jr. to sign a long-term contract extension with the Steelers, the waiting game continues. Since the start of training camp, he has been on the PUP List after reportedly aggravating his back during the conditioning test. Most view it as a convenient cover, though, so he avoids blowback for holding in.
Whether his back injury is genuine or not, Porter likely isn’t dressing again without a newly-signed contract extension. And now that the Steelers have Keeanu Benton’s deal behind him, there is nothing else stopping them from completing it. Since the beginning of the offseason, they’ve now locked up Chris Boswell, Nick Herbig, Darnell Washington, and now Benton.
But Joey Porter Jr. was the biggest prize of the entire group, and should fetch the largest contract. At a minimum, he should match the four-year, $100 million contract Nick Herbig signed. He could sign for as much as $30 million per year, which is a new benchmark for cornerbacks. Outwardly, it appears the front office doesn’t view Porter in the class of $30 million cornerbacks, but his representatives could force their hands. That is, after all, what he pays them for.
While Joey Porter has watched from a distance, the Steelers have actually seen quality cornerback play. And not even, at least primarily, from their big free agent acquisition, Jamel Dean. Rather, the start of training camp has been Asante Samuel Jr. Re-signed this offseason on a one-year, $4 million contract, he has been impressive, plain and simple. On top of that, rookie third-round pick Daylen Everette has been a find, as well.
None of that has anything to do with how much the Steelers will have to pony up to keep Porter around, though, and don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. Nor will it, in any way, pressure him to dress for practice. He will magically heal once he has a new contract, and everybody knows that.
But now that the Steelers have taken care of all their other offseason business, the table is set for them to wrap things up with a fat new contract for their second-generation star. Joey Porter Sr. made clear earlier this offseason they were very prepared to play the long game. The game is nearing the ninth inning, the fourth quarter, the third period, extra time, or whatever end stage of the sport you currently happen to be playing.
Well, not really. They actually have nearly a month to get it done. But nobody wants that, not even Joey Porter Jr. I hope…
The Steelers have a long road ahead of them under Mike McCarthy, along with his cadre of quarterbacks.With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are under fire for their repeated playoff failures. While we have seen many changes, none could dream of topping Mike Tomlin resigning.
We’re already into training camp, with free agency and the draft already reshaping rosters. The Steelers, of course, are used to early offseason mode as a team thatloses by the middle of January all the time. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.