Christian Gonzalez agreed to a four-year, $135 million contract with the Patriots early Tuesday morning, leaving Joey Porter Jr. as the last big-name cornerback waiting for a long-term deal.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports that the Steelers made an offer to Porter, but that the proposed deal was “not good enough . . . to be deemed close.”
The sides are at least negotiating with time running out.
The Steelers do not negotiate contract extensions once the season starts.
Porter spent training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list with what the team called a back issue. He returned to practice last Tuesday, and the Steelers began contract talks thereafter.
He has been noncommittal about playing Week 1 absent a contract extension.
Porter will need to ramp up to get on the field for the season opener against the Falcons, but coach Mike McCarthy said Monday he was “[hopeful](https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/mike-mccarthy-hopeful-that-joey-porter-will-play-week-1)” that Porter will be in the lineup.
Seattle cornerback Devon Witherspoon signed a four-year, $132 million extension on Aug. 15, so the Steelers will likely have to top both Witherspoon and Gonzalez for Porter to agree to a long-term deal.