Woah, okay, so you know how we just got a couple of solid injury updates for the Steelers on Monday, right? Rookie offensive tackle Max Iheanachor is back practicing after missing more than two weeks, which is great. But the real headline dropped when Jalen Ramsey, fresh off the PUP list and speaking to the media for the first time, immediately went full-on advocate for his teammate, Joey Porter Jr. And let me tell you, Ramsey did not hold back.
Ramsey Backs Porter Jr. Hard, Demands Payday
Ramsey has been out of action, not practicing at all in Latrobe, so hearing from him was big. But he wasted no time getting to the point: Joey Porter Jr., who’s heading into the final year of his rookie contract, needs to get PAID. Ramsey laid it out clear as day, saying, “We need the whole secondary. They need to pay Joey Porter Jr.” That’s not subtle, is it? He followed that up, making it crystal clear he’s got Porter’s back through and through. “I’m overly in Joey’s corner,” Ramsey added. “Joey needs to get compensated for being a valuable part of this secondary and a valuable part of this defense and team.” Talk about a teammate stepping up! This isn’t just a casual comment; this is a star player putting the front office on blast to support his guy. It shows how much Ramsey values Porter and what he brings to that defense.
McCarthy Calls It An ‘Impasse’ As Crunch Time Nears
Now, why is Ramsey getting so vocal? Because earlier on Monday, head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed what everyone was fearing: the team and Porter are at an “impasse” in their contract talks. McCarthy talked about the challenge of separating business from football, especially for a first-year staff. “This is a challenge for both Joey and us because we’re first-year staff,” McCarthy explained. “We’ve seen them play, compete against Joey. I would love the opportunity to coach Joey Porter. I know our defensive guys would love the opportunity. So we’re at an impasse right here, and you got to respect that.” Respecting it is one thing, but fans want to see their key players locked up! The clock is ticking, too. The Steelers have a long-standing tradition of not negotiating contracts once the regular season actually kicks off. So, if they can’t get something done soon, this situation could drag on.
What happens if they can’t get a deal done? The team always has the option to use the franchise tag on Porter before he hits free agency in March. That would give them another whole offseason to try and work out a long-term agreement. But right now, with Ramsey firing shots and the head coach admitting they’re stuck, things are definitely heating up. It’s a tough spot for Porter, the team, and definitely for the fans. Everyone wants to see this resolved, and with the season looming, time is running out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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