The Pittsburgh Steelers finally threw a contract offer at cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, it’s straight-up “not good enough.” This isn’t some minor detail, folks. Garafolo dropped the news late Tuesday, and it paints a clear picture: negotiations are nowhere near done. Sources are saying the sides are definitely “not close” at this point, which is exactly the kind of update that makes you wonder what they were thinking with that initial bid.
Still A Lotta Work To Do
Okay, so the Steelers have at least “shown a willingness to engage,” which is a start, I guess? But let’s be real: a willingness to talk doesn’t get a deal done when the proposed numbers are clearly not cutting it. Garafolo made it super clear there’s “a lot of work to be done” for both sides in the coming days if they want to figure out “the right numbers” for a deal. He’s not calling this whole situation “imminent” or even “close,” but he *will* call it an “actual negotiation” now that an offer is on the table. Still, an offer that’s “not good enough” means they’re playing some serious hardball, and Porter Jr. is the last big-name cornerback out there looking for an extension this offseason. We just saw Christian Gonzalez and the Patriots lock in a monstrous, record-setting four-year, $135 million deal early Tuesday morning. That’s the kind of market value Porter Jr.’s camp is looking at, whether Pittsburgh wants to admit it or not.
The Clock Is Seriously Ticking
Here’s where it gets real spicy: Porter Jr. is actually back at practice now after spending most of the summer on the physically unable to perform list. You’d think that returning to the field means “some progress” is being made behind the scenes, right? But Pittsburgh has this hardcore, old-school policy where they “don’t negotiate once games start.” And get this, Porter Jr. hasn’t even ruled out an in-season holdout. Talk about an “extra sense of urgency!” This isn’t just about eventually getting a deal; it’s about getting it done RIGHT NOW before the regular season kicks off and things get even more complicated and messy. PennLive’s Nick Farabaugh and other Steelers beat writers are out there saying the team probably won’t need to make Porter the new highest-paid corner in the league to seal the deal. But if the initial offer is “not good enough,” and the player is willing to hold out to prove a point, maybe that’s just pure wishful thinking from the media.
This isn’t just some routine back-and-forth negotiation anymore; it’s a full-blown race against the clock for the Steelers. They’ve made their first move, but if they want Joey Porter Jr. on the field without any major drama, they better figure out those “right numbers” and fast. Every single day that passes without a new contract just ups the ante on this whole high-stakes situation.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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