Joey Porter Jr. might be a young, successful corner, capable of Pro Bowl play like his dad, but Asante Samuel Sr. is NOT holding back on how the Steelers’ corner is handling his contract talks. Samuel Sr., a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champ, laid into Porter Jr. on “Say What Needs to be Said,” saying he’s “not handling the situation the best way, not going to practice.” Talk about a mic drop from one NFL dad to another’s son.
The “Impasse” That’s Got Samuel Sr. Fuming
Samuel Sr. didn’t pull any punches, stressing that Porter Jr. needs to “know when to read the room and who you’re dealing with.” Apparently, those folks in Pittsburgh “really get offended” and “don’t like to break bread.” Porter Jr. is currently stuck on the PUP list with a back injury, meaning he hasn’t even hit the field for team drills. Head coach Mike McCarthy isn’t thrilled either, stating he wants the defensive coaches to work with Porter Jr. before they take on Atlanta. McCarthy straight up said negotiations have hit an “impasse,” which, for us fans, usually means things are getting ugly over average annual value or guaranteed money.
Seattle’s Big Splash Made This Way Worse
Here’s where things get really spicy, and honestly, a little familiar for us here in the Emerald City. While Porter Jr.’s talks were already stuck, the market for top corners just exploded. Our very own Seattle Seahawks went out and signed star corner Devon Witherspoon to a ridiculous four-year, $132 million deal, which includes a whopping $101 million guaranteed. That’s a $33 million per year contract that completely reset the market! Suddenly, guys like Christian Gonzalez, who is also up for an extension, are looking at similar numbers. This deal massively complicates things for the Steelers, who are now dealing with a shifting market rather than locking up Porter Jr. before Witherspoon’s historic signing. You gotta wonder if they regret not getting it done sooner, right?
The clock is seriously ticking for Pittsburgh and Porter Jr. They’ve got until the season opener against Atlanta on September 13 to figure this out. If they can’t strike a deal by then, Porter Jr. will play out the final year of his current contract, putting him at risk of getting the franchise tag in 2027. What a messy situation, and one that our Seahawks’ big move certainly didn’t help simplify for the Steelers.
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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