Joey

Porter

The Pro Bowler is ready to start on Saturday versus the Jets.

Porter was never quite the same after moving positions and sustaining a gunshot wound last August 31st. He’s rededicated himself to conditioning this offseason and will be used to rush the passer more this season. Definitely a buy-low candidate in IDP leagues.

Pittsburgh is calling it a ''hyperextension’’ for now. Pittsburgh has decent linebacker depth and will likely use James Harrison to replace him in a starting role.

Usually these promises are hollow. But Porter barely missed a game after getting shot just before the season started in 2003. Anthroscopic surgery should be no sweat.

Porter is maybe the least deserving Steelers coach of a firing, considering the production from his unit. T.J. Watt was tied for seventh in the league with 13 sacks, and the Steelers as a team led the league in sacks with 52. Porter has a big personality, like a lot of members of the Pittsburgh locker room, so perhaps that played a role. Either way, Porter should quickly find another gig.

He was slow to recover from offseason knee surgery. Make sure not to overrate him in IDP leagues, Porter will sack QBs but has topped 65 tackles just once in his career. Porter practiced for the first time during camp on Wednesday.

He’s been recovering from knee surgery. Porter has plenty of time to get ready for the season, but has been an inconsistent IDP option throughout his career.

Porter recently underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. It’s possible, though unlikely, that Porter could miss some camp time to express dissatisfaction with his contract.

Porter is set to make $4 million this season and $5.2 million next year. “I definitely feel that I have outplayed the contract that I am under,” Porter said. “The whole city of Pittsburgh knows what I bring, coach Cowher knows what I bring.” There’s some speculation that the Steelers could ask the linebacker to rework his deal in 2007.

Porter is signed through 2007. No reason has been given for his absence, but coach Bill Cowher said he was informed that the Pro Bowl linebacker wouldn’t show.