Joey Porter: Pursue or No?
Porter has spent his entire eleven year career as a 3-4 outside linebacker whose specialty is rushing the passer. Six times he has registered at least 9 sacks in a season, including 2008 and 2009. It is likely the Dolphins will cut him, making Joey a free agent. As a released player, there will be no final eight restrictions on the Jets pursuing him. He has a track record as a big talker like the coach and many players on this team. Since Gang Green is looking to upgrade the pass rush, Porter would be a great fit, right?
I personally do not think so. My reasoning starts with the obvious question. Why are the Dolphins going to cut Porter? To put it simply, he's been a selfish player and a terrible teammate. He reportedly refused to come off the field when coaches sent in a sub in 2009. That's frightening insubordination. The Jets are trying to win the Super Bowl. They can't afford to have guys putting the team at risk of losing because of such incredibly selfish behavior. Let's not even touch on the problem moves like that can cause in the locker room.
That would be enough for me to say no to Porter, but there's another pretty glaring fact. He's not a very productive player anymore. Yes, he had 9 sacks in 2009. He added only 11 pressures and 5 hits. The guy he would presumably replace, Bryan Thomas, had twice as many pressures and just as many hits. Yes, sacks are great, but they aren't the end all. A feast or famine pass rush when it comes to sacks isn't an effective one. If quarterbacks have time to consistently sit back in the pocket, they'll succeed. Teams need to supplement the sacks with constant pressure and hits to make the quarterback uncomfortable. Porter's inability to help out when he's not getting sacks makes it unclear he'd bring more to the table than Thomas in that department. He's also a one trick pony. All he does is go after the quarterback. He's not any good in coverage or against the run, areas where Thomas is very good.
This last year was a bad one. I don't think it's coming back for Porter at 32 years old. This is different from Adalius Thomas. Thomas wasn't in a scheme that really suited him. He wasn't happy. He has performed at a Pro Bowl level in Rex's defense.
There's nothing to suggest Porter would be an upgrade over Bryan Thomas. I'd go as far as to call him a downgrade. Could he help as depth and as a situational player on passing downs? Yes, but he's also shown he's not willing to take a reduced role and will go to frightening extremes to show this.
I vote no. I vote no again. I vote no a million times. I would be very upset signing somebody like this.
How do you vote?
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100% no from me, he really doesn’t add that much, would want to play a lot, our sack numbers would go up, but the secondary will be at more risk without the pressures of Thomas and runners getting to the next level. He is mouthy, selfish, and his own opinion of himself is out of reality with his actual production at this point in his career. Would hate to add a player like that to the pay-roll.
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
I have always hated Joey Porter
Even when he was with the Steelers.
Sacks
To add to the sack issue, I agree that the numbers would go up, but I think we all agree that sacks alone does not make a defense good.
In 2008 the Jets had 41 sacks which was good for 7th in the league. The 2009 Jets had 32 sacks which was 18th in the league. However, the 2008 Jets final defensive rankings were 7th in rushing, 29th in passing, and 16th overall. This year? 8th rushing, 1st passing, 1st overall.
Now I am not trying to say the Jets should not add a pass rushing threat, but I do not think a personality like Joey Porter is worth dealing with just because he can put up decent stats.
I’m gonna go ahead and guess a large number of the 18% who voted yes are Dolphins fans.
Editor-In-Chief
Gang Green Nation
SB Nation's Jets Blog
http://www.ganggreennation.com
Only one point matters to me
And John touched on it in his post.
He’s not an upgrade over Bryan Thomas, even before you consider Porter’s downside. Therefore a thousands no’s. Don’t think the staff will waste the time or money on him but I’ve been wrong before.

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