Joey Porter to Plead Guilty to Disorderly Conduct Citation from January Arrest

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackers coach Joey Porter is expected to plead guilty Tuesday to a disorderly conduct charge related to a January bar incident.

Robert Del Greco, Porter's attorney, told the Associated Press (via ESPN.com) his client is planning to plead guilty to the citation. Allegheny County district attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. previously dropped the other charges, and the only two that remained were disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported the 39-year-old former Steelers linebacker was arrested Jan. 8 following the team's 30-12 playoff victory over the Miami Dolphins. He was originally charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct following an alleged attack on a doorman.

The first three more serious charges were dropped less than a week later. Megan Guza of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review passed along a statement from Zappala, who said on Jan. 12 the video didn't provide enough evidence, barring the release of additional information.

"Today our office was able to view surveillance video showing multiple angles of the events that led to the arrest of [Porter]," Zappala said. "Following that review, it is the position of the office that the only charges supported by the video are summary disorderly conduct and summary public drunkenness."

The AP report noted the Pittsburgh Citizens Police Review Board, police union and union officials all felt the original charges were "warranted."

The Steelers placed Porter on leave following his initial arrest, and he was reinstated after the assault charges were dismissed, allowing him to coach in the team's win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round.

"I am grateful to be allowed to return to our coaching staff this weekend," Porter said at the time. "I regret that I was involved in an incident that could have been a distraction to our team. Most importantly, I regret that I touched the police officer, and I sincerely apologize for that action. Thankfully, no one was injured."

The assistant coach and four-time Pro Bowler remained active as the team's playoff run ended with a loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in the AFC title game.

Porter spent eight years with the Steelers as a defensive stalwart. He also played for the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals before retiring in 2012. He's been in his current position with the Pittsburgh organization since 2015.