Joey Porter Wants Out

Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter was a guest on ESPN’s Jim Rome Show today. What was he talking about? To put it short, he basically said he’s not a role player and if there is a chance to be traded the Dolphins should do it.

Personally, I didn’t watch the show so I didn’t hear the interview but Jeff Darlington of the Miami Herald tweeted some quotes from it.

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Porter: “I don’t get paid like a rotation guy, so I’m not ready to take that role. I’m not ready to be a role player. I’m still a starter.”

Porter on continuing to rotate: “I can honestly say I won’t come back to do that. I can’t be happy about coming back playing that role.”

Porter on his options: “They can pay me. They can pay me and keep me on the team, but I won’t be happy.”

Porter on trade possibility: “It would just kind of be the smart thing to do. Why keep a guy there that you want to make a role player?”

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Darlington said it was a strange interview and you know what, it sounds like it may of been. I can understand Porters desire to still be a starter, he didn’t have that big of a drop off from 2008.

In 2008, he had 36 solo tackles, 47 overall, 17.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles.

In 2009, he had 34 solo tackles, 41 overall, 9 sacks and only one forced fumble. All in two less games then the previous season.

Minus the sacks there wasn’t a huge dropoff, but really nine sacks isn’t that bad of a season. His nine sacks still had him ranked number eight in the AFC in sacks, usually that’s not a bad season.

Guess people got worked up over his career high 17.5 in 2008? In reality 2008 might of been an aberration as he had never had more then 10.5 sacks in any other season. His 17.5 was also three times higher then his 2007 numbers.

With all that being said thou Porter is no longer a full-time NFL linebacker. He’s a huge liability against the run and can occasionally disappear in the pass rush. He’s getting up there in age, 33 and he’s also got a pretty high salary for 2010, $4.8 million.

That salary may be what gets him what he wants, out of Miami. $4.8 is pretty expensive for a backup linebacker, especially one who can only rush the passer AND has a bad relationship with his coach.

Personally, I think his demands on the Jim Rome show were an attempt to add fuel to the fire. He wants out of town and he’s going to try and speed up Miami’s hand in making that happen. Will it work? He’ll probably wind up getting released but not because of his comments, it will be that salary.

The question then is where does he wind up? I’m thinking with his attitude and pass rushing ability he sounds like a perfect fit for that Rex Ryan’s New York Jets defense.