BlitzburghRockCity
11-09-2006, 01:17 AM
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06313/736909-66.stm
Thursday, November 09, 2006
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Joey Porter accused the NFL of picking on him after it levied a $15,000 fine on the Pro Bowl linebacker for words he said he never spoke.
"I didn't even make the comment," Porter said. "It's really the ref's word against mine, which is not a good situation."
The alleged comments were made Oct. 29 in Oakland while the Steelers were in the huddle. Umpire Steve Wilson threw a flag after he heard something in the huddle, and obviously fingered Porter as the culprit.
"What I was told in the letter, it said somebody said they were coming after him," Porter said. "That's not even what was said. When I was talking I was talking to my players."
Porter said he is appealing the fine, and compared it to a smaller one he received in 2004 when he was ejected before a game against Cleveland for fighting during warmups.
"I'm going to see how the appeal goes because they definitely got me in there for saying something I definitely didn't say," Porter said. "It's definitely because of who I am, because how do you get fined $10,000 for getting into a fight before a game and getting kicked out and you get fined $15,000 for saying something and I didn't even say it?
"It's definitely one of those who I am and why they said it -- the most-feared stuff from the cover, and they think I'm trying to live up to that rep; that's not the situation."
Porter was featured early this season on the cover of Sports Illustrated, which called him the most-feared player in the NFL.
He pointed to another incident in Atlanta as more evidence. Out with a hamstring injury, he walked the Steelers' sideline dressed in NFL-issued sweats, but with the legs cut shorter. He said he was told if he wore them that way again he would be fined by the league.
"New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick cuts his sweats on his sleeves every game, what's the difference?" Porter argued.
"That lets you know I'm a target. I'm not even playing, and they still want to fine me."
Porter said talk on a football field can get rough, but it always has been that way.
I don't see any way Joey can win this but atleast he's standing up and trying to prove his point.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Joey Porter accused the NFL of picking on him after it levied a $15,000 fine on the Pro Bowl linebacker for words he said he never spoke.
"I didn't even make the comment," Porter said. "It's really the ref's word against mine, which is not a good situation."
The alleged comments were made Oct. 29 in Oakland while the Steelers were in the huddle. Umpire Steve Wilson threw a flag after he heard something in the huddle, and obviously fingered Porter as the culprit.
"What I was told in the letter, it said somebody said they were coming after him," Porter said. "That's not even what was said. When I was talking I was talking to my players."
Porter said he is appealing the fine, and compared it to a smaller one he received in 2004 when he was ejected before a game against Cleveland for fighting during warmups.
"I'm going to see how the appeal goes because they definitely got me in there for saying something I definitely didn't say," Porter said. "It's definitely because of who I am, because how do you get fined $10,000 for getting into a fight before a game and getting kicked out and you get fined $15,000 for saying something and I didn't even say it?
"It's definitely one of those who I am and why they said it -- the most-feared stuff from the cover, and they think I'm trying to live up to that rep; that's not the situation."
Porter was featured early this season on the cover of Sports Illustrated, which called him the most-feared player in the NFL.
He pointed to another incident in Atlanta as more evidence. Out with a hamstring injury, he walked the Steelers' sideline dressed in NFL-issued sweats, but with the legs cut shorter. He said he was told if he wore them that way again he would be fined by the league.
"New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick cuts his sweats on his sleeves every game, what's the difference?" Porter argued.
"That lets you know I'm a target. I'm not even playing, and they still want to fine me."
Porter said talk on a football field can get rough, but it always has been that way.
I don't see any way Joey can win this but atleast he's standing up and trying to prove his point.