What happened Sunday night in Vegas is not staying in Vegas.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, who signed a contract earlier this month with the Miami Dolphins, was cited for misdemeanor battery after allegedly punching Bengals left tackle Levi Jones in the face in Las Vegas, according to police.
Jones also allegedly was robbed of jewelry in the scuffle by some of Porter's accomplices, said Martin Wright, a public information officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
The fight took place at 6 p.m. Sunday at a card table in the Palms casino and spilled out into a parking lot, Wright said.
But the official police report would not be ready for five working days.
The Bengals, through public relations director Jack Brennan, said Jones did not suffer any significant injuries in the altercation.
Coach Marvin Lewis declined to comment about the incident. Though Jones apparently was the victim, the spat could end up becoming another shot to the Bengals' national image. Nine Bengals players have been arrested since Jan. 1, 2006.
Jones, who suffered scratches, told the Las Vegas police that he planned to file charges against Porter.
Jones did not return a message on his cell phone or an e-mail. Jones' agent, Ken Zuckerman, declined to comment.
Porter's agent, Jeff Sperbeck, also declined to comment.
An Arizona native, Jones makes his offseason home in Las Vegas.
Before signing with the Dolphins, Porter was said to be negotiating with the Bengals. Cincinnati reportedly was in the running for Porter until Miami pulled away with a $32 million offer.
If Porter had signed with the Bengals, imagine what practices might have been like if he and Jones had faced off daily.
"Apparently these two have a history with each other, a history of trash talking on the field," Las Vegas police Lt. Kevin McMahill told The Las Vegas Review Journal newspaper.
Since Jones was the 10th overall pick in the 2002 draft by the Bengals, he and Porter had battled in 11 games.
Jones has talked of Porter as one of the premier pass rushers he faces as an NFL left tackle - along with the likes of Indianapolis defensive end Dwight Freeney.
Porter, as the right outside linebacker in Pittsburgh's four-linebacker defensive set, often blitzed from the left side of the Bengals' offense.
Of Porter's 60 career sacks, 4.5 have come in his 11 starts against Jones as the Bengals' starting left tackle. Seven times Jones blanked Porter.
On Oct. 13, 2002, in what was Jones' second NFL start as a rookie, Porter had two sacks. In those 11 games against the Steelers with Jones as starting left tackle - including the AFC wildcard playoff game, the Bengals are 3-8.
Jones was limited to six games and five starts in 2006 because of right ankle and left knee injuries. He did start both games against the Steelers and did not allow a sack to Porter.
Porter was released by the Steelers before free agency opened in a cost-cutting measure. He is a player known as a big trash-talker on the field and off. Porter was involved in an ongoing pre-Super Bowl XL verbal spat with Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens.
Porter had a team-high seven sacks for the Steelers during the 2006 season.
Nevertheless i'm glad it's not going to be a distraction for the Steelers
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Originally Posted by K Train
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