Former Steelers' Porter involved in Vegas tussle

By Scott Brown
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, March 20, 2007


During a recent news conference that heralded his signing with the Miami Dolphins, Joey Porter said one story on which his trash-talking, on-the-edge image had been constructed was not true.
He never went to the Baltimore Ravens' team bus following a 2003 game to seek out Ray Lewis, Porter said, even though it been reported by at least one news outlet.

Reports of a fight that originated from Porter exchanging words with an NFL player have again surfaced, and these will be much more difficult for the former Steelers linebacker to refute.

Then again, Porter may not want to deny anything because he apparently got the better of a former division rival as the phrase "hit me" took a literal sense for two men Sunday in Las Vegas.

Porter was cited for misdemeanor battery after punching Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Levi Jones outside of a hotel/casino.

According to Martin Wright, a Las Vegas police public information officer, Porter faces a fine of up to $1,000 or a year in jail for hitting Jones after the two argued at a blackjack table and then went outside.

Wright, however, said it is unlikely that Porter will serve any jail time. A police report, he added, won't be completed until later this week.

Porter is also subject to discipline from the NFL, as are all players that get arrested, league spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday.

"It will be reviewed under our personal conduct policy," Aiello said of Porter's arrest.

This is hardly the first time that Porter's conduct has been under review by the NFL.

Last season, he racked up $25,000 in fines for two separate incidents -- one for saying something to referees during a game (Porter denied saying anything) and another for calling Browns tight end Kellen Winslow a derogatory word for gay men (Porter apologized for using the slur, though not to Winslow).

An emotional player and notorious trash-talker, Porter signed a five-year contract worth $32 million with the Dolphins earlier this month.

He had played for the Steelers from 1999-2006 but was released March 1 because of financial reasons.

After the Steelers' first offseason workout Monday, wide receiver Cedrick Wilson said he didn't know anything about the latest controversy involving Porter.

It made headlines because of Porter's stature and reputation and growing concern among NFL executives, coaches and players about off-the-field incidents damaging the league's image.

Wright said the watch commander who arrested Porter told a Las Vegas newspaper that hard feelings between the two were a result of playing against one another as division rivals.

They apparently boiled over, Wright said, and led to the fight outside of the Palms in Las Vegas. Both Porter and Jones, Wright said, were staying at the hotel.



Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or 412-481-5432.