Steelers Now
Former Buffalo Bills general manager and Pittsburgh Steelers executive Doug Whaley has one big concern with Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr.‘s contract situation. And that’s Porter’s lack of interceptions. He only has three career interceptions, one in each season since he’s entered the league. Whaley thinks this factor could be a big talking point in negotiations with the Steelers.
“The biggest issue I would have, and I’m sure the Steelers would have, is the lack of interceptions. To me, to be considered in the top five, you have to get your hands on the ball. And he’s got a history from, since he was in Penn State, of not creating turnovers,” Whaley said earlier this month on 93.7 The Fan. “And that’s probably where the big difference is where he wants to be. ‘Hey, if you look at my [Pro Football Focus] stats, I haven’t allowed a touchdown. I haven’t done this and this,’ and he’s got great stats. But to me, to elevate yourself to be someone where you’re gonna be on the cover of Madden, you have to get at least five-plus interceptions. And he doesn’t do it and hasn’t done it and I don’t think he’s the type of player to do it.
“Is he a shutdown corner? Yes. But is he a take the ball away corner that gets you paid in that top 30-plus range? That’s where I think is gonna be the battling point. And it’s gonna be interesting to see who wins that conversation.”
Whaley doubled down on his opinion regarding Porter’s ball skills during a recent appearance on 93.7 The Fan.
“It’s tough, because there’s two things here. There’s hands, but there’s also ball skills. Can he judge the ball in the air? ‘Cause a lot of that goes into it as much as hands. He just never had it. Didn’t have it at Penn State. Hasn’t had it as a pro. So right now, I think what you see is what you get with him,” Whaley said.
Former Steelers cornerback Darius Slay also doesn’t think highly of Porter’s ball skills.
“He’s very good in press, gets his hands on the ball, very disruptive at the line of scrimmage. The only thing I think he has wrong with him is ball production. He just don’t have a lot of picks right now, but they’re coming. I’ve been there with him in Pittsburgh. His hands are very sus,” Slay said last Tuesday on ESPN’s NFL Live. “He’s gonna get them right, though. Hope my boy Ramsey is working with him over there because he’s a guy that can get to the rock. Other than that, Joey is for sure going to be a guy that’s going to sneak into this top 10 easily. He’s got a big payday coming up, too. Pittsburgh, make sure you do my boy right.”
Former Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor took issue with Slay’s statement.
“Glad I wasn’t in the era for biting da bait…an talkn bout the same...
