The Pittsburgh Steelers have reached the final days of their Joey Porter Jr. standoff. The 26-year-old cornerback remains without an extension entering the final year of his rookie deal, and Pittsburgh's self-imposed negotiating deadline arrives when Sunday's opener kicks off.
Porter can sit if he believes playing risks the payday he wants. He should also understand that Pittsburgh has far more contractual leverage, including the franchise tag in 2027 and potentially a second tag in 2028.
Porter hasn't earned top-tier money, though he's played well enough to warrant a lucrative extension. Missing meaningful games won't improve his case. The Steelers' last season-long contract standoff gave him a useful case study, and none of it aged well for Le'Veon Bell.
Le'Veon Bell's lost Pittsburgh Steelers season should be a warning to Joey Porter Jr.
“We go back to Le'Veon Bell back in 2018. And this is a guy who had so much workload, so much wear and tear. He was a far more proven player. Let's be real,” Still Curtain managing editor Tommy Jaggi said on the "Still Curtain Podcast."
Bell's résumé supported that assessment. He entered 2018 with three Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro selections, and 406 touches the previous season. Pittsburgh tagged him for $14.5 million after the sides failed to complete a long-term deal. Bell never signed the tender, missed every game, and forfeited the entire amount.
The 30-month Bell saga included Pittsburgh's reported five-year, $70 million offer. Bell objected to its structure and $17 million guarantee, then stayed away through the November deadline. James Conner replaced him, while Bell lost a prime season at age 26.
Free agency didn't validate the gamble. Bell signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the New York Jets that included $35 million guaranteed, but averaged 3.3 yards per carry in 17 games before New York released him in October 2020. Bell later said he regretted leaving, and his days as an elite back were finished.
Porter's situation isn't identical. Bell was an unsigned franchise player. Porter is under contract, would lose game checks by sitting out, and could jeopardize the accrued season needed for unrestricted free agency if he stays away too long. Pittsburgh can also tag him after this season, so it's not like a holdout creates a clean exit.
The Steelers would lose, too. Porter is their best outside corner, and Asante Samuel Jr. is insurance, not an equal replacement against top receivers. But Bell's history says Porter would assume the greater risk. If no deal arrives by kickoff, playing well is still his strongest leverage.
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