The Pittsburgh Steelers are creating an unnecessary Joey Porter Jr. problem by sticking to their longstanding rule against negotiating contracts once the regular season begins. With Porter and the team still apart on an extension, Pittsburgh is voluntarily turning September 13 into a deadline it doesn’t actually have to abide by.
Pittsburgh recently activated Porter onto its 53-man roster after he spent the summer on PUP during what became an obvious hold-in. The 26-year-old cornerback is now expected to practice and play if healthy.
Fine. But why should that also mean Omar Khan loses the ability to keep negotiating after Week 1?
Pittsburgh Steelers’ contract policy could turn Joey Porter Jr. talks into a needless standoff
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio called Pittsburgh’s policy a “grossly outdated approach to contracts.” A lot of his takes are controversial and debatable, but this time it’s hard to argue with him.
The Steelers have every right to set deadlines. Negotiations can become distractions, and nobody needs that hanging over Mike McCarthy’s first season. But there’s a difference between negotiating with discipline and handcuffing yourself.
Pittsburgh is already at an impasse with Porter. The cornerback market has also exploded, with recent mega-deals giving Porter’s camp plenty of ammunition. He’s coming off his best season and has established himself as Pittsburgh’s CB1. He's not some fringe player trying to fleece the club before the regular season starts.
If no agreement is reached before the Falcons visit Acrisure Stadium, the Steelers’ own rule eliminates further talks. Pittsburgh just doesn't negotiate once the ball is kicked off in Week 1.
Imagine Porter plays well in September, decides Pittsburgh’s last offer before Week 1 looks fair, and wants to sign it. The Steelers would refuse because, in their eyes, the calendar says no.
What exactly does that accomplish?
Florio wrote that “there aren’t many options, and none of them are good” if Porter won’t play without a deal. Pittsburgh doesn’t need to narrow those options further.
The Steelers don’t have to cave to Porter’s asking price, nor do they have to negotiate daily. They just need to stop treating an internal policy like sacred football doctrine because it’s been around forever.
If Khan and Porter’s camp eventually find a number both sides can live with, the Steelers should sign the contract and worry less about the date on the calendar. Tradition is a lousy reason to walk away from a deal that makes sense.
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