Dolphins' Joey Porter Called Cam Cameron a Gutless Coward, Cameron Backed Down

If there was ever even the slightest of chances that new Dolphins boss Bill Parcells would keep coach Cam Cameron around, that slight chance must have been erased when Parcells heard about a confrontation that Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter had with Cameron, passed along by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports:

According to several players, Porter stood up, in front of the whole team, and absolutely lambasted the coach using such words as "spineless" and basically called the coach a coward.
"We were all talking about it after because none of us had ever seen anything like it," said one player who asked not to be identified. "He crushed Cam. He basically called him gutless, a coward ...

"A head coach is supposed to stand up and take control with one yell. Cam basically said nothing."

Porter's rip, which included several barbs and curses, lasted a good three minutes or so.

"Joey was great but it was unbelievable," said another player. "But the best was at the end of it, after getting ripped into, cursed at and questioned all Cam said was, 'OK, glad we got that out, on to Cincinnati.' It was ridiculous. He never defended himself and it went on for a while."

The locker room applauded Porter for telling it like it is but shook their heads that Cameron just let it happen.

Signing Porter to a big free-agent contract during the off-season was a huge mistake for the Dolphins, but it's a mistake Cameron needed to figure out a way to deal with. If Cameron can't stand up to a guy like Porter, he has no business being an NFL head coach.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-07-2008 @ 8:44AM

SLaird22 said...

Good luck ever getting another head coaching job, Cameron.

Although Joey Porter is kind of a d-bag, and he also kind of sucks now.

1-07-2008 @ 9:03AM

Tipcpup said...

Somehow I don't see behavior like this being welcome in any Parcells (or Parcells disciple's) locker room. Makes sense why the Steelers let him go (although I'm shocked someone with this attitude could have existed under Cowher). Here's hoping Sparano gets this spoiled brat out of Miami as move #1 to show the organization that cancers have no place, no matter their salary or talent.

1-07-2008 @ 2:54PM

Dave said...

Joey Porter is just another 'bad' example of previous signings and draft choices by the Dolphins.
If nothing else, Parcells will rid the fins of these 'hoodlums.'

1-07-2008 @ 2:56PM

Joey Porter is a 'thug' and as such will not be with the Dolfinks next year. Cameron will be lucky to find a job as an assistant with a Div.11A college team.

1-07-2008 @ 3:38PM

Mark Haney said...

Joey Porter has his issues, granted. On the other hand, somebody needed to say it. The whole locker room was thinking it. Keep in mind, Cameron didn't just loose Joey Porter's respect. He lost the whole locker room. He and Mueller were totally disrespectful to a whole multitude of people. Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, Keith Traylor,Daunte Culpepper, Randy McMichael,Chris Chambers,Ronnie Brown,Kevin Carter, Jeff Zgonina etc. its a LONG list. Ask the Indiana fans about Cameron. Even Hoosiers have zero respect for one of their own. I think probably the only ones that had anything good to say about Cameron were his San Diego castoffs. Even they seemed iffy about him. Wonder how Cleo Lemon feels about Cam? Wonder if he thinks Cam is a complete moron? However I'm sure that Cory Lekkkekkekekkerker is in love with him. Greg Camarillo probably won't complain. Sorry, its a SHORT list.

As for Cowher, you're absolutely right. There is now way he would put up with that. He would never be in that position because he OWNED his locker room. Joey Porter wouldn't dream of calling Cowher "spineless"! That's why Cowher has a Super Bowl ring and is the hottest coaching commodity out there. Cam needs Marty to fight his battles for him.

Thank you Bill Parcells.

1-07-2008 @ 3:57PM

MRJ said...

lol

1-07-2008 @ 8:36PM

big bear said...

Santa please bring the dolphins a QB, running back, offensive and defensive line. Oh wait! Never mind Santa, Bill will handle it.

1-08-2008 @ 12:44PM

mike said...

I dont care for either but Joey Porters mouth has always been a bigger story then his just above average play. Cameron may have been a horrible head coach but Porter proved to be a worse teammate and athlete. Joey Porter is a perfect anology for the state of competition in this country. Instead of rallying his team during one of their worst era's as a franchise Porter decides to rip his coach in front of the entire team. Granted I have never been in a NFL locker room but one player ripping a coach doesnt sound like team spirit to me. Instead of taking responsibility for motivating people, Porter took it upon himself to make his opinion the one everyone had to hear, to bad his on the field actions dont make as much headlines as his big mouth. I am glad coach cameron did not respond to the comments, they were not worth responding to. Instead of acting like a man and addressing his issues with cameron in private,Porter acted like a 13 year old flinging insults from the back of a class room. Cameron will catch on somewhere and have a very solid coaching career because everyone knows coaches only call plays and its the players job to execute them so everyone is in the 1-15 life boat together not just Cameron. The real question is does Porter want the last few pages of his book to say the guy who couldnt get along with teammates and coaches, or through trying times he kept his composer and professionalism he was known for, be a man Joey and start up for those who are struggling not kick them in the ribs when they are down

1-09-2008 @ 8:52AM

brian said...

Coach Cameron had very little to work with this year. He remained positive and the team worked hard for him all year. Good Luck to him.
Joey Porter. Send the thug to a team that likes them around. The Dolphins are a class team win or lose. They have no room for such low quality people. Even if he was still a top performer, which he is not..

1-09-2008 @ 7:19PM

joe wallace said...

It may be just me, but Joey and the Dolphins don't get it. Insulting your coach and calling him out is the stuff TEENAGERS do. No matter how badly he is doing his job, he deserves to have players speak to him in a professional, ADULT manner if they are uspet. To blame Cameron totally misses the boat. it's like blaming a robbery victim for being in the bad neighborhood, to begin with. Cameron treated Porter with respect in that altercation, and Porter called him names. The team applauded PORTER? While it is a coache's job to motivate, by the time an ahtlete becomes and ADULT, he shouldn't need a lion tamer. Time to grow up and learn how to be a responsible adult, losers.

1-17-2008 @ 10:23PM

steelmyheart said...

Cowher was a player's coach. He knew how to let his players do what they do best. He was able to get the best out of Joey Porter, they had a great relationship. Cam Cameron is a walking coma.