Joey Porter is known for flapping his gums. He used to be known for his ability to get to the quarterback, but after the Steelers released him after the 2006 season, he's basically been relegated to on-field cheerleading duty (which, for $32 million, isn't a bad gig).
Whatever his role, Porter knows better than most that fans can be brutal. He understands how things work since, you know, he's usually instigating some verbal confrontation. But in the wake of the Vince Young weirdness, J. Peezy tells the Miami Herald that "you hear some of the worst things" from angry fans.
This one might have topped them all. Two months after [Porter was shot in the butt], which occurred outside a Denver bar when Porter was with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was preparing to play the Seahawks in Seattle when an opposing fan approached him.Earlier, on NFL GameDay Morning, Warren Sapp admitted that he had received death threats during his playing career, and Adam Schefter reported that Bernard Pollard, the guy responsible for ending Tom Brady's season, had also received death threats.
'The guy says to me, `I wish somebody would have shot you in the back instead!' '' Porter recalled. ``And I'm pretty sure he was serious.''
Porter is a confident person and has been known to dish out harsh comments of his own, so he believes he's very capable of handling any criticisms that come with his high-profile job.
Young has struggled with criticism, both from the fans and his organization. Dolphins defensive back and 2006 first-round pick Jason Allen, who has had a rocky NFL career, is still able to keep things in perspective.
''If you struggle, it can affect every thought if you let it,'' safety Jason Allen said. ``You have to deal with the fans; you feel like you let your teammates down, and you feel like you let your coaches down. And it's not like we only have fans in this city. We have fans throughout the whole country. It can be tough.''I think Vince Young would agree with that. Now he just needs to figure out how to handle it.
