Joey Porter Feels New England Disrupted His Pregame Routine

It's no secret that Miami linebacker Joey Porter can tend to be a little, uh, crazy. And it's no secret his pregame antics can be a tad annoying for opposing players and fans, whether he's trying to disrupt an opponents kicker, or getting himself ejected before a game in Cleveland by fighting William Green at the 50-yard line.

On Sunday in New England, Porter was again at the center of some pregame shenanigans, only he was the one doing the complaining and feeling as if he were disrespected in some way. According to Dan Dugan of the Boston-Herald, while the Dolphins were going through their stretches, the Patriots kickers and coaches walked through the Miami line of players as punter Chris Hanson started booming kicks out of the end zone. Naturally, Porter wasn't amused.

"I've been playing in the league for 10 years and I feel like I've done some crazy things, but I never did that," Porter said. "You can't walk right down the middle of somebody's stretch and start kicking out of the end zone like we're not even here, like they had the whole 100 yards. They just didn't want their 50, they wanted our 50, too."

According to Dugan's article, NFL rules state there is "a 10-yard neutral zone between the 45-yard lines that the team may not cross." If it's true the Patriots did this, there's no question they were in violation of the rule. But Joey Porter is the absolute last guy that should be complaining about it. Especially since the rule is dubbed in league circles as, "the Joey Porter rule."

Porter has made a habit of crossing the 10-yard neutral zone and disrupting kickers, teams and picking fights with opposing players during his entire career. He used to do it just about every week while playing for Pittsburgh, usually while his jersey was tucked up under his shoulder pads, exposing his abs, strutting around like he owned the place.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-22-2008 @ 2:29PM

Jeremy Lay said...

I don't think it worked very well. After three Porter sacks and a serious butt-kicking at the hands of Miami, I doubt the Pats will try to walk through Joey's warmups again.

9-22-2008 @ 3:35PM

Matt said...

Pats are use to breaking rules, so why is this really a big deal? Funny that Porter is the one complaining though :)

9-22-2008 @ 4:33PM

LouieTheLip said...

Because of these types of actions the Patriots have gone from the league darlings to a team that has lost a ton of respect from fans around the league. However the move was brilliant.

9-22-2008 @ 7:02PM

Tha Prowler said...

i luv joey porter...tha man shoots from the lip w/o regard. he doesn't care WHO it is. he will tell it like it is...(or the way HE sees it) luv him or hate him, he can be a pain in the azz but you gotta luv someone who isn't as 'vanilla' as the rest of the league and throws a big curveball into things. i look forward to him mixing it up every week.

9-23-2008 @ 9:04AM

joe said...

Well im glad to see you MIAMI fans happy. I hope he can bring you another win or 2 in the next 5 seasons. Have fun.

You fans are rediculous you are all forgetting their is what 9 games left and their no where near the playoffs with a quaterback. How come they couldnt do it to the past 2 teams. They had one of those sundays, o yea anything can happen on sunday that kinf of sunday.

9-23-2008 @ 9:51AM

Joey Porter. Joey who. Oh yea now i remember the Dolphis player. Anyways, they had one of those things. A WIN ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY. The Patriots didnt expect that, so what they lost a game. As a Patriots fan im cool with that because i dont no where you guys come up with this disrespect stuff, running scores up and guess what its part of the game to bad. Now because the Pats are so good they loose a game its the end of the world for all those disrespectful PATS fans at the game sunday. It was sad to see they should have been cheering for the pats, sticking in their who cares they lost to bad.
They deserve a break if anything.

Look at Matt Cassel he is doing great. Besides that the Defense is nasty. And the offense is sticking in their. You just remember what Moss said, THE PATRIOTS ARE COMNG.

9-24-2008 @ 1:25PM

lk said...

Ah no, prowler we do not need to admire people that talk trash. I'll defend thier right to speak their minds, but admire trash talkers? Personally, I would rather admire Matt Cassel for taking the high road when asked about Porters comments. But you go ahead and admire someone like Joey. I mean he is so respected around the league and all.

9-28-2008 @ 4:42PM

me said...

joey porter is a disruption. There's a reason why Pittsburgh let him go. He wasn't worth the aggravation. He wasn't that good either!!

10-07-2008 @ 11:39AM

anthony said...

joey porter:

If i hear another thing out of anybodies mouth about J..P. I think i'll get sick . come on he put up what he set up and everyone in the N.E. base fan are crying about the fact thatnot only J.P. did what he did how about the entire team did what they did to N.E Pat's they killed them or did they give up and just get out of thatgame to not get anyone else hurt as they knocked out player after player in that game . I think the Dolphins are doing well. bach to back win's from a team that went 1-15 last season . That alone should tell you something