The Miami Dolphins have deactivated Joey Porter for today’s game, in an apparent sign that the team has decided Porter’s mouth is hurting the team more than his production is helping the team.
Steve Mariucci, a former coach with some experience in such situations, warns that the Dolphins could find that deactivating Porter will simply alienate him even more.
“I had to suspend Terrell Owens one week, and then, all of a sudden, for the next three years we just butted heads,” Mariucci said today on NFL Network’s NFL GameDay Morning.
Mariucci was referring to the 2000 incident in which Owens scored two touchdowns for the 49ers in Dallas and celebrated both of them by posing on the Cowboys’ star logo at the 50-yard line. Mariucci, then the 49ers’ head coach, suspended Owens for a game for that, and Mariucci says his relationship with Owens soured as a result — and that Dolphins coach Tony Sparano’s relationship with Porter could sour as well.
Of course, Sparano probably knows that he’s going to alienate Porter by deactivating him — he’s probably just reached the point where he doesn’t care what Porter thinks anymore.
Mariucci also pointed out that the Dolphins made this move during a week in which they were preparing to face one of the league’s worst teams.
“When you suspend a guy, you want to make sure you can win without him,” Mariucci said. “Who they playing today? Tampa.”
“When you suspend a guy, you want to make sure you can win without him,” Mariucci said. “Who they playing today? Tampa.”
Ouch.
Well technically he’s not suspended…
Because Steve Mariucci has valid football knowledge or has been successful in the NFL due to his own skill.
His hammy is hurt and they want to get Roth and Wake more involved. This is about building confidence in your young guys.
What a difference a year makes. Last year’s defensive MVP is this year’s invisible man. Did he do Dancing with the Stars last offseason or something?
Bye JPeezy
Do you really think the Dolphins coach is worried that Porter will be “mad” at him?…..he probably wishes Porter would RETIRE
Joey Porter = ZERO
Bout time they sent a shot across his bow!!!
T.O. is one of the biggest friggin A-holes in the history of A-hole-dom, but at least he could play.
Joey Porter was a system player and has always been overrated. He hasn’t had one-tenth the career of T.O.
He had ZERO tackles last week. Yeah, good job Joey. You really showed those Patriots.
LOSER
Parcell’s must have had enough of the tongue wagging! He was taken to school by a Rookie LT SeaBass Vollmer…
Talk the talk, you better walk the walk.
porter is injured, and he’s been unsuccessful at playing through his injury. this is probably just to allow him time to heal.
Porter has always been a good locker-room leader and well-liked by teammates. He’s not even CLOSE to being a T.O. He bought Notre Dame Jerseys with Bettis’ number on it, and the team wore them to honor Bettis when they went to Detroit to play in SB 40. Ditto on Lions jerseys for LeBeau, honoring him and supporting him for the HOF.
I have a slightly different take.
2 years ago, the phins signed Porter and thought Porter & JT would be a lethal combination. It didn’t work. Both of them had subpar years. Just about everyone blamed it on Dom Capers, the D coordinator.
So, JT leaves, and Porter thrives moving to his more natural side.
Now, JT signs and takes the left side OLB. His numbers aren’t great, but he’s played more than efficiently. He’s making tackles. He’s stringing out running plays. He’s making big plays occassionally on the side that is more invisible.
Porter is on the big play side and is doing literally NOTHING.
Maybe, just maybe, someone looked at the film and decided these 2 just can’t play together. There is something about the comination that doesn’t work. Who cares what. So, they play some JAG on the left or right and let JT play matchups. After all, JT is the one making plays every week, not Porter.
They could just try switching sides, when Porter is playing well he is great so they should be trying to get him going again.