‘I Wanted It’: Joey Porter Sr. Elated His Son Drafted by Steelers
Joey Porter Jr. has the rare opportunity to play his hometown team and the team that his dad played for after being picked by the Steelers in the NFL Draft, but not only is he excited, his dad, Joey Porter Sr. is equally as elated.
When the process carried on, Porter Jr. always kept a stance that everything simply was business. However, the thought crept into the minds of the family throughout the process. So, when Porter Jr. fell to No. 32 where the Steelers picked, they were hoping it could be Pittsburgh that came calling.
Once they did, they sprinted down to the facility on the same day he was selected. However, Porter Sr. has always maintained that he would keep a distance away from the process because he wanted his son to carve out his own path in the NFL. Speaking after the NFL Draft to Teresa Varley of Steelers.com, he spoke on his hopes that his son would land with his former team, but no one would let him know if that was feasible.
“I wanted it to be the Steelers so bad for him,” Porter Sr. told Steelers.com. “But they did such a good job of not letting us know. I have over 50 friends in that building that know me personally and I got nothing from anybody to say, ‘man, be ready, it’s coming,’ or anything. We wanted it. Trust me, that’s what we wanted. But we just didn’t feel like we could say for sure that’s what it was going to be.”
That tracks with the family, as Porter Jr. felt similar feelings. However, it will now be time for him to show it on the field as rookie minicamp begins at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Friday and runs through Sunday. He will join fellow rookie cornerback Cory Trice as the two drafted cornerbacks for the team this season.
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