One of the thoughts that has to be at the front of Bengals' fans minds when they read through our series on villains has to be "thank the Lord we don't have to deal with that guy anymore". Unfortunately, one of the most hated players from the Who Dey faithful's perspective is a guy who, as of the 2016 Wild Card game, is still tormenting them.
For eight years as an outside linebacker with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1999-2006, and now in his third season with the team as an assistant coach, Joey Porter has aggravated the Bengals on and off-the-field for quite some time. While most of us who aren't of the black and yellow ilk can agree he isn't a very likable guy, no one can disparage his productive 13-year career in the league with 98 career quarterback sacks on his resume.
Why he makes the list:
The Levi Jones Incident: In the offseason of 2007, after the rivalry had begun to reach unhealthy levels once again, then-Bengals left tackle Levi Jones was jumped by members of Porter's entourage in a Las Vegas casino. Jones was by himself at the time, while Porter had a group, in which up to six or seven people attacked Jones. It's a bit unclear as to what exactly kicked off the spat as both players had their own versions of the story, but Jones later told Bengals.com it was "a cowardly attack by a coward". No one was cited or charged by police, but Porter was suspended three games for the incident.
Pregame Spats with Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh: In the mid-to-late-2000s, the NFL Network began their "Top-10" series, in which some of the bigger rivalries in NFL histroy were chronicled. "Joey Porter versus the Bengals" made the list, with many of the issues seeming to stem from verbal barbs exchanged from the talented duo of Cincinnati receivers and the Pro Bowl Pittsburgh linebacker. The Steelers' hatred of the outspoken "Ocho and Housh" largely started with the latter's wiping of his cleats with a Terrible Towel after a Bengals win at Heinz Field, but it never really died down since that 2005 victory. The televised series glossed over the incident with Jones, but Porter and his trash-talking were at the forefront of the rivalry once again.
The New "Joey Porter Rule": As has happened before with the Steelers, an egregious act that went unpunished at the time was turned into a new and updated rule at the following offseason's owner's meetings. In the heartbreaking whirlwind finish to the 2016 Wild Card game, the now-coach Porter came onto the field after Vontaze Burfict hit Antonio Brown and then goaded Adam Jones into an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. However, in one of the many instances of the referees overlooking what should have been penalties in the game, Porter should have been penalized for being on the field and engaging with Bengals players, as it was already a rule. It was re-enforced this offseason at the owners' meetings after voting on the issue. So, what was 30 yards worth of accrued penalty yardage against Cincinnati, really should have been 15 at the most, creating a completely different scenario for a game-winning Steelers field goal.