Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker and assistant coach Joey Porter Sr. stated on a podcast recorded throughout Tremendous Bowl week that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t an excellent teammate or particular person.
He additionally stated Roethlisberger and linebacker James Harrison “broke the brotherhood” by discussing staff enterprise and criticizing former coach Mike Tomlin on their very own podcasts.
“[Harrison] broke the brotherhood,” Porter stated. “Then 7 [Roethlisberger] undoubtedly broke the brotherhood. Out of anyone that ought to discuss, he ought to by no means seize a microphone and actually discuss Steeler enterprise. As a result of if we discuss Steelers enterprise, his ass is foul of all foul. The s— that he did is foul of all foul. He isn’t an excellent teammate.
“Received the Tremendous Bowl with him, however the particular person, he is simply not an excellent teammate. He is aware of that. Anyone within the Steelers constructing is aware of that, however we protected him as a result of I’ve solely gained one Tremendous Bowl and that was my quarterback. So do I really like my quarterback? Yeah. However is he an excellent particular person? No.”
Showing on Cameron Heyward’s podcast, “Not Simply Soccer,” from radio row, Porter did not mince phrases about Harrison or Roethlisberger. Porter and Roethlisberger have been teammates for 3 seasons, and the pair gained Tremendous Bowl XL collectively. Throughout that stretch, Porter was a staff captain, and he informed Heyward that he was notably annoyed by a few of Roethlisberger’s actions as a rookie.
In a single occasion, Roethlisberger refused to signal memorabilia for teammates’ households, one thing that was widespread follow within the locker room, Porter stated.
“He was telling individuals, ‘No, I am not going to signal that,'” Porter stated. “So as soon as he did that, who they arrive and inform? The captain. When he first did it to Chris Hoke, I used to be like, ‘Rattling, that is tousled, man.’ I grabbed it from Hoke, took it over there and informed him to signal it. However then when he did that to Aaron Smith, now I acquired to have a gathering [with Roethlisberger]. Like, you are a rookie, you are a younger man.
“You’ll be able to’t inform my vets you are too cool to signal for my vets. Who the hell is simply too cool to signal in your teammate? I am not a fan.”
Porter additionally stated Roethlisberger was appointed captain relatively than incomes it via a locker room vote.
“We voted to be captains,” Porter stated. “You needed to be voted in. He got here within the period the place they simply gave you the ‘C’ — as a result of if he wasn’t a captain, he’d in all probability have a hissy match. However no person’s going to vote for him as captain as a result of he do not haven’t any captain high quality.”
Roethlisberger’s representatives did not reply to a request for remark.
Earlier than Tomlin’s resignation in January, Roethlisberger was important of his former coach on his podcast, “Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger,” saying it is likely to be time to “clear home” after the staff’s Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Payments.
However talking to reporters forward of his induction into the staff’s corridor of honor, Roethlisberger walked again a few of his earlier feedback.
“Simply because I stated there is a time for some new issues, that is simply saying that I believe Coach Tomlin, if he desires to maneuver on, he has each proper to maneuver on — it is not they need to,” he stated.
Porter additionally criticized Harrison, a teammate of his for 4 seasons who later returned to teach, for taking photographs at Tomlin and revealing private conversations with the previous coach on Harrison’s podcast, “Deebo & Joe.”
“You assume the top coach did not have his hand in making that participant? So if you say he did nothing for you, that is loopy,” Porter stated. “Then it is like, rattling, why would you are taking a shot on the man who modified your life? As a result of [Bill] Cowher did not change your life. Cowher reduce you 3 times.”
