Ben Roethlisberger Has Simple Solution for Joey Porter Jr.
PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Joey Porter Jr. has been playing at an elite level since he officially took over as a starter midway through the 2023 season. That said, former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger feels there's still room for him to grow.
But the critique Roethlisberger has for the Steelers' young, emerging star in the defensive backfield really has little to do with his technique or play on the field, and more to do with his gameday attire.
"He’s a physical football player. He gets his hands on people. And so I love that they just let him play,” Roethlisberger said on a new episode of his podcast, Footbahlin. “He’s playing as well as any rookie, not just corner, but rookie in this league. … He’s playing really well, should get some definite consideration for Rookie of the Year…. But he should put the same-colored gloves on as the opposing jersey. He wore those bright yellow gloves, and it just sticks out like a sore thumb.”
Porter has worn gloves that stick out from his game uniform for most of the season and against the Bengals last weekend, his bright yellow ones were visible to everyone in Acrisure Stadium against his black jersey and the white one Tee Higgins, Porter's primary assignment, wore.
Porter was flagged for his 12th penalty while guarding Higgins in the Steelers' 34-11 win over the Bengals in Week 16, making him the second-most penalized defensive player in the league this season and the fourth-most penalized overall.
He's been called for four pass interference and three holding penalties and Roethlisberger believes at least some of those might not have been called if he had found a different-colored accessory to wear when he takes the field on gameday.
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