The Steelers thought the dance was over. When the music started up again, they decided they’d had enough.
As explained by Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the “final straw” for the Steelers in their relationship with cornerback Joey Porter Jr. came when Porter, after two days of fully participating in practice, claimed that he had back pain on Wednesday.
That’s when the Steelers decided to make a trade.
Ultimately, it was a win for Porter. He got what he wanted — a one-way ticket out of town.
Former Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons achieved the same result last year. Once the Cowboys realized he was serious about not playing unless and until he got a new deal, they traded him to the Packers. For the Steelers, who seemed to think Porter eventually would blink, the fourth game became the moment they accepted that Porter was committed to the bit.
And, yes, it was a bit. He wasn’t too injured to play, if he was injured at all. Amazingly, he’s not even listed on the Cowboys’ injury report, one day after being limited on Pittsburgh’s final report of the week, and in turn ruled out for Thursday night’s game.
For players who can’t hold out due to the financial consequences under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, a hold in that lingers until they get what they want is the best, and only, alternative.
Was it a real injury? If the team has no way to challenge it without creating an ugly legal fight and/or a P.R. shitstorm, it doesn’t matter.
For most players, a lifetime of football has caused some condition from the top of their head to the tips of their toes that would justify not playing. Unless the team is willing to stage a confrontation that would instantly ruin an already tenuous relationship, the only viable option is to trade the player.