Cardinals Didn't Tell Joey Porter To Tone It Down

Throughout his career, LB Joey Porter has been considered one of the more vocal players in the NFL. Sometimes that’s a good thing but for head coaches it’s usually a bad thing.

Porter recently said in a radio interview that Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt did not approach him about toning it down now that he’s in Arizona.

"No, when he had me out there he knew exactly what he was getting," Porter said. "He know he’s getting a guy that’s going to be fired up on game day. That when it’s time to fire up the troops, I’m going to make the main guy to the last guy on the roster — when we come out of that tunnel on game day — they can be whoever they are during the week, but on game day we’re going to be trained assassins. He knows how I’m going to have a battery in everybody’s back, and he knows what I bring from a leadership standpoint."

For more about the Cardinals and their new linebacker, check out Revenge of the Birds.

After finally being released by the Miami Dolphins earlier in March, linebacker Joey Porter has signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Porter, who turns 33 on Monday, is an 11-year veteran who has made four Pro Bowl appearances.

We noted earlier in the month that Porter was visiting with the Cardinals, and that he has old friends in Arizona.

This move isn’t surprising at all. A few weeks ago, Porter expressed displeasure with his situation in Miami. He named several teams he’d like to play for and one of those teams was the Cardinals.

I’d be surprised if Porter left without a deal. It’s a homecoming of sorts for him with head coach Ken Whisenhunt and LB Clark Haggans in Arizona. Both players were with Porter in Pittsburgh.

For reactions from Cardinals fans, check out our blog Revenge of the Birds.

After visiting the Cardinals and leaving without a contract, free agent LB Joey Porter is visiting the Redskins.

Porter previously expressed a desire to return to a 3-4 defense and preferably would stay close to California. Washington runs a 3-4 but they're on the wrong coast for Porter.

The Washington Post explains why this move is a little surprising:

For starters, it seemed early in free agency that the Redskins might've been specifically targeting an inside linebacker to play next to London Fletcher, an important role in the 3-4 defense that no one on the current roster has extensive experience playing. In fact, it'll be quite an adjustment for Fletcher, too. While the Redskins first considered inside linebacker Larry Foote, who visited last week and eventually signed with Pittsburgh. Porter plays on the outside -- and for several years, he was among the league's best there.    

SB Nation's Redskins blog, Hogs Haven, is tracking all of the free agency happenings in Washington.

Joey Porter is still a Miami Dolphin. The Dolphins currently only have $4.2 million in cap space, and cutting Porter would force a cap hit of $4.8 million, so they will have to hang onto him until the presumably uncapped 2010 offseason officially begins on March 5th.

Miami is still expected to release Porter, although the Dolphins could entertain trade offers for the four-time Pro Bowler in the meantime.