In the 2012 offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a superstar on their hands. A wide receiver who burst onto the scene as a rookie and he quickly became one of the Steelers’ best pass-catchers. He was due for a payday and was in negotiations with general manager Kevin Colbert, hoping to secure a long-term deal. However, something changed, and the Steelers chose a different route. They elected to pay a different rising star, taking a gamble that ultimately paid off. The original wide receiver left after the 2012 season and never reached the same heights despite signing a contract in 2013 free agency.
That wide receiver, of course, was Mike Wallace, while Antonio Brown received the long-term extension from the Steelers. Wallace had been tendered that offseason and was demanding historically high compensation. Colbert and the Steelers instead chose Brown, a decision that worked out well. Now, the Steelers might find themselves in a similar situation with two star defenders.
Joey Porter Jr. is currently in contract negotiations with the Steelers and wants to be paid like a top NFL cornerback. Porter has become a cornerstone of the secondary, but the Steelers made a move Saturday by signing defensive tackle Keeanu Benton to a four-year, $72 million extension. While extending Benton was not a complete surprise, it felt like his deal would come after Porter reached an agreement. Did the Steelers just repeat history?
Did Benton’s extension table Porter’s negotiations?
Benton’s extension could push Porter’s negotiations into next offseason, especially with Porter currently on the PUP list. The Steelers may have been ready to shift their focus away from a long-term deal this year, instead preparing to use the franchise tag on Porter next offseason if necessary.
That would give both sides another offseason to find common ground on a contract that reflects Porter’s value while allowing Pittsburgh to manage its salary-cap commitments.
Can Porter learn from Wallace’s negotiations?
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Wallace’s departure provides a cautionary tale for Porter and his representation. Wallace bet on his value and remained adamant about securing historically high compensation, but his career never followed the same trajectory after leaving Pittsburgh.
Porter should avoid letting negotiations become a battle over winning every dollar. His representation could look for common ground with the Steelers’ front office, especially if Pittsburgh views him as a long-term cornerstone. Getting a lucrative deal matters, but so does finding the right situation to maximize a player’s career.
