Joey Porter Jr.'s first Steelers training camp will bring him full circle
When the Pittsburgh Steelers take to Latrobe, PA for training camp next month, the trip out of the city and away from team headquarters will be a fresh experience for the rookies and free agent signings alike. Except for Joey Porter Jr. This will be business as usual for him.The son of Joey Porter Sr. […]
When the Pittsburgh Steelers take to Latrobe, PA for training camp next month, the trip out of the city and away from team headquarters will be a fresh experience for the rookies and free agent signings alike.
Except for Joey Porter Jr. This will be business as usual for him.
The son of Joey Porter Sr. knows all too well about spending the dog days of Summer 40 miles southeast of the three rivers conjoining. When his dad was getting prepared for one of his eight seasons with the Steelers, the young Joey was but an observing. Now he'll be a participant.
It's a full circle realization that has the soon-to-be 23-year old excited.
"It’s great," Porter Jr. told Tim Benz of the Tribune-Review. "I used to do this for a long time. I used to be a ball boy getting the balls and watching them practice, and now I’m going to be the guy out there running around. I’m happy."
Born right before his father's second year in the NFL and with the Steelers, Porter Jr.'s earliest birthday memories were all revolved around the beginning of training camp, oftentimes to his annoyance.
But when July 26th comes around this year, the second-round pick will be the one attending business on that special day.
“I remember it’s always on my birthday or the day before," Porter Jr. recounted. "So I was kind of used to being mad about that. But now I kind of celebrate it a little bit because I’m actually going to be the one in Latrobe, not him.”
Much like his dad, Porter Jr. will be preparing to contribute immediately as a rookie. The Steelers' cornerback room has been rebuilt around the arrivals of him and veteran Patrick Peterson, with fellow rookie Cory Trice Jr. and veteran Levi Wallace rounding out what looks to be an improved unit.
But while the rest of the newbies will be getting acclimated to the locale, it'll be walking down memory lane for Joey Jr.
Featured image via © Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
