After a stunning trade from Pittsburgh, the shutdown cornerback looks to revitalize an injury-riddled defense and secure a long-term home with the team he grew up cheering for.
It has been a whirlwind last 24 hours for new Dallas Cowboys corner Joey Porter Jr., as his trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers created NFL shock waves.
With contract talks in Pittsburgh going nowhere, to the point where Joey wasn't playing, citing a "back issue'' - ironically, he says is "feeling better'' now that he's at The Star - it all led to Jerry Jones' fron office picking up the phone and executing a trade.
Now coming to coordinator Christian Parker's injury-riddled defense, Porter is seen as a player who can lock down and shut out the offense's best weapon.
So, how does he feel about his switch from Pittsburgh to Dallas?
"Man, I was excited, I'm not even going to lie," a smiling Porter Jr. said. "I was actually at the movies when I got the call, so I had to leave the movies and went home. But I mean, I was blessed. I was excited."
Now set to play without a new contract for 1-2 Dallas, something he apparently wasn't willing to do with the Steelers, Porter Jr. is in a ramp-up phase this week in the hopes of playing some snaps against the 0-3 Houston Texans in Week 4.
But one big issue some have with the move is that it didn't come with an extension. That means the Cowboys could have to say goodbye to Porter Jr. next offseason (while eventually getting a compensatory pick).
Why's he willing to wait in Dallas when he wasn't willing to do so in Pittsburgh?
Because, he said, he “definitely (felt) disrespected and undervalued” by the Steelers, but doesn't feel that way about the Cowboys.
Much like his former Steelers teammate George Pickens, in an ideal world, a long-term deal would be figured out.
Does he want to finish his career as a Cowboy?
"I'm down with it if they are," said Porter Jr., noting that he grew up a Cowboys fan just like his dad was - even though his dad played for the Steelers. "I want to finish my career here. So, hopefully I just perform like I know how to perform and do what I do, and I'm going let everything take care of the rest."
And that is the big thing. Porter has to prove he's a $30 million APY player. ... much like Pickens has done before him.
If he does, and he comes in and locks down one side of the field as a "boundary eraser'' and repeatedly gets the better of an opposing offense's No. 1 weapon, the Cowboys might see value in securing Porter's long-term future.
But for now, he's just happy to have gotten out of that situation in Pittsburgh, as he could barely contain his excitement talking to the media.
Now, let's see what he can do for this Dallas defense that desperately needs a change in fortune.
