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Patrick Peterson praises Joey Porter Jr.

Vendetta Sports Media / NFL / June 9, 2023

Patrick Peterson Joey Porter Jr. — Photo Credit – Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo

Patrick Peterson praises Joey Porter Jr.

Joey Porter Jr. told reporters in early June that Patrick Peterson had taken him “under his wing and shown him the ropes” since he joined the team.

Porter Jr. said the first days working with the team since being selected in April “were kind of tough” because he wasn’t used to the speed and pace of the professional game. He shared with Amanda Godsey of the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat why it’s so important he helps Porter Jr. get up to speed for a career in the NFL.

“(I want to do) whatever I can do to help him accelerate the game as fast as I can,” Peterson said. “I want to be able to give him all the nuggets to be successful early in his career. I feel like if he’s able to taste that success early and get into a routine, understand what he needs to do Monday-Saturday to get his body and mind prepared for a game, I think the better off he’ll be and the longer he’ll be able to last into this game.”

I noticed Patrick Peterson talking to Joey Porter Jr. as they walked off the field between drills yesterday. I asked Peterson if he was giving JPJ some pointers and this was his full response: pic.twitter.com/0DhCx4A3qg
— Amanda Godsey (@AmandaFGodsey) June 7, 2023

Porter said some encouraging words about what Peterson has meant to him as a mentor throughout this early process.

“I wouldn’t be able to learn so much about the game so fast like I am right now,” said Porter. “The first two days were kind of tough, getting the hang of it, the speed, the pace. Just knowing the defense. Now it’s really good. I know what I am doing more, communicating more, so it’s been great.”

Peterson said another reason he’s taking Porter under his wing is that he sees greatness in the young cornerback.

“I just want to continue helping in as many ways as I can because he has all the intangibles to be better than me,” Peterson said. “Most greats, or most guys, won’t say that, but that’s the type of guy I am. I want to pass the game and leave it in good hands.”

That’s immensely high praise coming from one of the best cornerbacks of the 2010s. Peterson burst onto the scene as a first-round pick in 2011 out of LSU and has lived up to all the hype he had coming out of college. He was selected as a member of the Hall of Fame’s all-2010s team and is a three-time All-Pro, as well as an eight-time Pro Bowler.

Peterson has the second-most interceptions (34) and 8th most pass break-ups (111) since entering the league in 2011. Peterson played 10 seasons with the Cardinals, before playing the last two seasons with the Vikings.

The Steelers signed Peterson this offseason to give Pittsburgh a real lead cornerback. Along with signing a lead cornerback, Pittsburgh seems to have found themselves a locker room leader and mentor.