Jerry Porter (football player)

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Jerry Porter
Date of birth	July 14, 1978 (age 28)
Place of birth	Washington, D.C.
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Position(s)	WR
College	West Virginia University
NFL Draft	2000 / Round 2 / Pick 47
Stats
Statistics	Pro Football Reference NFL.com CBS.com DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
2000-present	Oakland Raiders

Jerry Porter (born July 14, 1978 in Washington, D.C.) is an American professional football player. He attended West Virginia University.

Contents 1 High school career 2 College career 3 Pro career 3.1 2006 troubles 4 References

[edit] High school career

Porter attended Coolidge High School in Washington D.C., and was a star in football, basketball, baseball, and track. In football, he was a Blue Chip All-American selection and also won All-State honors.

[edit] College career

“The amazing Jerry Porter was just too good an athlete for his own good.” Porter's coach Don Nehlen said of him. Jerry Porter came into West Virginia as a freshman, and Nehlen was uncertain of his final position. Porter was an All-Big East selection as an all-purpose back. He saw action as a free-safety in the first five games and filled in as the emergency quarterback against Rutgers, then finished the second half of the season as a flanker. His freshman season he record 28 tackles and an interception that was returned 68-yards for a touchdown. Porter also blocked a kick. Porter totaled 311 yards and four touchdowns receiving as well.

As a sophomore, he caught 13 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns.

As a junior, Porter earned an All-Big East conference team selection after starting every game at free-safety. That season he grabbed five interceptions as well.

[edit] Pro career

Porter was drafted in 2000 during the second round by the Oakland Raiders. For five years Porter was looked to as a third receiver behind Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. In 2005, Porter moved up the ladder becoming second string quarterbacks Kerry Collins' main wide receiver after the Raiders let both Rice and Brown go. After the 2004 season, the Raiders re-signed Porter to be the secondary receiver behind Randy Moss.

[edit] 2006 troubles

Entering the 2006 season, Porter publicly voiced his dissatisfaction with newly hired head coach Art Shell, and during training camp, demanded to be traded. Porter's conflict with Shell occurred very early in training camp, when Shell announced that champagne would no longer be allowed at the training facility. In addition to his public complaints, he reportedly parked in owner Al Davis's personal parking spot.^[1] As a result of his attitude, Coach Shell deactivated him "until further notice".^[2]

During his suspension, Porter was reportedly seen "laughing and pumping his fist" on the sidelines when teammate Aaron Brooks was sacked for the 7th time by the San Diego Chargers. ^[3] He later denied these allegations, saying that he wasn't paying attention to the game and was interacting with fans in the seats. ^[4]

Having still not played in a game in 2006, Porter was officially suspended/inactivated without pay for four games (the maximum allowable) by Coach Shell on October 15 for "conduct detrimental to the team" after he made disparaging and disrespectful remarks during a regular team practice.^[5] When the suspension was announced the NFL Players Association filed a grievance on Porters behalf, and the Raiders reduced the suspension to two games on the 25th and he was allowed to return to practice.^[6]He dressed for and played in his first game of 2006 on October 29 - a Raiders home win over the Pittsburgh Steelers - during which he recorded one catch for 19 yards.^[7] Shortly after new coach Lane Kiffin was hired, Jerry Porter changed his number from 84 to 81, symbolizing a fresh start.

[edit] References