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T.J. Houshmandzadeh Blasts ‘Fat Boy’ Mike McCarthy For How He’s Handled Joey Porter Jr.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to face the Cincinnati Bengals amidst the never-ending Joey Porter Jr. saga. Porter hasn’t played yet this season. He said he’s dealing with a back injury, but that’s probably just a cover for a hold-in.…

Published: Thursday, 24 September 2026 at 10:30 PM
T.J. Houshmandzadeh Blasts ‘Fat Boy’ Mike McCarthy For How He’s Handled Joey Porter Jr.
Key Things to Know
  • T.J. Houshmandzadeh criticized head coach Mike McCarthy for not publicly supporting Joey Porter Jr.'s contract dispute.
  • Joey Porter Jr. has not played yet this season following unsuccessful contract extension negotiations.
  • Porter has cited a back injury while being listed as a limited practice participant for conditioning.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Former NFL wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh publicly criticized Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy during Thursday's Speakeasy podcast regarding the ongoing situation with cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Houshmandzadeh argued that McCarthy should publicly support Porter in his contract negotiations and stated that a head coach ought to show public backing for a player seeking a lucrative deal.

Porter has not played yet this season amid unresolved contract extension talks with the Steelers and has cited a back injury. Despite the criticism from Houshmandzadeh, reports note that McCarthy has spoken highly of Porter publicly while managing the cornerback's limited participation in practice due to conditioning.

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