Joey Porter

CAREER PRO BOWL SELECTIONS: 4 (2002, 2003, 2005, 2008)

FINS FACT
Having always played offense through his first two years in college, Joey was a fan of the Chicago Bears growing up, especially Walter Payton. Having been raised in California, he also was a fan of linebacker Junior Seau. That is why he picked No. 55 in his rookie season with the Steelers, after initially starting out at No. 95. As a former offensive player he still knows what to do with the ball, having scored three touchdowns in his career, two on fumble returns and one off an interception. During his tenure in Pittsburgh  he even hoped to see some action on the other side of the ball. “I thought I could help in goal-line situations,” Joey says. “I petitioned Coach (Bill Cowher), but he didn’t see it that way.”

CAREER TRANSACTIONS
Signed a five-year contract with the Dolphins as a free agent on March 7, 2007 ... Had been released by Pittsburgh on March 1, 2007 ... Originally was a third-round draft choice (73rd overall) of Pittsburgh in 1999.

PRO
2009 - Finished with 41 tackles and led the Dolphins with nine sacks for a total of 46.5 yards in losses ... Also has one forced fumble ... Ranks tied for eighth in the AFC in sacks ... Started 14 games this season, was inactive on Oct. 4th vs. Buffalo Bills due to a hamstring injury, and was inactive on Nov. 15th vs. Tampa Bay ... Led the team in tackles once this season.

SACKS: Porter has two multiple sack games this season (2.5 sacks on Nov. 29th at Buffalo and two sacks on Nov. 19th at Carolina) and has 19 multiple sack games in his career (including six as a member of the Dolphins) ... Had a total of 4.5 sacks over two consecutive games (No. 29th at Buffalo and Nov. 19th at Carolina), with both games being multiple sack contests ... In his last 38 games (covering the last eight games in 2007, all 16 games in 2008 and his 14 games of 2009) Porter has a total of 31 sacks ... Porter has a total of 92 sacks in his career ... That total ranks second among players active this season. His 90 sacks is the most among linebackers since becoming a full-time starter in 2000 and the tied for the third-most overall over those ten years (2000-2009) along with Michael Strahan. In addition, he is the only player to have recorded at least five sacks in each of those ten seasons (2000-2009) ... When he recorded his 70th career sack on Oct. 2, 2008 at New England, he became the first NFL player ever to record 10 career interceptions and 70 career sacks ... Previously he and Clay Matthews were the only two players in NFL history to have recorded 60 career sacks and 10 career interceptions.

INTERCEPTIONS: Porter has no interceptions this season and 12 INTs in his career.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS - VS. PITTSBURGH (Jan. 3): On Jan. 3rd vs. Pittsburgh had two tackles including one sack, tackling Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for a one-yard loss ... Also had a fumble recovery, recovering a Roethlisberger fumble on Pittsburgh's 13-yard line following a Nate Jones sack.

AT JACKSONVILLE (DEC. 13): On Dec. 13th at Jacksonville had three tackles including one sack, tackling Jaguars quarterback David Garrard for a six-yard loss.

AT BUFFALO (NOV. 29): On Nov. 29th at Buffalo had five tackles including 2.5 sacks for a total of nine yards in losses, tackling Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick twice for nine yards in losses and sharing a sack of Fitzpatrick with Kendall Langford for no gain ... It was his second multi-sack game of the season (and his second in two games) and the 19th multiple sack games in his career (including six with Miami).

AT CAROLINA (NOV. 19): On Nov. 19th at Carolina tied for the team lead in tackles with eight stops including two sacks, tackling Panther quarterback Jake Delhomme twice for a total of ten yards in losses ... It was his first multi-sack game of the season and the 18th multiple sack games in his career (including five as a member of the Dolphins).

VS. NEW ORLEANS (OCT. 25): On Oct. 25th vs. New Orleans had four tackles including a half-sack for 3.5 yards in losses, sharing a seven-yard sack of Saints quarterback Drew Brees with Phillip Merling.

AT SAN DIEGO (SEPT. 27): On Sept. 27th at San Diego had two tackles including one sack, tackling Charger quarterback Phillip Rivers for a nine yard loss and causing Rivers to fumble on the play, which was recovered by Phillip Merling ... Suffered a hamstring injury in that contest in second half and did not return to action.

VS. INDIANAPOLIS (SEPT. 21): On Sept. 21st vs. Indianapolis had one tackle, an eight-yard sack of Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

2008 - Started all 16 games ... Was named as co-winner (along with QB Chad Pennington) of the team’s 2008 Dan Marino Most Valuable Player Award ... Ranked seventh on the team with 47 tackles and led the team with 17.5 sacks for a total of 96 yards in losses and had four forced fumbles ... Set a new single-season career high in sacks, surpassing the 10.5 sacks he recorded in 2000 and 2005 as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers ... His 17.5 sacks is the most by a Dolphins linebacker in team history, surpassing Bryan Cox’s previous mark of 14 sacks in 1992 ... Ranked first in the AFC and second in the NFL in sacks ... Had six tackles including one sack vs. N.Y. Jets (9/7), tackling Jets quarterback Brett Favre for a six-yard loss ... Had six tackles including four sacks for a total of 15 yards in losses at New England (9/21), tackling Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel three times for 13 yards in losses and QB Kevin O’Connell once for a two-yard loss, and added a forced fumble on the last of those Cassel sacks ... It was the first of four multiple sack games of the season and the 14th multiple sack game of Porter’s career ... Was the sixth time in his career that he had three or more sacks in a game ... The four sacks also tied Porter’s single-game career high, which he set at Tampa Bay (10/21/01) as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers ... His four sacks are tied for the fourth highest single-game figure in Dolphins history and are the most since E.J. Junior recorded four sacks on Oct. 6, 1991 at New England (10/6/91) ... It also gave him 70.5 sacks for his career at the time, making him the only player in NFL history to record 10 career interceptions and 70 career sacks ... Had two tackles including a half-sack for four yards vs. San Diego (10/5), sharing an eight-yard sack of Charger quarterback Phillip Rivers with Vonnie Holliday ... Had three tackles including one sack at Houston (10/12), tackling Texans’ quarterback Matt Schaub for an eight-yard loss ... Also had five quarterback hurries and one pass defensed in that contest ... Had four tackles including two sacks vs. Baltimore (10/19), tackling Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco twice for a total of 14 yards in losses ... Had four tackles including two sacks vs. Buffalo (10/26), tackling Bills’ quarterback Trent Edwards twice for a total of seven yards in losses ... Also had two forced fumbles (one resulting in a turnover and the other a safety) and a fumble recovery ... The safety came from his second sack and forced fumble of the game, sacking Edwards in the end zone and forcing him to fumble, which was recovered by the Bills’ Duke Preston who was subsequently tackled in the end zone by Charlie Anderson ... It was Porter’s second straight multiple sack game ... Was named as AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October ... In his four games during that month he had 14 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery ... He notched at least a half-sack in each of those four games, including two sacks in each of those final two contests  ... One of his forced fumbles resulted in a safety ... This was the second Player of the Month Award for Porter in his career ... He also earned the honor in October of 2000, when he recorded 17 tackles, seven sacks and two forced fumbles in five games, helping the Steelers to a 5-0 record that month ... He was the first Dolphin to come away with the AFC Defensive Player of the Month award since Jason Taylor was cited in November of 2006, and the first Dolphins linebacker to be honored since Robert Jones in December of 1998 ... Had three tackles including one sack at Denver (11/2), tackling Broncos’ quarterback Jay Cutler for a two-yard loss ... Had three tackles including a half-sack for four yards vs. Seattle (11/9), combining with Charlie Anderson to tackle Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace for an eight yard loss ... Had five tackles including 1.5 sacks for five yards in losses vs. Oakland (11/16), tackling Raider quarterback JaMarcus Russell for a five-yard loss and combining with Vonnie Holliday for a sack of Russell for no gain ... Had one tackle vs. New England (11/23), a four-yard sack of Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel ... Had three tackles including two sacks at Buffalo (12/7), tackling Bills’ quarterback J.P. Losman twice for a total of 20 yards in losses ... Also had a forced fumble when he tackled Losman on the second of his two sacks, resulting in a turnover when Vonnie Holliday recovered the fumble ... It was Porter’s fourth multiple sack game of 2008 and the 17th multiple sack game of his career ... Made game-clinching play vs. San Francisco (12/14), when he sacked 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill for a seven yard loss on a fourth-and-ten play on the Dolphins 21-yard line with 1:07 left in the contest to preserve Miami’s 14-9 win  ... Started in AFC Wild Card Playoff game vs. Baltimore (1/4/09) and had three tackles.

PRO BOWL: Was named as a starter on the AFC Pro Bowl team ... It was the fourth Pro Bowl selection of his career, having also being chosen following the 2002, 2003 and 2005 seasons, all as a member of the Steelers ... It also was the third time he has been named as a starter, joining his starts in 2002 and 2005 ... He was the first Dolphins linebacker to be selected for the Pro Bowl since Zach Thomas following the 2006 season ... Overall, Porter is the seventh linebacker in club history to be chosen, joining Nick Buoniconti (1972-73), Kim Bokamper (1979), A.J. Duhe (1984), John Offerdahl (1986-90), Bryan Cox (1992, 1994-95) and Thomas (1999-2003, 2005-06) ... He also was the fourth Dolphins linebacker to start the game, joining Offerdahl (1986, 1988-90), Cox (1992), and Thomas (1999, 2002-03, 2006).

SACKS: Porter had four multiple sack games in 2008 (four sacks at New England (9/21), two sacks vs. Baltimore (10/19), two sacks vs. Buffalo (10/26) and two sacks at Buffalo (12/7)) and has 17 multiple sack games in his career ... Porter had at least a half-sack in nine consecutive games (Games 3-11), and in those nine games he had a total of 13.5 sacks ... His total of 17.5 sacks in the most by a Dolphns linebacker in team history ... In addition, his total of 17.5 sacks is the third-highest total overall in Dolphin history ... In his last 24 games (covering the last eight games in 2007 and all 16 games in 2008) Porter has a total of 22.0 sacks ... His total of 11.5 sacks in his first eight games in 2008 was the most by a Dolphin in the first half of a season since sacks became official in 1982, surpassing Trace Armstrong’s total of 11 in 2000 ... His total of 11.5 sacks in his first eight games this year also is the fourth-most in the NFL after the first eight games of a season since sacks became official in 1982 ... Since 2000, his 81 sacks are the most among linebackers and the fourth-most overall during those nine years (2000-2008)...Overall, his 83.0 career sacks is the seventh highest total among players who were active in the NFL in 2008.

2007 - Started 15 of the 16 games in which he played ... Finished second on the team with 65 tackles and 5.5 sacks ... Tied for second on the squad with two interceptions ... Added five passes defensed and a forced fumble ... Sack total was the highest by a Dolphins linebacker since 1995 when Bryan Cox had 7.5 ... Also became the first Dolphins linebacker to have two or more interceptions in a season since Zach Thomas in 2003 ... Only game he did not start was opener at Washington (9/9) when the Dolphins started with five DBs ... Over the final eight games of the season, posted 39 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble ... First sack as a Dolphin came vs. New England (10/21) when he dropped Tom Brady for a 10-yard loss ... Accounted for a season-high eight tackles in Monday night game at Pittsburgh (11/26) when he also came up with his first interception as a Dolphin by picking off a Ben Roethlisberger pass and returning it 14 yards ... In game vs. N.Y. Jets (12/2), recorded five tackles, a sack and an interception of a Kellen Clemens pass ... For Porter, it was his first of four sacks over the final five games of the season ... In addition, it marked the second time in his career he came up with interceptions in consecutive weeks, having also done it in games 2-3 of 2002 ... Had five tackles, including a pair of sacks of Tom Brady, at New England (12/23), the 13th time in his career that he registered two or more sacks in a game ... Forced a fumble on one of the sacks after the Patriots had made it to the Dolphins’ 26 ... Missed the entire preseason schedule after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on August 7 ... The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala.

2006 - Started all 14 games in which he played, was inactive for two contests ... Recorded 64 tackles, seven sacks, two interceptions  and five passes defensed ... Sack total led the squad ... Had best game of year in season-opening 28-17 win over Miami (9/7) when he collected three tackles, two sacks and an interception ... The interception occurred in the fourth quarter as he snared a Daunte Culpepper pass and went 42 yards for a touchdown ... Was inactive for games vs. Kansas City (10/15) and at Atlanta (10/22) with a hamstring injury ... Returned to action at Oakland (10/29) when he registered five tackles, two sacks and an interception ... Notched a pair of sacks in the Steelers’ 20-3 win over Tampa Bay (12/3) as he moved past Keith Willis into fourth on Pittsburgh’s all-time sack list ... It also marked the 12th time in his career he accounted for two or more sacks in a game.

2005 - Started all 16 contests ... Compiled 61 tackles, 10.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, a fumble recovery two interceptions and six passes defensed ... Was voted to the third Pro Bowl of his career ... Sack total and five forced fumbles both led the team ... Sack total also tied for eighth in the AFC, 11th in the NFL and led all NFL linebackers ... Registered sacks in four of the first five games of the year ... Game at Green Bay (11/6) marked his 100th during the regular season ... The following week, in 34-21 win over Cleveland (11/13), recorded both a sack and interception of a Trent Dilfer pass ... Reached the 50-sack mark of his career at Minnesota (12/18) when he teamed with Kimo von Oelhoffen for a 4-yard sack of Brad Johnson ... Brought home the fourth AFC Defensive Player of the Week Award in his career in a 41-0 win at Cleveland (12/24), when he posted five tackles, three sacks and a pair of forced fumbles ... Started all four playoff games as he totaled 12 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble in the Steelers’ run to the Super Bowl XL title ... Turned in a 1.5-sack effort in Divisional win at Indianapolis (1/15/05) ... Posted a sack of Jake Plummer in AFC Championship Game at Denver (1/22/06) in which he forced the ball loose and Casey Hampton recovered, leading to a Steelers touchdown five plays later ... Following the season, was a second team All-Pro by the Associated Press as well as an All-AFC selection by Pro Football Weekly.

2004 - Started all 15 games in which he played ... Totaled 63 tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and seven passes defensed ... Tackle total ranked fifth on the team while seven sacks were second, trailing only Aaron Smith’s eight ... Was named to the second Pro Bowl squad of his career ... Had seven tackles, a sack and a forced fumble at Miami (9/26) ... Was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for the third time in his career as he posted a season-high eight tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles in a 34-20 win over New England (10/31) ... Sat out game at Cleveland (11/14) after he was ejected following a pregame altercation ... Had a pair of sacks in Pittsburgh’s 16-7 victory over Washington (11/28) ... Lone interception of the year came in 20-7 win over Baltimore (12/26) when he picked off a Kyle Boller pass ... Opened both postseason matchups ... Posted nine tackles and a sack... Recorded six tackles and a sack in AFC Championship Game vs. New England (1/23/05).

2003 - Started all 14 games in which he played ... Was inactive for the first two games of the year after sustaining a gunshot wound on September 6, which lodged in his right thigh after entering his left buttocks ... Finished the year with 62 tackles, five sacks, a fumble recovery and two passes defensed ... Posted a sack in his first game back from injury, at Cincinnati (9/21)... Recorded six tackles and a season-high two sacks vs. St. Louis (10/26) ... Produced a season-high 10 tackles in finale at Baltimore (12/28).

2002 - Started all 16 games ... Recorded a career-high 89 tackles ... Also tallied nine sacks, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, four interceptions for 153 yards in returns and eight passes defensed, and was selected to the first Pro Bowl of his career ... Tackle total led the team while sack figure tied with Jason Gildon for first ... Four interceptions tied with Brent Alexander for the team lead while 153 yards in returns represented a team high ...  Following the season, was a first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly ... Despite the fact that the Steelers dropped a 30-17 decision vs. Oakland (9/15), was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week when he totaled 10 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions for 114 yards in returns, the second time in his career he earned that honor ... All three sacks and both interceptions came off Raiders QB Rich Gannon ... Returned one of his interceptions a career-long 84 yards and led to a Steelers touchdown ... Notched his third interception in two games when he snared a Tim Couch pass in a 16-13 win over Cleveland (9/29) ... Accounted for his second multiple-sack game of the season at Cincinnati (10/13) when he posted a pair of sacks, in addition to a forced fumble, which was recovered by Casey Hampton, who returned it 36 yards to the Bengals’ 7, leading to a Pittsburgh touchdown three plays later ... Was credited with a sack of Michael Vick as he also forced fumble and recovered it on the same play in 34-34 finish vs. Atlanta (11/10). . . Started both postseason contests and had 15 tackles and a sack, which came in First-Round win over Cleveland (1/5/03).

2001 - Started all 15 regular season games in which he appeared ... Matched tackle total from previous year with 72 total stops ... Added nine sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and three passes defensed ... Sack total tied for second on the team, along with Kendrell Bell, trailing only Jason Gildon’s figure of 12 ... Posted seven tackles, a career-high four sacks and a pass defensed in a 17-10 win at Tampa Bay (10/21) ... For his performance, was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week ... Had seven stops and a pair of sacks vs. Baltimore (11/4) ... In 47-14 win over Detroit (12/23), recorded a sack of Lions QB Mike McMahon in which he forced the ball loose and Jason Gildon recovered and returned it 27 yards for a TD ... Was inactive for finale vs. Cleveland (1/6/02) with a shoulder injury ... Returned for playoffs as he started both postseason contests, and compiled 11 tackles, a sack and three passes defensed ... Initial sack of playoff career came in Divisional win over Baltimore (1/20/02) when he tackled Elvis Grbac for a 5-yard loss.

2000 - Started all 16 games ... Posted 72 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, an interception and three passes defensed ... Added one special teams tackle on the year ... Sack total ranked second on the squad, trailing only Jason Gildon’s 13.5 ... In fact, the 24 sacks by the pair marked a Steelers single-season record for a tandem ... Recorded eight tackles, a season-high three sacks and a forced fumble in 15-0 win vs. Cincinnati (10/15) ... Tackled Scott Mitchell in the end zone on one of his sacks for the first safety of his career ... It also marked the third straight game in which accounted for a sack ... Collected a season-high 10 tackles, in addition to a pair of sacks, in a 9-6 win at Baltimore (10/29) ... Notched the first interception of his career the week afterwards at Tennessee (11/5) when he snared a Steve McNair pass ... The following week vs. Philadelphia (11/12), recovered a Stanley Pritchett fumble and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown.

1999 - Played in 16 regular season games, all in a reserve role as a rookie ... On defense recorded 15 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery ... Had 15 stops on special teams as well, a figure which ranked fifth on the club ... Initial sack of NFL career came in debut, at Cleveland (9/12), when in addition to a sack, had a forced fumble of Tim Couch ... Was credited with a season-high four special teams tackles vs. Jacksonville (10/3) ... Had most productive performance of rookie campaign in season finale vs. Tennessee (1/2/00), when he recorded a season-best eight tackles ... Included in this total was a sack of Neil O’Donnell in which he forced a fumble, recovered it and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown.

COLLEGE
Was a four-year letterman at Colorado State (1995-98) ... Began his career as an H-Back before being moved to the defensive line for his junior season of 1997 ... In two seasons on defense, totaled 88 tackles, 28 stops for loss and 22 sacks ... As a senior, was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection and a third-team All-America pick when he amassed 53 tackles and a school single-season record 15 sacks, the third-highest total in Division I-A that year ... Majored in exercise and sports science.

PERSONAL
Married (Christy) with two daughters, Jayla and Jasmine, and two sons, Joey, Jr. and Jacob ... Family resides in Bakersfield, Calif ... Was a two-time all-conference pick as a wide receiver and wingback at Foothills (Calif.) High School ... Lettered twice in both football and basketball ... Son of Debra Porter and Richard Hunter ... Has one brother and two sisters ... Participated in the Miami Dolphins Foundation’s Golf Tournament ... Emceed the live auction for the Miami Dolphins Foundation’s Fishing Tourament’s Awards Dinner ... Took part in and emceed the team’s Holiday Toy Event ... Full name is Joey Eugene Porter, born March 22, 1977 in Kansas City, Mo.