Only Porter can end double-sided dilemma

By Anthony Carroll  |   Thursday, July 27, 2006  |  Comments( 31 )

Oakland Raiders
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There are two sides to every story.

Midway through the first week of the Oakland Raiders' Napa Valley training camp, wide receiver Jerry Porter expressed to media outlets his first confrontation with the team's new coaching regime.

"They were asking me what I was going to do as far as the offseason program goes, and I told them, 'I just bought a place in Florida, so I'm going to go down to Florida and work with a trainer.'"

For wide receivers coach Fred Biletnikoff, Porter's explanation wasn't sufficient. Following the 28-year-old's response, Biletnikoff tested the receiver, asking "What's the matter, stud, you're not gonna stay here for the program?"

According to Porter, his response went something like, "Nah, I've got to get away and charge my batteries."

Following back-to-back banter between the Hall of Fame wideout and Porter, Biletnikoff asked, "So, what's the problem?"

Rather than lie and say "nothing," the veteran wideout shot back quickly with, "Well, for one thing, I don't like the way things are going around here."

Up to this point in the conversation, head coach Art Shell had been the third wheel, quietly watching the former and present Raiders wide receivers increase the tension level in the office.

"Who the f--- do you think you are? Who do you think you're talking to?"

In two sentences, Art Shell drained the tension out of the room.

Since that confrontation, Porter hasn't said a word to Shell; Shell hasn't said a word to Porter.

Ironically, however, it was seemingly 63-year-old Fred Biletnikoff who stimulated the argument, chipping away at Porter until he cracked. In previous seasons, the 6-2 wideout candidly admitted, "Usually every year, I'm here for the offseason program...Usually, I'm here for 40-plus workouts." Unhappy with how the offseason was progressing, Porter decided this year to isolate himself as much as possible from Oakland's camp site.

However, in the background of the story, he remained active. The West Virginia alumnus arrived at the Silver and Black's Napa Valley training camp a noticeable 23 pounds slimmer than last season, bringing in a new trainer with him to Florida.

"Everybody--no matter who you work with--has somebody at their job they don't like. What do you do? You work through it. You don't have to like everybody," he explained.

Clearly, the Porter saga has more than one side, as the Raiders' wideout has been as inconsistent with his comments as he has been on the field.

"Yes, absolutely, I've told them that [I want to be traded]," he said on Monday.

On Tuesday, he followed up with, "I'm under contract for two more years, so they have me for two more years."

On that same day, he also made clear, "I'm here to do my job."

Right now, only "...and shut my mouth" would be an appropriate follow up.

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Anthony Carroll can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com
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About Anthony Carroll

Anthony Carroll began writing for RealFootball365.com on Sept. 26, 2005, making him one of the longest tenured contributors to the “365” team. As a senior writer, Anthony has taken on the task of delivering original content to the silver and black faithful year round, despite having to deal...
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