Jerry Porter (American football)

Porter was drafted in 2000 during the second round by the Oakland Raiders.[3] For three years, from 2000 to 2003, Porter was looked to as a third receiver behind veterans Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. Porter's best season came in 2004,[4] when he recorded 998 yards and 9 touchdowns from quarterback Rich Gannon.

During the 2004 season, Porter was basically the starting receiver in front of Rice. Porter recorded a career-high 998 yards off of 64 receptions and 9 touchdowns for the season, the best of his career. However, the Raiders finished the season 5–11 and veteran quarterback Rich Gannon retired after suffering a serious neck injury.

With Jerry Rice's retirement after the 2004 season, it looked as if Porter would be new quarterback Kerry Collins' primary receiver. But just before the NFL Draft, the Raiders traded linebacker Napoleon Harris and draft picks for all-star receiver Randy Moss. With Moss on team, Porter would have the role as the secondary receiver. Even though he was not the primary receiver, he still managed to record a 942-yard, 5 touchdown season (2nd best of his career).

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.[5] As a result of his attitude, Coach Shell deactivated him "until further notice".[6]

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.[7] He later denied these allegations, saying that he was not paying attention to the game and was interacting with fans in the seats.[8]

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.[9] When the suspension was announced the NFL Players Association filed a grievance on Porter's behalf, and the Raiders reduced the suspension to two games on the 25th and he was allowed to return to practice.[10] 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.[11]

With Moss traded to the New England Patriots and Art Shell fired, Porter became the primary receiver on the Raiders in 2007.

On February 29, 2008, Porter was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars to a six-year contract worth $30 million. The contract contained $10 million in guaranteed money.[12] In May, he underwent surgery on his hamstring. He missed the rest of training camp and that preseason, and should have been back for the season opener against the Tennessee Titans. However, he did not play until the fourth game of the season in a 30–27 win over the Houston Texans, when he had a reception for 6 yards. He recorded no stats for the following three games, before totaling two catches for 38 yards in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in week 9. He finished the season with 11 receptions for 181 yards and a touchdown in 10 games. On February 11, 2009, Porter was cut by the Jaguars.[13]

Porter remained unsigned throughout the 2009 season. He then tried out for the Washington Redskins in 2010 but was not signed to a contract or invited to any training camps.

On February 15, 2011 the CFL's Montreal Alouettes signed Porter to a two-year contract.[14] However, Porter tore his Achilles tendon in training camp, requiring season-ending surgery.[15] He was subsequently released.[16][17]