Motormouth Porter silences his critics

Dolphins defensive end Vonnie Holliday said Porter's yapping helps him play better.

"Joey is a very emotional player, and that's what he's known for," Holliday said. "He's a talker. But he goes out and backs it up. If he performs like he did against New England, we have no problem with it. Normally he's speaking the truth, and hats off to him. Not a lot of guys can put themselves on the line like that."

Porter has yet to provide any bulletin-board material for LaDainian Tomlinson and the San Diego Chargers, who play at Miami on Sunday, but that could change with the next interview. Porter said his candid comments stand out because he's part of a league where hollow praise for the opposition is the norm.

"It's all set up for you to be like robots," he said. "You're supposed to come in and say `He's great,' and in the back of your mind ... I'm not going into the game saying, `Man, you're real good.' Who does that? Nobody does that. But that's the rule that you have. So if you look at all the boring interviews, everybody's like, `Yeah, he's a great guy.'

"I could talk like everybody in the league. `Did you see him on tape? He's something else, that LaDainian.' I can't do that. I'm not going to sit here and admire him knowing on game day I'm trying to stop him."

At age 31, Porter has been rejuvenated by the Parcells regime. Last year, playing strongside linebacker in coach Cam Cameron's 4-3 defense, Porter had only 5 1/2 sacks, his second-lowest total since becoming an NFL starter in 2000.

Porter groused about playing out of position, and with a five-year contract with $20 million guaranteed, he was labeled a free-agent bust. But this year coach Tony Sparano has Porter thriving on the weak side in a 3-4 defense, the role he had in Pittsburgh.

"We went back to his Pittsburgh days, and he's much more natural being to the open-end side, away from the tight end," Sparano said. "It's really more natural for him and gives him more room in his pass rush. He has excellent pass-rush moves, and when the guy gets going, he really has pretty good desire to get to the quarterback."

Porter is playing so well he even added a sack this week. The Elias Sports Bureau determined he deserved an additional one for forcing Cassel to fumble.

"I got a free sack," Porter said. His revised one-game total is the highest by a Miami player since 1991, and he has five for the season.

"I just was waiting for this to all happen - me being in a situation to play in a defense where I feel comfortable. I feel like I can succeed in anybody's defense in a 3-4 when I have an opportunity to do what I do best. I'm getting an opportunity, so I'm not surprised or shocked by it at all."

For the moment, at least, the loudest Dolphin has silenced his critics.