PITTSBURGH -- Steelers linebacker Joey Porter ridiculed the Browns following Pittsburgh's win Thursday night, calling tight end Kellen Winslow a derogatory name and saying the team is too soft to be a true rival to the Super Bowl champions.
With Willie Parker running for a franchise-record 223 yards, the Steelers outrushed the Browns 303-18 during a 27-7 victory Thursday night that was nearly as one-sided as Pittsburgh's 41-0 decision in Cleveland last December. The Steelers have won six in a row and 13 of 14 from their AFC North rivals.
"They kicked our rear ends," Browns receiver Joe Jurevicius said.
Porter couldn't have agreed more.
"They knew we were going to run the ball and they couldn't stop us," Porter said. "They want to be on our level and call it a rivalry, but I don't see it."
Porter said the Steelers (6-7) will keep on dominating the Browns (4-8) until they toughen up. Cleveland is 10-18 over the last two seasons and 14-30 over the last three, getting swept by Pittsburgh each season.
Porter was especially critical of Winslow, with whom he jawed for several minutes during the pregame warmups before Pittsburgh's 24-20 victory in Cleveland on Nov. 19. Later, Winslow and Porter both said they respected each other, but Porter repeatedly made fun of Winslow and called him names following Thursday's game.
Porter appeared to be upset by what he felt was a late block by Winslow against Steelers linebacker James Farrior during the second half, which prompted Porter to get into Winslow's face and yell at him.
"He came up and tried to shove my hand before the game, but he doesn't know me," Porter said. "You're not my friend, why are you trying to talk to me? He talks too much and doesn't do anything. He's weak, he's soft. He should move to wide receiver because he doesn't want to block anybody, he doesn't want to be a tight end."
Winslow, through a Browns spokesman, declined to comment on Porter's remarks. However, several Browns players also seemed upset by the team's play against Pittsburgh.
Last month, wide receiver Braylon Edwards said the Browns were coming after Pittsburgh to get back for last season's one-sided game in Cleveland. After this game, Edwards didn't sound as confident.
"We fight hard. It's just that there are a lot of other things that are bothering us, everybody in this whole organization," he said. "There's not one thing you can point at and say, 'You know, what if we can do this better, we'll win; if we can get this together, we'll win.' There are other things that are going on that I won't comment on that are affecting us."
Edwards recently threw a tantrum during the third quarter of a 30-0 loss to Cincinnati. He blamed losing his temper on his "passion for the game" and said some of his teammates don't display the same desire to win as he does.
After Thursday's game, he said, "It's typical Cleveland football right now. Sooner or later, we are going to have to come together."
