Mike Tomlin sees 'serial killer's mentality' in CB Joey Porter Jr., says Steelers will 'use our fouls'

Joey Porter Jr. has drawn as much attention for his penalties as his pass coverage, but Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin continues to defend the second-year cornerback’s play.

Even after Porter drew six flags — and, ultimately, four penalties for 57 yards — in Sunday’s 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Tomlin said it’s not necessary for him to make tweaks in his coverage but to consider the physicality of the opponent.

Porter got tangled repeatedly with Tee Higgins, the 6-foot-4, 219-pound Bengals wide receiver whom the Steelers coach called a “goon.”

“You have to match physicality of these big people, and sometimes you do so at risk,” Tomlin said. “And that’s just a tightrope that I and he are willing to walk in an effort to be competitive. One thing we’re not going to do is turn it down and allow him to catch the ball.”

Then Tomlin delivered a trademark zinger.

“When we play Shaq, we’re going to use our fouls,” Tomlin said, drawing laughter. “We’re not going to allow him to get us off the block, if you need a basketball analogy.”

Tomlin also used an interesting choice of words to describe Porter Jr., whose father was a standout outside linebacker for the Steelers on their Super Bowl XL champion team and later served as an assistant coach under Tomlin.

“He’s got a serial killer’s mentality,” Tomlin said. “But if you’re going to be a top-flight corner, you better. And that’s probably one of the things that I knew about him because of our personal relationship that really made me comfortable drafting him. It’s not fake. It’s real. He’s not running from the fight. He’s running to the fight. You better have a short memory at that position. And he’s always had it. He was probably 9 or 10 when I met him. And he had it then.”

Asked to clarify, Tomlin called Porter Jr. a “competitor” who is “ill affected by the outcome of plays” despite drawing nine penalties this season, including three against the Commanders.

“His confidence is unflappable,” Tomlin said, “and all of that is needed.”

Rooney Jr. not a Hall finalist

Art Rooney Jr., the son of the Steelers’ founder, didn’t make the cut for the Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists from the Blue-Ribbon Committee.

The 89-year-old Rooney Jr., currently listed as the club’s vice president, served as the personnel director from 1965-86. He led a scouting department responsible for acquiring 10 future Hall of Fame players that helped the Steelers win four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s.

Rooney Jr. was one of nine semifinalists. The five finalists are contributor Ralph Hay, who founded the Canton Bulldogs and helped form the association that would be renamed the NFL, former Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren and senior players Maxie Baughan, Sterling Sharpe and Jim Tyrer.

On the injury front

In addition to sounding optimistic about the return of outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, Tomlin said cornerback Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring) and defensive tackle Montravius Adams (knee) “might position themselves for the consideration” to return this week.

Wide receiver/punt returner Calvin Austin III, who left the Bengals game, is in the concussion protocol.

“We’ll follow the medical experts there and let them provide us appropriate information about where he is and what the prospects of his participation might be based on that,” Tomlin said.

No watch party

With NFL Films crews ever present at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for Steelers meetings, practices and games, Tomlin had a two-word answer when asked if he would watch the debut episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North” on Tuesday night:

“Absolutely not.”