National Football League linebacker Joey Porter plays for the Miami Dolphins.

On December 9, 2008, Porter expressed empathy for Plaxico Burress and his legal troubles: "Plaxico is like a brother to me. I take it real personal how he's being treated. Everybody has their mistakes, but that's exactly what they are ... Until you've been in that situation, when you've been robbed at gunpoint or you've had a gun waved in your face or had your house broken into before or been carjacked, you really don't know what it's like."ESPN.com: Porter empathizes with Burress, defends athletes need for guns (December 9, 2008)

Porter is no stranger to getting in trouble both on and off the field. In 2003, Porter was involved in an incident outside of a bar in Denver, Colorado, in which he was shot. Porter started a feud with Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. in 2006, after Porter used a homosexual slur to describe Winslow. In another off-field conflict, Porter was charged with misdemeanor battery after allegedly punching Cincinnati Bengals tackle Levi Jones in Las Vegas. In October of 2008, Porter was fined $20,000 by the NFL for public criticism of referee Ed Hochuli.

Porter has been fined several times by the league, most recently in November of 2008 for verbally abusing New England Patriots players and refusing to leave the field after a play.Miami Herald: NFL Fines Miami Dolphins' Joey Porter

On November 7, 2008, Joey Porter apologized for remarks he made about Matt Jones while criticizing NFL fines and suspensions. ESPN.com: Dolphins Porter apologizes to Jones; thinks NFL fines are unfair (November 7, 2008)

Porter compared a fine he received for criticizing an official with the legal troubles of Matt Jones. Porter stated that he was "still trying to figure out how a guy gets caught with cocaine in his car and still plays the game and nothing happens."

Jones responded by stating, "I don't even know why he's even thinking about me. I mean, maybe he likes other men and sits up and thinks about stuff, so I don't know. ... Is Joey Porter the commissioner? Then why would I even worry about it?"ESPN.com: Jaguars wide receiver thinks Porter should mind his own business (November 6, 2008)

On July 10, 2008, Jones was arrested on felony drug charges in Fayetteville, Arkansas. According to police, Jones was found cutting cocaine in his car with a credit card.Associated Press: Jaguars' Jones arrested on felony drug charge (July 10, 2008)