Dolphins' Porter Cited for Battery

Mar 19, 07:01 PM

Current Headlines: MIAMI _ The Miami Dolphins knew they were getting a trash talker when they made linebacker Joey Porter their biggest acquisition of the offseason. They just might not have realized he would start so soon.

Less than a month after joining the Dolphins, Porter was cited for misdemeanor battery in Las Vegas on Sunday night after punching Bengals offensive tackle Levi Jones in the left eye, a spokesman for the Las Vegas Metro Police Department said Monday.

Porter and Jones were playing blackjack at the same table in the Palms Casino when the heated argument broke out, spokesperson Jose Montoya said. Hotel security escorted the pair of NFL players to the valet area, where the fight erupted.

"Joey Porter struck Levi Jones in the left eye, causing a small laceration," Montoya said. "Our officers arrived and issued a citation to Joey Porter and took a police report for misdemeanor battery."

The incident took place Sunday at 6:50 p.m. local time, Montoya said.

Jones was treated at the scene. Porter was not taken into custody, and it is likely he will be able to handle the legal matter from out of state, Montoya said.

"Joey came to me first thing this morning and told me about the incident," Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said in a statement. "We will monitor the situation and refrain from making any further comment until we gather more information."

Porter has long been known as a trash talker on the field during his eight seasons in Pittsburgh. During those eight years, the Steelers played the Bengals twice each season as division rivals.

Porter signed a five-year deal worth $32 million with the Dolphins earlier this month.

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