Former Saints CB Tracy Porter Released By Redskins
Well it looks like the once heralded “Hero of Super Bowl 44” is without a job as the Washington Post is reporting that the Washington Redskins are releasing former New Orleans Saints cornerback Tracy Porter.
Porter was a second round pick of the Saints in the 2008 NFL Draft out of Indiana but he hailed from the Port Allen, Louisiana.
He saw action immediately in his rookie campaign and had 23 tackles with one interception before dislocating his wrist and was placed on injured reserve.
The 2009 season would be one for Saints history books and Porter’s as well where he manned the right cornerback slot and had 64 tackles, 6 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles.
Two of those interceptions helped the Saints become Super Bowl Champions when Porter picked off Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Farve in the NFC Championship Game and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning in Super Bowl 44.
Feb 7, 2010 ; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Tracy Porter (22) returns an interception for a TD in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIV at Sun-Life Stadium. The Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Porter’s interception of Manning came as the Colts were threatening to score late in the fourth quarter and he ran the interception back 74 yards for a touchdown while he pointed at ecstatic Saints fans in the stands as he neared the goal-line.
During 2009-2010 Porter only allowed three quarterbacks to have a +100.0% QB rating when he was thrown at and for the entire season opposing quarterbacks had an average rating of 56.3%.
The next two seasons were a different story as injuries hampered him, prompting head coach Sean Payton at one point to place a china doll in Porter’s locker as a half-hearted joke.
The 2011 season was the worst Porter had as a Saint and ProFootballFocus.com gave him an overall rating of -8.2 and in pass coverage rated a -5.3.
A free agent in 2012, Porter left New Orleans and signed a one-year contract with the Denver Broncos where he suffered a seizure in preseason, then a concussion later in the season and only played in six games.
In 2013 Porter’s former defensive backs coach Dennis Allen, then head coach of the Oakland Raiders, signed Porter to a one-year deal.
Aug 16, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Nick Toon (88) catches a pass over Oakland Raiders cornerback Tracy Porter during the first quarter of a preseason game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
But that season proved to be the worst rated of his career with PFF giving Porter an overall rating of -11.6 and -11.4 in pass coverage.
The Washington Redskins signed Porter to a two-year deal this past offseason but injuries would do him in again and he only appeared in three games before being placed on injured reserve in November of 2014, registering a mere 5 total tackles.
According to the Washington Post, Porter was absent from OTA’s on Tuesday with Redskins head coach Jay Gruden saying it was due to a “canceled flight”.
Apparently that was just hold off reports until Porter could be officially released without much fanfare.
Rumors swirled a few seasons ago about a possible return to New Orleans for Porter but nothing ever materialized.
With Porter’s play in obvious decline, if not hitting rock bottom, it seems unlikely that he’ll get a chance anywhere unless a team is in dire need.
A sad ending for the once celebrated hero and, as anointed by Saints fans, “Legend Killer”……