Steelers' Porter
apologizes for gay slur

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter issued a post-practice apology after using a gay slur to describe Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow after a late hit in the fourth quarter called a penalty flag during a game between the two teams on November 19. According to ESPN.com, Porter and Winslow also exchanged words before the game.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that Porter said, "It was late, that's what fags do. He's soft. He wants to be tough, but he's really soft."

Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher said that Porter's remarks were inappropriate but suggested he was not attacking anyone's sexual orientation. "I don't know," Porter later told reporters. "I guess because how we used that word freely, me growing up using that word, I didn't think anything of it. Like I said, I apologize to anyone I may have offended. I didn't mean to offend anybody but Kellen Winslow. That's pretty much that. I don't want to put any more into it."

This season Porter has been fined $15,000 for criticizing an official after what he thought was an unfair call. Porter has yet to be fined by the NFL, but it is likely that it will happen this week. (The Advocate)