Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter is back with the team in time for Sunday's playoff game in Kansas City after several charges were dropped following an altercation outside a bar last weekend.
Pittsburgh had placed Porter on indefinite leave on Monday but reconsidered when Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. dropped charges of aggravated assault involving a police officer, simple assault, resisting arrest and defiant trespass in connection with Porter's actions Sunday involving a bouncer. Zappala made the decision after reviewing surveillance video.
Porter, who coaches the outside linebackers, still faces summary disorderly conduct and summary public drunkenness. The two citations each carry fines up to $500 and 90 days in jail.
Steelers chairman Art Rooney II said Friday the team reinstated Porter after reviewing the available information and learning the most serious offenses against Porter were removed.
"We will await the outcome of the legal process and communicate further with the NFL regarding the Personal Conduct Policy before making any further decisions on potential discipline," Rooney said.
The 39-year-old Porter played 13 seasons in the NFL, including eight with the Steelers. He became a defensive assistant with the team in 2014 and was promoted to assistant coach in 2015. [[410116785, C]]
"I am grateful to be allowed to return to our coaching staff this weekend," Porter said in a statement. "I regret that I was involved in an incident that could have been a distraction to our team. Most importantly, I regret that I touched the police officer and I sincerely apologize for that action. Thankfully, no one was injured.
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Acting police Chief Scott Schubert this week defended Abel's decision to charge Porter, saying video the chief reviewed showed that Abel's account of what happened was accurate and he conducted himself in the professional manner. Schubert said he reviewed unspecified videos Sunday, including some recorded by Abel's body camera, in reaching that conclusion.
Schubert commented after Porter's arrest generated intense social media interest that prompted the Citizens Police Review Board to investigate.
Executive director Elizabeth Pittinger told The Associated Press this week that the board decided to review the matter because of Porter's high profile as a former star player and coach, his reputation as a "hot head," and Abel's checkered past. [[247269581, C]]
