Porter shot at bar

[Rebel]

DENVER -- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter was seriously wounded in a shooting outside a sports bar early Sunday that left one person dead and five wounded, police said.

Porter's agent Mike Sullivan told ESPN that Porter was shot in the buttocks. Doctors are still evaluating whether to perform surgery to remove the bullet. Sullivan said the injury is serious but not career-threatening.

Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said Porter, 26, who was in Denver for the Colorado State-Colorado football game, was not involved in any confrontation. Porter, a five-year veteran who was selected to last season's Pro Bowl, is a Colorado State graduate.

"He was an innocent bystander. There was no confrontation or altercation that we know of at this time," Jackson said. No arrests were made, and Jackson would not say whether a weapon was recovered.

Denver Health Medical Center would not confirm that Porter was there, citing federal privacy laws that permit patients to block the release of their names.

One of the other five victims, was at the hospital, in fair condition, said Dee Martinez, hospital spokeswoman.

The shooting occurred outside the All Sports Bar in northeast Denver at 1:47 a.m., Jackson said.

The dead man was identified as Christopher Wilford, 28. The other victims were identified as Kendal Johnson, Samantha Long, Yvette Marshal and Jeffery Dixon.

Jackson said the shots were fired from outside a fenced-in parking lot where the victims were standing.

Steelers coach Bill Cowher said the team would not place Porter on injured reserve, which would sideline him for the season.

"The bullet entered his left buttocks and is lodged in his right thigh," Cowher said Sunday. "All the preliminary tests are being done and, at this time, it looks as though the bullet did not hit any vital organs. He is resting comfortably in the hospital, and we are in the process of ... trying to fly him back here (Monday)."

Cowher did not speculate how long Porter would be out. Losing Porter for a substantial period would be a major blow to a defense that was the NFL's best in 2001 and ranked seventh overall last season.

"Joey's going to be fine; he'll be back," Cowher said. "He's a special guy, and he'll be back."

Clark Haggans, who played mostly as a rush end in the Steelers' dime defense last season, likely will start Sunday's opener against Baltimore. Haggans also is a former Colorado State player.

Cowher talked to Porter on Sunday and said the linebacker was distraught over getting hurt with the season about to start. The Steelers otherwise came through the preseason with no serious injuries.

"He's as well as can be expected. He feels like he's let the football team down. He was really emotional," Cowher said.

Porter, a third-round draft pick in 1998, played in his first Pro Bowl last season. He became the first player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 to have nine sacks and four interceptions.

Considered one of the league's best all-around linebackers, Porter also had two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles last season. Against Oakland in the second game of 2002, Porter made 10 solo tackles, had three sacks and intercepted two passes, earning him to AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

"Joey's like a Broadway showman," Haggans said during training camp. "If he has any ability in something he likes to show it. He wants everyone to see it, like it."

[error402]

Shit, what the fuck is that all about?

Hopefully it's not to serious, so he should be back.

[-Tiga-]

Originally posted by error402
Shit, what the fuck is that all about?

Hopefully it's not to serious, so he should be back.

they said it wont be cause he got shot in the bum so he wont have any major problems..................

[Ricky Bobby]

i don't mean to be morbid or anything, but i laughed when read buttocks....kind of a weird place to get shot....but i guess it got the meat, so if they take the bullet out it shouldn't bleed too badly....

[Rebel]

^ Don't worry, I laughed too.

[RJ Suave]

lol damn that's a shame