Christian Gonzalez agreed to a four-year, $135 million contract with the Patriots early Tuesday morning, leaving Joey Porter Jr. as the last big-name cornerback waiting for a long-term deal.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports that the Steelers made an offer to Porter, but that the proposed deal was “not good enough . . . to be deemed close.”
The sides are at least negotiating with time running out.
The Steelers do not negotiate contract extensions once the season starts.
Porter spent training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list with what the team called a back issue. He returned to practice last Tuesday, and the Steelers began contract talks thereafter.
He has been noncommittal about playing Week 1 absent a contract extension.
Porter will need to ramp up to get on the field for the season opener against the Falcons, but coach Mike McCarthy said Monday he was “hopeful” that Porter will be in the lineup.
Seattle cornerback Devon Witherspoon signed a four-year, $132 million extension on Aug. 15, so the Steelers will likely have to top both Witherspoon and Gonzalez for Porter to agree to a long-term deal.
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