Porter pleaeds guilty; Panthers cut Tolbert

Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct stemming from a dispute last month. Also, the Carolina Panthers cut three-time Pro Bowl fullback Mike Tolbert.

PITTSBURGH >> Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter has been fined $300 after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct stemming from a dispute with a bar bouncer and a police officer last month.

Porter entered the plea Tuesday in City Court in Pittsburgh, ending a case in which he originally faced a serious felony charge of aggravated assault for allegedly grabbing the officer’s wrists outside a bar after a bouncer denied him entrance Jan. 8.

Four days later, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. said he’d reviewed surveillance video of the incident and announced plans to drop all but two citations against Porter — for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness — setting off a public relations tug of war involving Porter, police and the city’s Citizen Police Review Board. The public drunkenness citation was dropped Tuesday before Porter pleaded guilty to the only remaining charge.

“Joey Porter was initially charged with numerous felony and misdemeanor charges,” defense attorney Robert Del Greco said after the brief hearing in City Court. “Today all of those misdemeanors and felonies were dismissed.”

Porter walked briskly from the court building without commenting.

The officer involved in the dispute, Paul Abel, was at the hearing and entered a formal objection to the plea. He refused to comment afterward. City Public Safety officials said they were making arrangements to release the bar surveillance video now that the case is closed.

The review board, which generally investigates complaints of police misconduct, opened an investigation because of Porter’s high-profile status and Abel’s past, including a firing from the police department.

Abel allegedly pistolwhipped and shot a man while off duty in 2008, claiming the man walked up to his car at a red light and punched him. Abel was acquitted of drunken driving, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment charges, and the city paid $44,500 to settle a lawsuit filed by the man Abel shot. Abel’s firing was overturned by an arbitrator.

In Pennsylvania, purposeful contact with a police officer can be charged as aggravated assault, a felony. Cases not involving serious bodily injury — Abel wasn’t hurt — still can carry up to 10 years in prison.

On Tuesday, Del Greco didn’t dispute that Porter briefly grabbed Abel’s wrists. But he said Porter didn’t realize Abel was an officer because about 10 other people were involved in the “chaotic scrum” that started after Porter argued with a bouncer who wouldn’t let him into the bar.

A police report indicates the bouncer didn’t want to admit Porter because the linebackers coach had threatened him in the past, though Del Greco said the dispute also involved whether Porter’s Timberland boots were appropriate attire.

After Porter and the bouncer scuffled, Porter was pushed backward into a car by Abel and others, including several “hangers on,” Del Greco said.

Porter’s arrest occurred hours after the Steelers’ 3012 playoff win over Miami. He acknowledges drinking at an earlier gathering, but has denied being drunk at the time of the fracas, Del Greco said.

Porter was briefly suspended from the team, but reinstated after the district attorney announced he was dropping the most serious charges. Panthers cut Tolbert

The Panthers began restructuring their roster on Tuesday, releasing threetime Pro Bowl fullback Mike Tolbert and backup defensive tackle Paul Soliai.

The versatile Tolbert was utilized as a blocker, runner and receiver during his five seasons with the Panthers, but the 31-year-old’s production tailed off last season.

Tolbert carried 35 times for 114 yards with no touchdowns with 10 receptions for 72 yards and one touchdown in 2016. The year before Tolbert ran 62 times for 256 yards with one TD and caught 18 passes for 154 yards and three TDs.

Tolbert combined for 12 TDs rushing in 2012 and 2013.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday in a release he was “fortunate” to have coached Tolbert for nearly his entire career.

“He was someone we targeted in 2012 because we felt he would be a good addition to our offense and he was very productive for us,” said Rivera, who coached Tolbert in San Diego from 2008-10 and in Carolina from 2012-16. “He brought great energy and leadership to our locker room and I wish him the best.”