Omar Khan Given 85% Chance To Break Steelers' Controversial Rule With Joey Porter Jr

The Pittsburgh Steelers have spent years treating their refusal to negotiate contracts during the regular season as one of the organization's firmest traditions. According to Ray Fittipaldo, however, Joey Porter Jr. could have an excellent chance of convincing Omar Khan to make an exception. The possibility raises a fascinating question about whether Pittsburgh values its policy more than repairing this relationship.

Porter's contract standoff has already stretched beyond the deadline the Steelers normally recognize for extensions. That should have ended any realistic discussion about a deal until after the season, but the ongoing uncertainty has kept the possibility alive. If Fittipaldo's assessment is accurate, Pittsburgh's supposedly rigid rule may be far more flexible than the organization publicly suggests.

Speaking on 93.7 The Fan, Fittipaldo was asked to estimate the likelihood of the Steelers completing a deal if Porter walked into Khan's office and accepted the path back to the negotiating table. His answer was an emphatic 85%. He then explained why he believes the process could move quickly.

"85%," Fittipaldo said. "They wouldn't be negotiating. They would just be giving him what they offered him in the first place."

That is a remarkable assessment because it suggests the major work may have already been completed. Under this scenario, Khan would not need to restart a complicated negotiation or construct an entirely different contract. Porter would essentially need to reconsider the offer Pittsburgh previously placed in front of him.

The 85% figure remains Fittipaldo's informed estimate rather than a probability supplied by the Steelers. No one from the organization has announced that negotiations have resumed, and the exact terms of the previous offer remain unclear. Still, his confidence indicates that the regular-season policy may not be the immovable obstacle many assumed it would become.

Pittsburgh's rule has always been designed to prevent contract business from interfering with football once the season begins. There is logic behind establishing a deadline and requiring both sides to work within it. The problem comes when protecting that tradition creates a larger distraction than making a sensible exception would.

That appears to be the argument for reopening the door with Porter. His unresolved status has dominated discussion around the team, while every practice update has created another wave of questions. If accepting the existing offer would restore clarity and get everyone focused on football, refusing to act because of the calendar would serve little practical purpose.

The Steelers should not break their policy merely to escape uncomfortable headlines. They should make an exception if the agreement still makes football and financial sense for the organization. A longstanding custom deserves respect, but it should never become more valuable than the outcome it was created to protect.

Steelers' Controversial Contract Rule Could Finally Bend

The strongest part of Pittsburgh's tradition has been the deadline it creates during offseason negotiations. Both parties know when the conversation is supposed to end, which can force difficult decisions before football begins. Once that deadline produces a stalemate that continues distracting the team, however, stubbornly enforcing it can become counterproductive.

Khan's responsibility is to protect the Steelers, not a sentence repeated every year about how they conduct business. If the organization still wants Porter and remains comfortable with its offer, accepting his agreement would be a practical solution. Turning him away solely because the season started would prioritize appearance over roster management.

Porter would also carry responsibility for making that possibility real. Fittipaldo's scenario begins with the cornerback walking into Khan's office prepared to accept what Pittsburgh previously offered. Until that happens, the reported 85% chance remains an intriguing hypothetical rather than evidence that a deal is imminent.

The Steelers may soon have to decide what their tradition is actually worth. If Porter is willing to resolve the dispute on terms Pittsburgh already approved, breaking the rule could be the smartest way to preserve everything else. A policy should create order, but it should never prevent a reasonable solution when one finally becomes available.

Would you support Omar Khan breaking the Pittsburgh Steelers' in-season contract tradition to sign Joey Porter Jr? Share your Steelers takes with me on X at @anthonyghalkias, and follow me for more Pittsburgh coverage.

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