Steelers linebacker Joey Porter told the NFL Network last night that he nearly did not show up at camp this summer, and the main reason he did was because of his close relationship with coach Bill Cowher. "He's one of the main reasons why I'm back here at camp," Porter said. "Contract-wise I wasn't too happy with the situation that we [had] going into the season. But I talked to coach Cowher, and after me and him had our words ... he said he's going to be here, so he had a big impact on me being here in camp this year." Co-host Marshall Faulk then asked a follow-up question about holding out of camp and whether Porter felt like he was underpaid. "Definitely," Porter said. "I definitely feel that I have outplayed the contract that I am under. What I bring to the team ... It's not just me out there playing football. Me being the leader I am and the response I get from my team ... The whole city of Pittsburgh knows what I bring. Coach Cowher knows what I bring. "We had a talk, and it was 'I need you.' I was unhappy. There was no use me lying about it. I wasn't going to talk to anybody and just play football since they made it the business it is. I was ready to just come out here and give them the business. "I didn't have to come out here and be nice to anybody. But me having a talk with coach Cowher and the relationship we have, I feel like I can suck it in, even though I'm not happy with the contract, go out there for coach Cowher and play like I know how to play and just put it all in God's hands and see what happens next year."