The only problem with your theory is actual video evidence for the 5-10 minutes Brown was down and out on the ground with play stopped. Either for or against your point or mine.
The specific problem with a part of your point is Porter over Brown/next to Brown the WHOLE time.
When the above posted video picks up, Porter is already separated from Brown and the trainer who are making their way off the field.
I suggest you go look at this post, with screen grabs and the actual, full, end of game video. It covers a critical 13 seconds and fills in the gaps you're missing.
http://steelernation.com/showthread...tdown-in-Cincy&p=208701&viewfull=1#post208701
Thanks to Zack_of_Steel, we have the full end of the game, where these screen grabs come from. Go watch all of it, for yourself.
https://youtu.be/eL-AE1ZRp0k?t=8m23s
Joey is standing behind a wall of Bengal players NOT walking off the field. The Bengal players didn't magically appear out of nowhere and surround Joey as he was walking off.
You're simply not viewing and seeing the video evidence correctly. You need to look at both videos, and piece them together. First, Bengals players were all around Brown and the trainers the whole time he was down, moving like a swarm. They didn't have to magically appear, they were everywhere, as pictured:
Joey was standing over Brown at Brown's feet, until Brown was being stood up. This is one of the critical pictures. Keep in mind the direction of Brown's body. His head is to the right, his feet to the left.
Vontaze is in that group of Bengals around Brown's head, but not pictured (just his feet). Not pictured in that photo (but in other photos) is that there are Bengal players "below" this image if you will from Brown's now seated body - as well. Literally, Bengals were all around Brown.
As Brown is being stood up, Vontaze approaches Joey. Pictured. Critical pieces to put together - you can just make out #57 in the picture at 8:23. Then, you see #57 again in the picture at 8:26. Pay close attention to the time stamps throughout. Every picture shown, so far, comes from the actual tape of the game, so the time is real time as it unfolded.
Brown is being "sat up" at 8:23 (image above). Porter is at Brown's feet.
At 8:26 (below), Vontaze leaves the group of Bengals around Brown's head and approaches Porter.
At 8:30, Vontaze gets in front of Porter, saying something.
Vontaze turns around after the image at 8:30, 180 degrees, to put his hand on Brown's shoulder. Porter still has not moved.
When Joey sees the scuffle with the trainer, he steps towards the Steelers bench, towards Brown and the trainer, to get between Vontaze, the Bengals and our team (the wall you speak of, the wall that was essentially pursuing Brown). Brown and the training staff continue off the field, and that's when Gilberrry walks into Joey, forcing him into the group of Bengals that had been between Brown and the Bengals bench.
Watch, again, the GIF movie: <iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wysECduSPfk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Then, Joey steps around these Bengal players AFTER the trainer swipes at Burfict's hand.
I think you see, from the above, how Joey stepped around the Bengals, and a better understanding of why now.
He could/should have then walked off with Brown and the trainer.....since this is the supposed reason he is out their in the first place.
But instead stays right there, not moving, grinning away at the Bengal players.
No one can say what Porter's next move was going to be when Burfict touched Brown and scuffled with the trainer. Mere seconds before Brown was being lifted off the ground. But we can see what happened, and that is evident. I can assume Porter was going to walk off the field. But Burfict escalated, and Porter stepped in. At that point, Porter couldn't leave the field, because Gilberry walked into Porter's back, shoving him into the crowd of Bengals. Again all of this is on the the videos and clips.
He doesn't touch anyone. And at this particular moment, doesn't seem to be saying anything to anyone, either.
But to think his mere presence and smile annoyed all the Bengal players to the point of the chest/back bump and Pacman exploding is just retarded and/or naive.
One of the best trash talkers in the history of the NFL is out there NOT talking?
Please be for real.
I don't believe anyone is absolving Joey of saying something. But the video evidence from 8:23 on speaks for itself. We know Burfict approaches Porter as he's being sat up and says something. Joey's head is pointing away. I'm quite sure at that moment, Porter had something to say. Seconds later, Bufict turns, puts his hand on Brown's should, and purportedly made the "Put you to sleep" comment. Porter steps in after the scuffle with the trainer. At that moment, Porter may have said something else. But the video shows Porter says nothing (he only smiles) after Gilberry walked into Porter's back.
I think we've seen that it takes little to nothing for the Bengals players of that ilk to snap. I doubt Joey had to say much, if anything, as incensed as they were.
