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Porter had a different opinion in the locker room after the game.
''It was late, that's what (slur) do,'' Porter said. ''He's soft. He wants to be tough but he's really soft.''
Winslow yesterday seemed unruffled by the insult. The NFL is reviewing the remark to determine whether Porter should be punished.
''That's just Joey being Joey,'' Winslow said. ''I'll pray for him. If he wants to be a tough guy, that's fine, but that's a classless act.''
Winslow tried to shake hands with Porter before the game, but Porter refused and backed off a step. Winslow tapped him on the shoulder pad, turned and trotted back to be with his teammates.
''We're not friends,'' Porter said. ''He's out there talking mess during the game and trying to get late hits and acting like he did something good. You don't get praise for trying to hit someone late.''
Winslow said he was just trying to tell Porter the Browns and Steelers should have a good game when he approached him during warmups. He said his feelings were not hurt by Porter's refusal to shake hands.
''I see what kind of guy he is now,'' Winslow said. ''I just lost a little respect for him.''
Winslow said the Steelers use intimidation to beat opponents before the game begins. He knows, because he said he and the Miami Hurricanes won games before they were played using the same tactic. He said he confronts Porter to let him know the Browns are not afraid of Porter or any of the Steelers.
''That's the point the Browns have to get to,'' he said. ''That's what the Steelers do. They try to intimidate you and do a great job of it. That's why they're defending champions.
''I don't know if we're intimidated, but I'm not intimidated. That's why I talk to Porter. You have to face the bully. That's why I try to get him out of his game somehow. I'm not into me vs. Joey Porter. I'm just trying to help our team win.''
Coach befuddled
When the Browns played the Steelers in November, Charlie Frye was sacked five times but the Browns rushed for 99 yards on 28 carries. Thursday Derek Anderson was not sacked once, yet the Browns rushed for only 18 yards on 11 carries.
Fans, writers -- everyone who still cares wonders how something like that can happen. Coach Romeo Crennel does not have the answer.
''I'm trying to figure that out myself,'' Crennel said yesterday. ''The line protected Anderson pretty well. The same line allowed us to run the ball well the last time against Pittsburgh, but couldn't protect. We're trying to figure it out.
''There's a difference in style (between Derek and Charlie Frye), but I'm inclined to say that it relates more to protection than it does style.''
Shift of fortunes
Joe Jurevicius had 18 catches after 11 games. He caught a total of 13 in the last two games.
Winslow has not been as spectacular. He caught one against the Chiefs. He caught four against the Steelers, but for only 19 yards.
More trouble for Russell
The staph infection that plagued Brian Russell earlier in the season might have flared up. Russell's elbow suddenly swelled Thursday morning. He was sent home and reported to Cleveland Clinic where he was examined by doctors.
''They're running tests on him and I don't know the results of those,'' Crennel said. ''We didn't want to take a chance on his elbow because we've been working with him all year. We're going to err on the side of caution with that one.''
Russell's problems began in preseason. He started every game until Thursday.
Left guard Joe Andruzzi underwent an MRI at Cleveland Clinic. He was knocked out of the game in the first half with a left knee injury.
JSchudel@news-herald.com
