Generally speaking, teams aren’t keen about moving on from a 26-year-old corner who boasts good size (6’2″ and 195 pounds), speed (4.46 forty), and a strong track record of NFL success.

What does Pittsburgh decide to do with Joey Porter Jr?

He’s moving into his fourth season and has a Vikings connection. DB Coach Gerald Alexander used to work for the Pittsburgh Steelers, coaching Porter in his time in the Steel City. Moreover, Brian Flores used to work in Pittsburgh; while he didn’t overlap with the defender, Flores will have a strong understanding of Pittsburgh’s process alongside plenty of connections inside their building.

Long-and-Strong CB with Vikings Connection Unhappy in PIT

Brooke Pryor is a Steelers writer who does her work for ESPN. She offered an article earlier in the day describing what’s taking place.

Some background: “Porter, who was placed on the PUP list after aggravating a back injury during the team’s mobility workout on the first day of training camp, is in line for an extension as he enters the final year of his contract. He was present for some OTAs and mandatory minicamp but didn’t participate in drills during the portions open to media. He has also been at training camp practices, often standing on the sideline with defensive back Jalen Ramsey, who was activated off the PUP list Monday.”

After relaying the thoughts from HC Mike McCarthy alongside teammates Jalen Ramsey and Patrick Queen, Pryor illuminates how Pittsburgh does business: “As an organization, the Steelers have long maintained that they don’t negotiate contracts once the regular season starts. Despite the impending deadline, a source told ESPN that there hasn’t been meaningful progress on extension talks. The Steelers also haven’t made or received any trade calls on Porter, the source added.”

The Steelers are a proud, principled organization that will stick to their guns. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re shopping Porter (something Pryor addresses). That doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t listen if a call(s) gets made.

Right now, the Vikings boast Bryon Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, James Pierre, and Chuck Demmings as the lead corners. Next year, Rodgers will get to free agency if there’s no new deal. Murphy seems likely to be kept around due to his March restructure, a decision that makes the dead cap charge next year prohibitive with a cut.

Moving forward, then, appears to be a situation where Mr. Murphy will be in the Twin Cities for a minimum of 2026 and 2027. Ideally, Demmings develops into a strong outside corner who can someday be a CB3. Think the role that Akayleb Evans was drafted to fill before falling short.

Otherwise, Pierre is somewhat of a mystery. He played well last season but is older, sitting at 29 going into the season. Do his legs and lungs allow him to keep playing high-level football for much longer?

Trading for Joey Porter would be about improving now and in the future.

Of course, there’s the issue of cost (something being discussed in Twitter debates). Presumably, needing to hand over a lucrative deal on the back end of a trade lowers the compensation for trading for him. Is there a sweet spot where both sides are sufficiently uncomfortable yet enticed to pull off a swap?

Already, the Vikings have brought a different Steelers corner to town when they signed Pierre back in March. He has looked good in his role as the CB3 who can help on specials.

Joey Porter is 26.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Cole Palmer stole the show as Xabi Alonso began his reign as Chelsea manager with a thrilling 4-2 Premier League win over neighbours Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Palmer was at the heart of Chelsea’s attacking play, setting up Joao Pedro for the opening goal after just 31 seconds before scoring the winner himself with a calm finish through Bernd Leno’s legs.

The 24-year-old looked almost unstoppable at times and gave Alonso an early glimpse of the attacking quality available to him.

Chelsea’s record summer signing Morgan Rogers also marked his Premier League debut for the club with a goal. He finished from a cutback by another debutant, Maxence Lacroix, to put Chelsea ahead again.

However, Fulham refused to make Alonso’s first league match in English football an easy one.

Teenage midfielder Josh King impressed throughout the game and brought Fulham level in the first half with a powerful shot that beat Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez at his near post.

Chelsea regained control through Palmer before Fulham reduced the deficit again when Gonzalo Garcia headed home from close range.

Garcia, who joined Fulham from Real Madrid during the summer, showed good movement and sharp finishing to score on his Premier League debut.

But Chelsea held on in an entertaining and open game to give Alonso a winning start and secure their first victory in the opening league match of a season since 2022-23.

## Palmer gives Alonso plenty to smile about

Chelsea’s attacking trio of Joao Pedro, Palmer and Rogers showed early signs of being a major threat this season.

Palmer, who had a difficult previous campaign because of fatigue and injuries, quickly reminded everyone of his ability to decide big matches.

His clever flick helped create Chelsea’s opening goal, while his second-half finish showed his calmness in front of goal.

There were also positive signs that Alonso’s tactical ideas are already having an effect, with Chelsea players making several smart positional changes during attacks.

However, Chelsea still showed weaknesses at the back.

Levi Colwill was booked after a lapse in concentration and later risked further trouble with a foul on King while already on a yellow card.

Sanchez also struggled. The goalkeeper made two poor distribution errors early in the match before being beaten at his near post by King’s equaliser.

Chelsea will need to improve defensively if they are to challenge for the biggest trophies, but their attacking quality proved enough to secure all three points.

## King and Garcia give Fulham hope

Despite the defeat, Fulham had plenty of positives to take from the match.

King, still only 19, was one of their best players and looked confident against Chelsea’s midfield. The England Under-21 international drove Fulham forward and nearly found a late equaliser when he dragged an effort wide.

Garcia also made an impressive start to life in England. The former Real Madrid player showed good movement and finishing ability to score his first goal for Fulham.

He became the first player to score on his Premier League debut for Fulham since Chris David against Crystal Palace in May 2014.

Fulham will be disappointed to lose the London derby, but Alonso will be the happier manager after Chelsea’s attacking stars produced enough quality to begin the new era with victory.

South Korean police have concluded their investigation into HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk over allegations of fraudulent trading, according to a report by News1. The case is linked to the company’s initial public offering.

Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Park Jung-bo said during a regular press briefing on August 24, 2026, that he had been informed the investigation related to Bang had been completed and that the necessary procedures to wrap it up were underway. When asked whether police would seek an arrest warrant for Bang again, Park said an announcement was expected soon.

The investigation centered on allegations that Bang misled early HYBE investors before the company’s 2020 IPO. At the time, HYBE was operating as Big Hit Entertainment. Investigators alleged that in 2019, Bang Si-hyuk told some investors there were no immediate plans for a public listing, or that an IPO would be delayed. Some shareholders subsequently sold their stakes to a private equity fund reportedly connected to people close to Bang.

HYBE later proceeded with its IPO, and investigators alleged that Bang received a share of the profits generated from the sale of those stakes. Police estimated his alleged illicit gains at roughly 190 billion to 260 billion won, with different reports citing different calculations.

Bang denied the allegations, maintaining that his actions were lawful and complied with the regulations in place at the time. Police previously sought an arrest warrant for Bang Si-hyuk twice in April, but prosecutors rejected both requests and called for additional investigation.

The latest announcement indicates that police have now completed the investigative work and are preparing to close the case, with the question of any renewed warrant request expected to be addressed soon.

Inside the long-running investigation into Bang Si-hyuk’s HYBE IPO dealings

The investigation into Bang Si-hyuk’s alleged IPO-related misconduct has remained under scrutiny by both police and prosecutors since the probe began in late 2024. The case drew additional attention after the Securities and Futures Commission, under South Korea’s Financial Services Commission, filed a complaint concerning the alleged transactions.

At the center of the investigation is an alleged agreement involving a private equity fund. Authorities are examining whether the fund sold its HYBE shares following the company’s 2020 listing.

Additionally, they are also investigating a subsequent transfer of around 30% of the resulting profits to Bang Si-hyuk under an agreement that has not previously been disclosed. Investigators have estimated the amount involved at approximately 190 billion won, or around $129 million.

The allegations are being examined under South Korea’s Capital Markets Act. The law prohibits misleading statements and deceptive practices in financial transactions, including transactions involving shares of companies that have not yet been publicly listed.

The investigation lasted for more than a year and involved repeated questioning of Bang Si-hyuk. Authorities reportedly questioned him five times beginning in September 2025. His first reported session took place on September 15 and lasted for more than 14 hours. He was questioned again on September 22, followed by additional sessions on November 5, 7 and 9. No further summons involving Bang were reported after late 2025.

Investigators also conducted search and seizure operations at several locations as part of the probe. These included HYBE’s headquarters and the Korea Exchange, where authorities sought materials relevant to the alleged transactions.

Bang has remained under a travel restriction since August 2025. The restriction later became a point of attention when the U.S. Embassy in South Korea reportedly asked the Korean National Police Agency on April 19, 2026, to cooperate in allowing Bang Si-hyuk to travel to the United States for BTS’s ongoing world tour.

The case has also had an impact on HYBE’s stock performance. Following reports that authorities had sought an arrest warrant for Bang, HYBE shares reversed earlier gains and fell 2.9%, while the broader KOSPI was up 1.8% over the same period.

The potential legal consequences could be substantial if investigators ultimately establish violations of the Capital Markets Act. For cases involving unlawful gains of more than 5 billion won, the law can provide for a minimum prison sentence of five years, with life imprisonment possible in more serious circumstances.

Financial penalties could also be significant. Authorities may impose fines equivalent to three to five times the amount of the unlawful gains. With the total amount potentially under review reaching as much as 400 billion won, the possible financial liability could therefore be considerable.