Like a dude who has done this a few dozen times, Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter didn't feel like being baited. He knew what was up. The media corps in New England wanted him to talk trash during a conference call this week, but Porter wasn't feeling it.

``I'm not falling for none of those little tricks,'' Porter said. ``I get mad when I want to get mad. So if that's what this conversation is going to be about, about fishing, then you guys ought to come out here to Miami. We've got some good lakes to fish here.''

On the other end of the phone line, longtime Boston Herald scribe Karen Guregian decided to engage Porter with a light-hearted jab back.

``You said `guys,' but there are ladies here,'' she said.

``You can come, too, Karen.'' Porter responded.

Ah, yes. Another point for J-Peezy.

Even when Miami's favorite moving mouth attempts to tighten up, the guy just can't help himself. Try to bite him, and he will bite back. During a week when Porter is preparing to play his most hated rival, you probably will be safer to just get out of the way.

That's what everyone needs to realize about Porter: He doesn't talk because he thirsts for attention. He talks because, well. . . . it just sort of comes out.

``I have a lot of people that don't like me,'' Porter said. ``That's fair to say. I don't like a lot of people, either. It works both ways.''

In South Florida, there's a running joke between Porter and the local reporters about the type of behavior he exhibits during a week like this. The linebacker has been diagnosed with two personalities: There's J-Peezy, and there's Corporate Joey.

And whenever he plays the Patriots -- a team Porter openly admits to ``hating'' -- you better believe Peezy is going to make a few appearances. It can happen at any moment.

Take Thursday, for example. During an interview on the NFL Network, host Rich Eisen asked Porter whether he believes Patriots quarterback Tom Brady plays by a different set of NFL rules.

Uh oh.

`HIS OWN RULES'

``No question,'' Porter said. ``When a guy can tell a ref when to throw a flag, and he gets it, he's got his own rules. They made the rule that you don't go at the legs for Tom, so when he feels that someone is going at his legs, he just points to the ref and he gets a flag.

``So I can honestly say that he gets his own rules.''

The vengeance for the Patriots -- and Brady -- is pretty easily explained. During his previous stay in Pittsburgh, Porter believed he was robbed by New England's Spygate controversy. Videotapes sent to the league revealed the Patriots recorded the defensive play-calling signals used by the Steelers during the 2002 AFC Championship Game.

The Steelers lost that game 24-17.

``I have a natural hate for them -- period,'' Porter said. ``And that's just going to be with me forever. That's not ever going to change.''

Very true. Porter's hatred of New England is nothing new. But it is nonetheless relevant for another reason: If Porter is going to start piling up more sacks than he currently has, he could imagine no better week than this one.

With just 2.5 sacks on the season (he had a whopping 10.5 sacks at this point last year), Porter says he knows it's time for him to start piling up more numbers -- even if coach Tony Sparano defends Porter's role at this point in the season.

``I think one of the things that he's been called to do, which is a little bit different, but it's very necessary, is the [pass] coverage end of things,'' Sparano said. ``We've had him drop out of there several times, both he and Jason [Taylor], which is critical for us.

``A year ago, [the pass rushing] was kind of all on Joey's plate. But he's handled this really well, like a professional, like I would expect him to.''

Against the Patriots last year, Porter had five sacks in those two games. No doubt, Porter enjoyed every one of them. And this year, if he can continue to pummel Brady, it won't just be a boost to Porter's own pride.

It will be a huge boost for the Dolphins' pride, too.

``I haven't made a couple of plays when I had the opportunity to,'' Porter said. ``We're going to have opportunities this week because they're going to pass the ball a lot. I've just got to make sure I make the most of them.''

FULL WORKLOAD

Porter, who isn't rushing the passer quite as much as he shares those chances with Taylor, also has dealt with a nagging hamstring injury that he says is ready for a full workload. He refused to use the hamstring as an excuse for his lack of production, although it seems likely it hindered his step.

But now? Porter is healthy. He's comfortable in the system. And he's up against the team that fuels his fire more than any other.

``You want to earn your respect,'' Porter said. ``And the way you earn your respect is to do it all the time. I just need to get one of those games where we're pass rushing the whole game.

``Then, I'll be able to cash in.''

In other words, J-Peezy is ready to emerge.

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