Mike Pouncey has retired from the NFL, however the 33-year-old ex-Miami Dolphins heart continues to be dwelling the dream.
Pouncey, who has misplaced 70 kilos within the final 12 months and now weighs 228, signed a one-day contract with the Dolphins on Thursday for the aim of retiring as a Dolphins participant.
“It means the world,” stated Pouncey, a three-time Pro Bowl choice throughout his seven seasons (2011-17) with the Dolphins.
“I always said I was going to be a Dolphin for life, and I meant that.”
Pouncey, the Dolphins’ 2011 first-round decide whose profession ended after the 2020 season, wore an aqua Dolphins alumni sports activities jacket whereas talking Thursday. His son, Kayden, and Kayden’s mother, Kristian, had been there alongside together with his twin brother, Maurkice.
In the locker room, Pouncey, who was named one of many 50 Greatest Dolphins, was typically smiling, upbeat and in good spirits.
He was a go-to man for the media due to his data, expertise, candor and humorousness.
He was a hole-opening beast as a middle, main the way in which for 1,000-yard seasons from working backs Reggie Bush (1,086 yards in 2011), Lamar Miller (1,099 yards in 2014) and Jay Ajayi (1,272 in 2016).
Pouncey, a nationwide champion at Florida, was one of many franchise’s greatest first-round picks of the previous 20 years.
He’s a two-time winner of the workforce’s Don Shula Leadership Award and in addition gained the Ed Block Courage Award.
“When I think about Mike and his days here, Mike was not only a great player, Mike was also a great community activist,” stated Nat Moore, the Dolphins’ head of alumni relations. “And he exemplified leadership at his greatest.”
But Pouncey has an advanced Dolphins legacy.
In July 2013, twin brothers Mike and Maurkice, who was at Thursday’s occasion, had been photographed at their birthday celebration at a Miami Beach nightclub sporting “Free Hernandez” hats in reference to New England tight finish Aaron Hernandez, a Pouncey teammate and roommate at Florida, who, on the time, was accused of homicide. He was finally convicted.
Mike Pouncey was served a subpoena associated to the Hernandez case after a New England Patriots recreation in October 2013 and subsequently needed to miss a observe to testify earlier than a grand jury in November 2013.
Mike Pouncey was named within the Wells Report in February 2014, and implicated within the so-called Bullygate incident by which it was decided Mike Pouncey, guard Richie Incognito and guard John Jerry harassed Dolphins deal with Jonathan Martin, one other offensive lineman and a workforce coach.
Mike Pouncey admitted he’s grown up quite a bit since these days.
“If I thought [then] how I thought now, I’d still be with the Dolphins,” he quipped. “That’s a part of simply development, man.
“I swear, I look back at it I’m like, ‘Dang man, if I was just a little bit more mature when I was playing…,” he stated.
“But that’s part of what makes you a good player, that edge that you bring. I have no regret over what I did here and I’m very proud of my career that I had here. Obviously now just trying to be looked at in a different light, in the business world.”
Emotion has all the time been one thing Mike Pouncey wore on his sleeve.
Mike Pouncey was delivered to tears on April 13, 2015, when the Dolphins signed him to a five-year extension price virtually $50 million. He expressed gratitude to the Dolphins for standing by his aspect all through the aforementioned points. At one level he stated he wasn’t frightened about receiving the extension.
“I always had faith I would be a Miami Dolphin for life,” he stated.
Mike Pouncey was launched by the Dolphins on March 15, 2018, in a money-saving transfer. The identical day the Dolphins traded with San Francisco to accumulate heart Daniel Kilgore.
Mike Pouncey signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018 and began all 16 video games for the Chargers whereas incomes his fourth Pro Bowl berth.
An October neck harm ended his 2019 season, and September hip surgical procedure ended his 2020 season.
Maurkice, a five-time All Pro and nine-time Pro Bowl choice for Pittsburgh, was requested what it was wish to glimpse his twin brother’s profession.
“It’s so crazy that people always ask that question,” Maurkice stated. “I all the time appeared as much as Mike. Mike was the higher participant in my eyes.
“I think Mike’s path was a lot harder than mine. I played with Big Ben [quarterback Ben Roethlisberger], I had [wide receiver] Antonio Brown, [running back] Le’Veon [Bell] and all the great players. For him to have the success he’s had and the way he’s viewed down here it meant a lot more to the family.”
Mike and Maurkice introduced their retirement on Feb. 12, 2021.
Since then, they’ve carried out properly for themselves.
They now personal a distillery within the Wynwood space of Miami, Tropical Distillers, that provides quite a lot of liqueurs and so they have actual property holdings, together with a lodge.
We’ll see how a lot Mike Pouncey is concerned with the Dolphins sooner or later.
What’s identified for now’s he desires to sit back for some time, be a father and a businessman, after which coach at some stage.
“I’m just waiting for my son to get to high school,” he stated. “Right now I’m just enjoying his little league process. But as soon as he goes off to high school, I’ll start my coaching career.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com