Pro Bowl lineman Mike Pouncey returns to retire as a ‘Dolphin for life’
Mike Pouncey doesn’t miss the strenuous practices, grueling games and arduous recovery that came with his NFL career. But he does long for the routine of collectively working with teammates toward a common goal.
So, when he woke up Thursday morning, he took the same routine to Hard Rock Stadium, getting in an early workout and then driving the exact route to Miami Gardens that he always had.
When he arrived at the Baptist Health Training Complex, Pouncey, 33, arrived as a much slimmer version than in his playing days and wearing an aqua suit jacket.
After a nine-year career that included four Pro Bowl appearances and three in a row in Miami, Pouncy signed a one-day contract to retire as a Dolphin.
“It means the world,” he said, with several members of his family, including his twin brother Maurkice, in attendance. “I always said I was going to be a Dolphin for life, and I meant that.”
The Dolphins selected Pouncey with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2011 Draft and for the next seven seasons, he was a stalwart on the offensive line, starting 93 games. The majority of his career was spent at center, where he was named a Pro Bowler in 2013 and 2015, and he played one season at guard in 2014, earning the distinction again.
As he spoke to reporters, there wasn’t much changed besides his trimmed-down physique, about 70 pounds lighter from when he played. He casually dropped a few expletives and kept the candor that endeared him to fans through the years.
“If I thought how I thought now, I’d still be with the Dolphins,” he said with a smile.
After he was released from Miami and signed with the Chargers in 2018, Pouncey remained in contact with members of the organization. And after the Pouncey twins announced their retirement in February 2021, Mike was spotted at a few practices under former coach Brian Flores, offering counsel to the team’s young offensive linemen.
Years ago, as a member of the Chargers, he admitted he held a grudge for the way his time in Miami ended — a release that served as a cost-cutting move. But Thursday, he appreciated the opportunity to be once again embraced by the organization with which he spent his 20s, growing on and off the field.
His time in Miami infamously included his involvement in a pattern of harassment directed at former Dolphins offensive lineman Jonathan Martin, another offensive lineman and an assistant trainer.
Asked what he wanted his legacy to be in Miami, Pouncey said, “I just want to be remembered as a guy that was here, gave everything he had. Was a leader, respected and loved by his teammates and community. And outside of that, the rest of it is on tape.”
The Lakeland native remains in Fort Lauderdale, where his time is now spent helping out his son Kayden’s travel football team, as well as leading a distillery and real estate businesses with his brother.
“I think Mike’s path was a lot harder than mine,” said Maurkice, who played the entirety of his 10-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “I played with Big Ben. I had Antonio Brown, Le’Veon [Bell], all the great players. For him to have the success he had and the way he’s viewed down here, I think it meant a lot more to the family. ... I always looked up to Mike, and I always thought Mike was the better player.”
Dolphins free cap space
The Dolphins have restructured outside linebacker Bradley Chubb’s contract, freeing about $14.7 million in cap space, according to multiple reports.
Miami entered the week about $17 million over the cap and need to be under it ahead of the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. next Wednesday. The team also saved about $2.3 million by releasing tight end Cethan Carter on Wednesday and is now about $720,000 over the league-mandated cap.
The Dolphins have additional mechanisms to free cap room, including restructuring the contracts of players such as wide receiver Tyreek Hill and left tackle Terron Armstead, reaching an agreement on an extension for defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, as well as others cuts and trades.
