The Miami Dolphins has plenty of problems as a team last season. The Fins season finished in a debacle after an ugly bullying scandal divided the league. One of the key players involved, center Mike Pouncey, said Monday he has zero regrets for last season.
The Pro Bowl center, and only remaining starting offensive lineman from last year’s squad, told reporters that not only does he have no regrets for how last season finished, but he also has no need to go through NFL-mandated mental health counseling.
“I have no clue, but I don’t think I need that. I don’t think I do,” Pouncey said Monday.
Pouncey also said he has no doubt that he will be on the field for the season opener, but that may not be the case due to his involvement in the bullying scandal that erupted between tackle Jonathan Martin and guard Richie Incognito.
Incognito, along with Pouncey, and former Dolphins guard John Jerry, were the primary players identified as having taken part in a pattern of abuse directed at Martin, at least one other offensive lineman, and other team staffers.
The Dolphins allowed Incognito and Jerry to become unrestricted free agents at the end of last season and traded away Martin to the San Francisco 49er’s for a conditional draft pick. But Miami held onto Pouncey, due to his contract and the difficulty in finding a star center in the NFL.
Last year, Pouncey drew a rebuke from the organization after he was photographed in a hat that said “Free Hernandez.” The hat was referring to his longtime friend, Aaron Hernandez, who has been charged with three murders in Massachusetts.
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Pouncey’s brother, Maurkice, apologized for wearing the hat through his team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Dolphins never had Mike address the issue to the media.
Mike Pouncey also drew another rebuke from the organization after he tweeted out on the first night of the 2014 NFL draft to first-round pick Ja’Wuan James, “Great pick! I can’t wait for our gifts he’s getting us lol.”
One of Martin’s complaints last year involved veterans allegedly forcing young players to spend lavish amounts of money on older players.
Pouncey’s comments come at a time that the organization is trying to move on from the scandals that have revolved around the franchise in the past few years. From a general manager asking if a draft prospect’s mom was a prostitute to the bullying scandal, the Fins have been through the wringer.
The team also opened itself up to more criticism this year by drafting two players, and signing a third, who had been kicked off their college teams for a variety of problems.
