South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
No place like close to home
Pouncey twins happy to have friends and family joining them in Orlando
Maurkice Pouncey was all smiles this week while joking around with twin brother Mike Pouncey during NFL Pro Bowl practices at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports, even while reporters peppered him about the drama surrounding his Pittsburgh Steelers.
Maurkice Pouncey compared reports of in-fighting late in the season — centered around wide receiver Antonio Brown and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger — as nothing more than “football arguments” between brothers that will dissipate over time.
“I’ve argued with my brother before and I was so mad at him that I didn’t talk to him for two weeks,” Maurkice said with a grin. “But then I was sitting there the whole time like, ‘Damn, I’ve lost two weeks of talking to my brother and some of the good things we could’ve done together.’ ”
The Pouncey brothers, who both play center, have been reunited as teammates again this week in Orlando.
They’ll suit up for the AFC in the Pro Bowl on Sunday at Camping World Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on WFTV-9 and ESPN.
It’s the second time they’ll play in a Pro Bowl together after doing so following the 2014 season in Arizona while Mike was a member of the Miami Dolphins. Mike, who is one minute older than Maurkice, started every game this season in his first year with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Pounceys are cherishing the moment in much the same way they did while helping Lakeland High School win three consecutive state titles from 2004-06 and as part of the University of Florida’s national championship team in 2008.
Lakeland claimed the Class 7A state title last month by capping a 14-0 season in Orlando. It’s the first championship for the Dreadnaughts since the Pounceys graduated. And after they secured two suites and nearly 30 tickets for family and friends, Lakeland will again be well-represented at Camping World.
“This means more than anything, honestly more for my brother than for me,” said Maurkice. “For him to fight back from injury, to get released from a team, go to another team and go deep in the playoffs and have all of the accomplishments that he had this year, this is more about being here for him and being AFC centers and twin brothers Mike Pouncey, left, and Maurkice Pouncey talk to the media after Pro Bowl practice Thursday. AFC centers and twin brothers Maurkice Pouncey, left, and Mike Pouncey are together at the Pro Bowl for the second time in their NFL careers.
able to support him.”
Maurkice is playing in his seventh Pro Bowl. He was named to the team as a starter but said Wednesday he plans to extend that honor to Mike in what will be his fourth appearance in the game.
Chargers coach Anthony Lynn, whose staff will coach the AFC, plans to let the twins work out those details before game time.
“I’ll let them flip a coin,” Lynn said with a laugh when asked Friday who would get the starting nod. “It’s so unique to see two twins here. They’ve been having a blast this week, and it’s been great to see.”
The Pounceys were one of two sets of brothers on the field when the Chargers beat the Steelers 33-30
in a regular-season game Dec. 2. They shared that unique honor with Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. Watt and Chargers fullback Derek Watt.
T.J. was named as a late addition to the Pro Bowl roster this month. He missed out on enjoying the experience alongside older brother J.J. Watt when the Houston Texans defensive standout was scratched from the lineup due to injury.
“Being so close to home and having all of their family members around is really special — I’m jealous,” T.J. said. “They have a great bond. Derek speaks really highly of Mike and obviously I speak highly of Maurkice because they’re really great guys who do
things the right way.”
The last time the Pouncey twins played a game together in Orlando was as true freshmen in the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1, 2008. Mike intercepted a pass for the Gators that day while playing on defense in a 41-35 loss to Michigan.
“We’re just very humbled and very appreciative of being able to be voted into the Pro Bowl and being able to share these moments together,” said Mike. “We’ve been playing for a long time, and being able to be in the Pro Bowl together in the same year with our hometown being only 30 minutes from here is one of those moments we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.”