|
 "Richie looked over and was like, 'Man, I can't believe that we're
sitting here watching the Dolphins play,'" Pouncey said Wednesday.
"I was like, 'It's unbelievable, bro. I had never pictured this ever
in my life.' We got a laugh out of it."
Sidelined by a gallbladder illness, Pouncey said he watched
Sunday's victory over San Diego at his house with Incognito, who was
suspended for his role in the team's bullying scandal.
"He's doing really good," Pouncey said. "He's in good spirits. He
wants to get back on this football team, wants to get back and play
football. Richie Incognito is a football player — that's the only
thing he knows. He's missing it to death, but he'll be all right."
Incognito was suspended Nov. 3. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday
on his grievance against the Dolphins seeking to rejoin the team.
Pouncey said he was interviewed about the scandal Wednesday by NFL
special investigator Ted Wells, who has been questioning players,
coaches and staff at the Dolphins' complex this week. Wells is
looking into allegations that tackle Jonathan Martin was harassed
daily by teammates, including Incognito.
"He were asking a bunch of questions," Pouncey said. "It seemed like
a long time but it probably wasn't. They got all the questions they
wanted to get out of us, and we gave them trustful answers. They're
in there just trying to figure out what's going on, so they're doing
the right thing."
Pouncey rejoined the team Wednesday after spending three nights in
the hospital, and he worked on the side during practice. He said
he's feeling much better and hopes to play Sunday against the
Carolina Panthers.
His illness was the latest setback in an eventful year for the
Dolphins' center. Following the Dolphins' game at New England on
Oct. 27, Pouncey was served with a grand jury subpoena related to
the criminal case involving his friend and former University of
Florida teammate, Aaron Hernandez.
The next day, Martin abruptly left the team and the bullying scandal
began to mushroom, subjecting Pouncey and the rest of the offensive
line to national scrutiny.
"If I make through 2013 without having a heart attack, that'll be
good," Pouncey said with a laugh.
The NFL Players Association will conduct its own investigation into
the scandal, led by Richard Smith, outside counsel for the union in
the New Orleans Saints bounty case, a person familiar with the
situation said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on
condition of anonymity because the union hadn't announced its plans.
[to top of second column] |
Smith will examine the roles of coach Joe
Philbin, his staff and Miami management, although it's unknown
whether they will be willing to meet with him.
"We're cooperating fully with the" NFL investigation, Philbin
said. "That's all I'm going to say on that."
One issue is whether anyone on the coaching staff ordered
Incognito to toughen up Martin, a second-year tackle from
Stanford who became a starter as a rookie but played poorly at
times.
Wells was appointed by Commissioner Roger Goodell to investigate
after Dolphins owner Stephen Ross asked the league to look into
the case. Martin spent nearly seven hours with Wells on Friday
in New York.
Wells will also interview Incognito, who can be suspended
without pay by the Dolphins for up to four weeks. He has missed
two games so far — including the one he watched with Pouncey.
Pouncey said it was the first game he sat out since he was 6
years old. He lost 5 pounds because of his illness.
"It's the worst diet ever ... just bland soup. I actually got my
appetite back, so they said whatever I can hold is what I can
eat," he said. "It started out as food poisoning, I think, and
they ran a bunch of tests and found a couple of other things.
But we're going to get through it. ... I feel great, I feel like
I'm Mike Pouncey again."
The Dolphins (5-5) have won two of their three games since
Martin's departure and are in contention for an AFC wild-card
berth.
___
AP NFL website:
http://www.pro32.ap.org/
and
http://twitter.com/AP_NFL
[Associated
Press; STEVEN WINE, AP Sports Writer]
Follow Steven Wine on
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Steve_Wine.
Copyright 2013 The Associated
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