BY SEAN DONOVAN
Mike and Maurkice Pouncey held their annual birthday bash on Friday and, as is becoming an annual rite itself, found themselves in the headlines shortly afterwards.
The twin brothers and star NFL centers, of the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively, have been implicated in an assault that occurred at a night club in Miami Beach early Saturday morning, according to the Broward/Palm Beach New Times.
The Miami Beach Police acknowledged an incident took place, but "have not confirmed it's the Pouncey brothers that are the subjects" and that they "are going to have detectives contacting the victims to investigate further."
[Here's the alleged victim's Twitter account, where he made multiple claims regarding the "Pouncey Twins."]
More details will soon come to light, but it's another blemish for the reputations of the two talented young linemen.
[Update: ProFootballTalk reports "a source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT the preliminary evidence indicates the Pounceys were not involved in the alleged assault." That still doesn't tell us a whole lot, though.]
The alleged incident comes a year after the Pounceys stirred up controversy by wearing "Free Hernandez" hats in support of the accused murderer and former New England Patriots tight end, and a few months after Mike was exposed as a lead character in Miami's Jonathon Martin-Richie Incognito bullying debacle.
The Dolphins recently exercised their $7.4 million option on Pouncey for the 2015 season and must mull a long term extension for the 15th overall pick of the 2011 draft.
Miami has consistently stood behind Mike through each incident. The team did not retain the marginally talented Incognito or guard John Jerry after the bullying scandal, but time will tell how much tolerance Pro Bowl ability earns in the Dolphins organization.
The Steelers made Maurkice the highest paid center in the league last month, which likely set the price Miami will need to pay to retain Mike, and all he comes with, for the long term.
