Breaking news out of Miami, the Dolphins have released center Mike Pouncey after he wasn’t willing to take a pay cut. The three-time Pro Bowler is only 28 years old and would fit quite nicely in between Kyle Long and Cody Whitehair making this a very interesting situation for Bears fans to watch.
The brother of six-time Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey, Mike is reportedly “heart-broken” after Miami failed to honor his contract.
Mike Pouncey declined to take a pay cut. "I gave this city everything I had," Pouncey told me. "I’m heartbroken." #MiamiDolphins
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) March 15, 2018
This move by the Dolphins could play directly into Chicago’s favor. The Bears have multiple needs on their offensive line but landing Pouncey could give them one of the strongest interiors in the league. You’d have to think protecting Mitch Trubisky is high on Ryan Pace’s priority list making Pouncey an ideal signing that fills a direct need.
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The Dolphins appear to be entering full rebuild as they traded Jay Ajayi and parted ways with Jarvis Landry, Ndamukong Suh and now Pouncey. This gives the Bears a rare shot at an elite interior lineman.
Back in 2011, when Pouncey was drafted 15th overall by Miami, the Bears were consistently linked to him in the media. Chicago has an entirely new regime now, but the need on the interior of the offensive line remains especially with the recent release of Josh Sitton.
The Chicago Bears have a press conference scheduled for 2pm today to announce their new class of free agents, adding Pouncey into that mix would immediately elevate the offensive line and give Trubisky three of the best interior players in football.
NOTE: There is an injury concern here as Pouncey was told by doctors he might need a hip replacement before he’s forty, but that hasn’t affected his stellar play on the field. He also won’t be forty for 11 more years. (h/t Joel Greggio)
Watch this one closely.
