Maurkice Pouncey celebrates becoming a father

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers center Pouncey having a busy week

By Scott Brown, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, October 13, 2011

http://files.pittsburghlive.com/photos/2011-10-12/1013PounceyCAP-a.jpg

Not that center Maurkice Pouncey received a pass from coach Mike Tomlin, but if any Steeler had reason to be sluggish Wednesday, it was him.

The second-year veteran already has had a whirlwind week, highlighted Monday by the birth of his first child, a daughter named Jayda.

"Eight pounds, seven ounces," Pouncey said proudly. "I'm so happy."

Pouncey's Sunday went something like this: Start against the Tennessee Titans, leave with a right knee injury, return to the game, leave with a couple of minutes left in the fourth quarter to shower and catch a ride to the airport, fly to Orlando, Fla., and then play the waiting game.

Pouncey's girlfriend was supposed to give birth that day, but because of the size of the baby, she had to have a C-section Monday. That meant little sleep for Pouncey, who is from Lakeland, Fla., and starred at the University of Florida.

The excitement of joining his twin brother, Mike, as a father wouldn't have allowed him to get much shut-eye, anyway. Shortly after his daughter was born, Pouncey sent out a text message to a group that included Tomlin and the Steelers' offensive linemen.

"Coach (Tomlin) said maybe he'll mature a little bit more now that he has a kid," guard Ramon Foster said with a laugh. "He's a proud dad, I know that much."

Players have Tuesdays off during the season when it is a standard week. But since Pouncey took off Monday, he couldn't just relax after returning to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

"I had to come here and watch film with coach Kugs," Pouncey said, referring to offensive line coach Sean Kugler.

Pouncey, who participated in practice Wednesday, said he is still catching up on his sleep. Foster said Pouncey will be fine.

"Maurkice is one of those high-energy guys," Foster said. "He might not feel it until he's 40."

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[Starlifter]

that's good news. I was at the game and I certainly noticed pouncey heading into the locker room before the game was over. he was walking ok but I thought he had reinjured his ankle and that was the reason he left. whew!

[RuthlessBurgher]

Congrats on the arrival of Baby Pouncey.

Max Starks recently went from 415 lbs. to 355 lbs. I think he had a baby too. :wink:

[ikestops85]

Congrats on the arrival of Baby Pouncey.

Max Starks recently went from 415 lbs. to 355 lbs. I think he had a baby too. :wink:

Baby calf maybe. :lol:

[hawaiiansteel]

Pouncey sounding off about microphones

By Mark Kaboly, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, October 14, 2011

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Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey does not like the NFL rule requiring offensive centers to wear a microphone.

Maurkice Pouncey isn't a quiet guy, but he really hasn't enjoyed hearing himself as much as he has this season.

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, the NFL requires each team outfit its center or both guards with a microphone under the shoulder pads during games for an enhanced television broadcast.

It has led to Pouncey's voice being heard a lot more during telecasts, something he doesn't particularly enjoy.

"I really don't want to wear it," Pouncey said. "What's the point of wearing it? I don't get it."

The league and television networks wanted to enhance the sound during games by giving fans a better sense of the action. The league last year repositioned its mic'd-up umpire to behind the line of scrimmage and lost its "natural" sound for the audience.

The decision to place a microphone on a lineman hasn't been accepted well because of what teams believe is a greater likelihood of defenses picking up and decoding line calls and audibles by the center through broadcasts.

"I don't like it," Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said. "It really kills your no-huddle offense when everybody gets your code words, and they broadcast across NFL Network and everywhere else."

Microphones are supposed to be open only after the offensive huddle breaks and close shortly after the snap.

"You are trying to bring the fans in, but it is hard because that's how teams pick up on stuff," Hines Ward said. "They hear all your calls. I hate it."

The NFL received complaints after Dallas center Phil Costa complained that Washington defenders were mimicking snap counts that he believed were gathered from broadcasts during a game last month.

The NFL sent out a memo last week that stated each team has a choice of the center or both guards being fitted with a microphone, believing that calls from the center would be harder to pick up by the guards wearing mics.

"When we run no-huddle, everybody in the world can hear what we are calling," Pouncey said. "It is what it is and guess you have to follow rules and obey by them.

"Even if they are listening, you still have to stop the plays that are being run."

Ravens center Matt Birk is appealing a $5,000 fine for removing his microphone last week during a Sunday night game against the New York Jets. Birk said the microphone came lose and was not comfortable to wear.

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