Mike Pouncey is grateful and proud of his five-year contract extension

The Miami Dolphins signed Mike Pouncey to a five-year extension earlier this week and during his press conference, it was evident that he was grateful, humbled and proud of the fact that he would be a member of the Dolphins for his second contract. Surrounded by his girlfriend, father, mother and his children, Pouncey didn’t hold anything back and spoke from the heart, often fighting back tears.

“There’s just so much stuff. I look back at my career and I could have done so many things better. There’s stuff I put my family through. I’m just happy that it’s all over with now and that we can look forward to the future. I’m excited to be on this football team. I’ve been with these guys my whole career and it feels like a family to me. I’d love to say it’s a burden off my shoulders, but I always knew I’d be here and it wouldn’t be any other place.”

Pouncey noted that the Dolphins organization could have easily given up on him in the past for his mistakes but they chose to stick by him and for that, he owes everything to them.

“It says so much about them. They could have easily gave up on me a long time ago. They stuck with me, it’s something I will never forget. It’s something I will bring to this facility every day. I’m going to work and push myself and push my teammates. There won’t be a doubt that they made the right decision to keep me here.” 

During the press conference, Pouncey often talked about the mistakes he made. When pressed by reporters as to what he was referring to, he said it was just a multitude of things that became grouped together.

“Little stupid things. I’ve never really been in any trouble, but there’s ways to go about things and there’s ways not to. There’s a lot of stuff I wish I could have taken back. There’s not one incident. When I look back at it, it could have been a lot easier for me to get this contract and not even have any doubt in my mind that I would have ever got it,” he said. “It wasn’t just one situation, just stuff I wish I would have done a lot better. I can only be a leader to these guys on this football team and show the young guys the right way because there’s a right and a wrong way to do stuff, and if you do it the right way, stuff comes a lot easier." 

At the end of the day, Pouncey couldn’t be happier and more proud to call himself a member of the Dolphins and is looking forward to taking that next step and becoming a leader on and off the field for everyone on the team.

"I never doubted my talent on the football field would get me a big contract. But it takes more than that. It takes for you to do it on and off the football field. This day means a lot to me and my family. You’re just going to see a better leader. I’m going to be the same football player. Just a better leader on and off the football field. I always had faith that I would be a Miami Dolphin for life. (Pauses and gets emotional) It’s truly a blessing to be here.” 

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. Follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

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