Florida's Mike Pouncey, twin brother of Steelers rookie offensive lineman Mike Pouncey, met with the Steelers earlier this week, the Post-Gazette reports. Mike Pouncey is a strong contender to be drafted with the Steelers' first pick, if he's still on the board by that point. If he is, though, Mike probably won't be too thrilled.
↵↵↵Always in competition with his twin, Mike Pouncey said he wants to be drafted higher than his brother, who was selected by the Steelers with the 18th overall pick in the 2010 draft.
↵And the Steelers have the 31st pick in the 2011 draft.
↵"I got to be drafted higher than Maurkice -- 18th or better," Mike said.
↵Asked why, he said, "I'd never hear the end of it."
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Probably not, but he'd also have plenty of opportunities to one-up his brother if they played on the same offensive line. He'd also force his brother to wear a jersey reading "Ma. Pouncey" or something really irritating like that. Anyway, if Pouncey is still around when the Steelers pick 31st overall, I can't believe they won't consider him, although it might also depend on which other offensive linemen and cornerbacks are on the board. And predicting which direction the Steelers will go is always a futile exercise - their strategies in the draft are often surprising, so it isn't a given that they'll be picking an offensive lineman or a cornerback, even though those are their most obvious needs.
↵The Trib, meanwhile, has a somewhat different take on Pouncey:
↵↵↵Mike Pouncey, all 6 feet 5 inches, 303 pounds of him, said Friday he does not expect the Steelers to select him in the NFL Draft in April.
↵Pouncey hopes to play center in the NFL, and the Steelers appear to be set there for the next decade with his identical twin. What is more problematic to the Steelers drafting Pouncey, who played guard at Florida before moving to center for his senior season: He figures to be gone before the Steelers pick 31st overall.
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