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Thank goodness training camp starts this weekend. We can get to the point where we have news to report, not news to make. Case in point, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, who, in his vendetta against all things Miami, has decided that Mike Pouncey having not yet apologized for wearing a "Free Hernandez" hat at his birthday party is a massive slight.
Pouncey and his twin brother Maurkice were celebrating at a club this past weekend. The next day, pictures of the twin centers surfaced with them both wearing hats that read "Free Hernandez," apparently asking for the release from jail of their former Florida Gators teammate Aaron Hernandez, who has been charged with first degree murder.
Of course, the internet became a mob of people declaring the brothers idiots, blaming it on the Gators, and saying that it just shows that the twins are "thugs."
After meeting with Pittsburgh Steelers personnel, Maurkice released an apology:
I fully recognize the seriousness of the situation involving my former teammate, and I regret that my actions appear to make light of that serious situation. I apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions.
Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins' half of the duo has stayed silent. And, apparently, Florio finds that wrong. Florio needs an apology from Mike.
Why? Because it keeps Florio, who got into an argument with the Jacksonville Jaguars' mascot earlier this offseason, getting clicks. And, since he owns "a website that does 50-100M page views a month," that's important.
Florio apparently spoke with a league source, who said Maurkice's apology was "driven by the organization for which he plays." So, from that, I can assume Florio - or the league source - feel that the Dolphins are an organization with no accountability for player conduct. They don't care what they do and the coaches and front office simply look away when things happen.
Right Chad Johnson?
The Dolphins report to training camp Saturday. Maybe the team told Mike to not say anything, and to come talk to them first things Saturday. It's possible they haven't spoken to Mike yet, and therefore, have asked him to not apologize until they can all sit down.
Or, perhaps they spoke and just decided that it did not require a crafted, released press statement, but would let Pouncey speak to reporters when camp starts.
Or, maybe they just did not think an apology was necessary.
Once again, I don't agree with the brothers wearing the hats. While the sentiment of trying to support their college teammate, and Mike's former roommate, is understandable, the situation says they should have known better. But, does anything change if Mike comes out and says, "It was dumb and I'm sorry?" Not really. Maybe the apology would mean something to the family of Odin Lloyd, the man Hernandez is accused of killing, but other than that, no one else needs an apology.
But, for Florio and his 50 million page views, the apology matters.