Mike Pouncey extension: Dolphins make Pro Bowler highest paid center in NFL

Pro Bowl offensive lineman Mike Pouncey, the NFL's highest paid center. That's what happened today as the Miami Dolphins and Pouncey reached an agreement on a contract extension. The exact details of the deal had not been released, but according to the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero, who first reported the deal, the contract is expected to surpass all previous contracts at the position, to include the deals signed by the Cleveland Browns' Alex Mack, the Minnesota Vikings'  John Sullivan, the Oakland Raiders' Rodney Hudson, and, perhaps most importantly, the Pittsburgh Steelers' Maurkice Pouncey, Mike's twin brother. All of them averaged around $8.8 million per season.

Mike has been a two-time Pro Bowl selection, in 2013 as a center and last season as a guard. He was Miami's first round pick in 2011, and Miami had levied the first round selection fifth-year option on him last year, which would have paid Pouncey $7.4 million this season.

Salguero details the negotiations, saying the Dolphins and Pouncey's agent Joel Segal began discussions on Thursday evening. The two sides exchanged offers throughout Friday before agreeing to the contract around 8pm ET.

Pouncey immediately entered Miami's starting lineup as a rookie, starting all 32 games at center his first two seasons. He missed two games in 2013, his first Pro Bowl selection, then was forced to miss the first four games of last year with a hip injury. Miami completely rebuilt their offensive line prior to the 2014 season, and, when Pouncey was healthy, the team determined the weakness of the line at guard was more important to fill than replacing the play of center Samson Satele. Pouncey played all 12 remaining contests at right guard, earning him the Pro Bowl selection and a chance to play lined up next to Marurkice in the game, just as the two had lined up at the University of Florida during their college career.

UPDATE (8:38pm ET): ESPN's Adam Schefter has reported the contract for Pouncey is a five-year extension worth $52.15 million with $22 million guaranteed.