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Pouncey says he doesn't need mental exam

 
Published May 28, 2014

MIAMI — Mike Pouncey has no regrets about how the Dolphins' 2013 season unfolded and does not believe he needs the NFL-mandated medical evaluation that is the result of the team's bullying scandal.

Pouncey, the starting center out of Florida, made those remarks after the team's first organized team activities practice Tuesday, meeting with reporters for the first time since the release of the Wells Report.

Ted Wells, an NFL-appointed investigator, said Pouncey and fellow offensive linemen Richie Incognito and John Jerry engaged in a pattern of abuse directed at teammates and Dolphins staff. The league has decided Pouncey must undergo a mental-health evaluation before being allowed to play.

Asked what the evaluation would entail, Pouncey, 24, said: "I have no clue, but I don't think I need that. I don't think I do."

After fielding a string of question about the bullying scandal, he was asked if he has any regrets about how last season went. "No, not at all," he said.

Pouncey has not heard from the league about any additional punishment, but "no question" he expects to be on the field when the season starts.

He also addressed his draft-night tweet, in which he reacted to the Dolphins selecting offensive lineman Ja'Wuan James with the 19th overall pick by writing: "Great pick! I can't wait for our gifts he's getting us lol."

Young players such as ex-Dolphin Jonathan Martin have complained they've been pressured to spend money on entertainment for veterans. Said Pouncey: "Obviously, (the tweet) was a joke, but I'm not here to be a distraction. It's all about football right now. We've moved on from that."

jaguars: Telvin Smith, a fifth-round draft pick, signed Tuesday. Terms were not released. He might have gone higher, but he had a diluted urine sample at the combine and is now a part of the league's drug testing program. He only started one season at Florida State, but the Jaguars coached the 6-foot-3, 218-pound linebacker at the Senior Bowl.

redskins: In an effort to mount pressure on the team to change its name, two American Indian groups are turning to a population that has been mostly silent but could wield the most powerful voice yet: the players. The National Congress of American Indians and the Oneida Indian Nation sent letters today to more than 2,700 players, asking them to speak out against a name that "does not honor people of color, instead it seeks to conceal a horrible segment of American history and the countless atrocities suffered by Native Americans." They also sent the letter to the Twitter accounts of the players, with #rightsideofhistory. "Because you are in the NFL, you command a level of respect and credibility when speaking out about the league's behavior," the letter said. "Indeed, players are the most publicly identifiable representatives of the league, which means your support is critical to ending this injustice."

seahawks: Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith had surgery to remove "loose bodies" from his right ankle but is expected for the start of training camp in July.