We passed along an NFL Network report last night claiming that the Steelers wanted to trade up for Mike Pouncey, with Mike Tomlin issuing an edict to his personnel department to do what they can to pair Pouncey with his brother Maurkice. Fun story.
Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who has had the Steelers beat locked down for a long time, says it’s not happening.
“Nice, fuzzy story on the NFL web site that the Steelers are doing all they can to get higher in the first round and draft Maurkice Pouncey’s twin, Mike. As nice and fuzzy as Snow White and just as much a fantasy,” Bouchette writes.
Bouchette points out Tomlin doesn’t issue edicts to Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert, who has been in the organization a lot longer than Tomlin and runs the draft. And the Steelers just wouldn’t have the ammo to move up high enough to get Pouncey, even if they’d love to have him on the team.
Jason LaCanfora, who had the report for NFLN, stood his ground on Twitter: “They are most definitely exploring all options for this and Tomlin is the driving force to this.”
Colbert, for his part, was on PFT Live on Tuesday and defended the Pittsburgh offensive line. We still wouldn’t be surprised to see Pittsburgh make a first round pick on the offensive line, but it’s most likely to come at No. 31.
