As the Cleveland Browns celebrated their playoff victory in their locker room, the Pittsburgh Steelers quietly complained that they lost on the sidelines.
Defender Ben Roethlisberger and center Maurkice Pouncey, who have spent the last 11 seasons together, shared a emotional post-game moment on an otherwise empty bench.
But it was not a private one. NFL Films was there to capture every word Inside the NFL.
“I’m sorry, brother,” Roethlisberger told Pouncey. “You’re the only reason I wanted to do this, man … Oh, I feel worse for you than I do. I hate her, man. “
Monday brought speculation as to whether Pouncey played the last game of his career. Although nothing is official yet, the Steelers defeated reporter Dale Lolley to indicate that Pouncey intends to retire.
Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh media after the game: “I love this guy. He is one of the best competitors and teammates I have ever had. It was so much fun to share a football field with him. I hate it ended the way it did. I just wanted to apologize for wanting to win it for him. “
It must seem that Pouncey has decided his mind.