Maurkice Pouncey apologizes for wearing pro-Aaron Hernandez hat

Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey apologized Monday after photos surfaced of him and his twin brother, Mike Pouncey of the Miami Dolphins, wearing caps in apparent support of murder suspect Aaron Hernandez, their former college teammate at Florida.

“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,” he tweeted. “I apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions.”

Hernandez, a former tight end for the New England Patriots, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Odin Lloyd last month. If convicted, he could receive life in prison.

The Pouncey brothers were members of the same Florida recruiting class as Hernandez, who was also the college roommate of Mike Pouncey.

Photos of the twins out and about wearing “Free Hernandez” hats appeared on Twitter last week.

Neither the Steelers nor Dolphins have commented on the photos.

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