Banned from the Pittsburgh Steelers practice facility during his NFL-imposed suspension, Maurkice Pouncey sought other, lower-profile venues to keep in shape over the past 2 ½ weeks.

“I was at Planet Fitness and LA Fitness running and talking to people,” the All-Pro center said Wednesday, the day he returned to UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “So it was awesome.”

As a 304-pound man on the treadmill, Pouncey was easily recognizable to the businesspeople hopping on ellipticals and others heading to their spinning class.

And many of them had friendly words for Pouncey considering his actions in the waning seconds of Cleveland’s 21-7 win Nov. 14. Pouncey punched and kicked the Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett in response to Garrett removing the helmet of Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and slamming it off Rudolph’s head.

“Honestly,” Pouncey said, “there’s some good people in Pittsburgh.

“A couple of them said, ‘Add another kick, add another punch,’ but it was just funny to hear people. Everywhere I go, too, everyone goes like this,” Pouncey said, miming, “they put their fists up.”

Though he’s down $50,000 in fine money and two game checks, Pouncey’s Q-Rating among Steelers Nation might never be higher. The same, too, could be said for his standing among teammates.

“Gosh, Pouncey, I mean, he’s the ultimate teammate,” new starting quarterback Devlin Hodges said. “It’s great to have him back.”

With B.J. Finney starting in Pouncey’s place, the Steelers won the past two games, including Sunday’s rematch with the Browns, when several Steelers players wore custom black “Free Pouncey” sweatshirts before and after the game.

Pouncey watched the game from home, but the team FaceTimed with him from the locker room during a victory celebration in which they told Pouncey he would receive the game ball.

Fellow team captain Cameron Heyward delivered the ball to Pouncey’s house.

“I had offered to (coach Mike Tomlin), said I would drop it off,” Heyward said.

“That dude had to be away these past two weeks. We know Finney has done a great job, but (Pouncey) is a leader for a reason, and we missed having him out there.”

AE CLEVELAND, PITTSBURGH STARTED IT, POUNCEY FINISHED IT! pic.twitter.com/YC2h1BO3pf

— SteelersBrazil ?? (@SteelersBrazil) December 1, 2019

Pouncey was activated by the Steelers on Monday, and on Wednesday was removed from the exempt/commissioner permission list.

“I feel like this is the beginning of the year. I’ve got a lot of energy,” Pouncey said.

Teammates said he showed it during an indoor afternoon practice.

“He’s a guy that kind of raises the whole tide of everybody,” guard David DeCastro said. “He just brings attitude, the energy. You may not have it, but he brings it so you don’t really have a choice. So it’s just great to have him back.”

Pouncey joked, “They didn’t need me” about his teammates who won twice without him, improving Finney’s career record as a starter to 11-1.

But Pouncey’s value to the Steelers was exhibited by his defense of Rudolph.

“No regrets,” Pouncey told reporters, “but I’ve moved on now. Everyone had to pay their fines, everyone had to do their due diligence. The money was worth it, trust me.”

“My teammates know I ride with (them) no matter what,” Pouncey said. “A lot of great came out of (the incident).”

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