Mike Pouncey Calls Aaron Hernandez a 'Brother' in Statement on TE's Death

Mike Pouncey suited up alongside Aaron Hernandez with the Florida Gators, and the Miami Dolphins center referred to the former New England Patriots tight end as a "brother" in a statement regarding his death Wednesday. 

"To my friend my brother! Through thick and thin right or wrong we never left each other's side," Pouncey wrote on Instagram. "Today my heart hurts as I got the worse news I could have imagined. It was just a day ago we shared our last convo. I will forever miss you and love you bro. we will meet again rest easy!"

According to TMZ Sports, Pouncey had talked to Hernandez "several times during his time in lockup."

Wednesday morning, the Massachusetts Department of Corrections released a statement confirming Hernandez died by suicide, according to ESPN's Michele Steele. 

Hernandez, 27, had been serving a life sentence in prison without opportunity for parole after his 2015 conviction for killing semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd in 2013.