Steelers' Pouncey on return from 2-game ban: 'The fight was worth it'

As he returns from a two-game suspension, Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey expressed little regret about his involvement in the Nov. 14 brawl between his team and the Cleveland Browns.

"At the end of the day, the fight didn't look good, but the fight was worth it," Pouncey told reporters, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor.

Pouncey was disciplined for kicking Browns defensive end Myles Garrett after Garrett swung his helmet at Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph. Pouncey was originally banned for three games but his suspension was reduced following an appeal.

The veteran lineman also strongly denied Garrett's claim that Rudolph used a racial slur as the Thursday Night Football brawl escalated.

"Come on, man, that's not true at all, but we are past that," Pouncey said with a laugh, per The Athletic's Mark Kaboly. "Honestly, you guys know Mason and you guys have been around him a long time. If he was racist, it would've been exposed."

Pittsburgh won the Week 13 rematch over Cleveland 20-13, moving to 7-5 on the year.