No fines for Steelers' Mitchell and Polamalu

By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

This is one time safety Mike Mitchell did not get fined for a big hit on the playing field, but he still vows to do something about it to ward off future fines.

Add Mitchell to the list of NFL defenders who say they will change their approach to tackling because of the penalties and fines associated with high hits, even when they are legal.

Mitchell, who was fined $40,000 for various infractions last season in Carolina, says he will now shoot for his opponent’s knees when making a tackle. Even though that would seem to carry a bigger risk of career-ending injury to the player with the ball, it is not illegal. Hits to the head are.

“It’s going to make me start hitting everyone in the knees, to be totally honest with you,’’ Mitchell said, after he was penalized for hitting receiver Steve Smith high in the Steelers’ 26-6 loss at Baltimore.

“It’s not a thing where I am trying to play dirty, but I was legitimately aiming for Steve’s waist and he ducked. If you look at the replay, I still truly, strongly believe it was a shoulder to shoulder hit. I think the violence of the hit may be why the flag was thrown.”

Mitchell and Polamalu were each penalized for unnecessary roughness over the span of three plays deep in Steelers territory in the third quarter, which aided the Ravens on a touchdown drive that gave them a 17-6 lead.

Mitchell maintains his hit was legal and the NFL basically confirmed that by not fining him or Polamalu this week. Generally, an unnecessary roughness penalty draws an automatic fine – unless the league judges it not to be an illegal hit when they review it.

READ MORE: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2014/09/18/No-fines-for-Steelers-Mitchell-and-Polamalu/stories/201409180294

I think the whole hitting thing is crap. I'm sure that with all the heat on Goodell right now, fining players isn't on the top of the "to do" list.

I swear I wouldn't want to play defense these days. They are damned if they do, and damned if they don't.

Thanks Roger

Gingerchip wrote:

I swear I wouldn't want to play defense these days.  They are damned if they do, and damned if they don't.

Thanks Roger

Couldn't agree more. There is more contact in my semi-contact flag football league than in the NFL... and we don't wear pads.