Nov 4, 2015 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Steelers safety Mike Mitchell has no regrets regarding his big hit Sunday on Marvin Jones that left the Cincinnati wide receiver on the Heinz Field turf for several moments and out of the game for a period of time.

Given what he now knows, Mitchell wishes he would have hit Jones differently.

“I watched Vontaze Burfict hurt Le’Veon Bell, jump up screaming and run to his bench,” Mitchell said Wednesday. “I wish I would have went low.”

It might sound harsh or even cheap, but Mitchell doesn’t care.

He plays a tough game meant for hard men.

“We’re not choir boys. It’s real. When you see that, it’s real,” Mitchell said. “It’s not Boy Scouts.”

But we are seeing a kinder, gentler Mitchell for the Steelers (4-4), who host the Oakland Raiders (4-3) Sunday at Heinz Field.

Like most safeties, he adjusted his game to play under the new NFL rules that have negated many, but not all, of the big hits that used to be prevalent in the league.

Following the game, Jones called Mitchell, “fake tough.”

“I didn’t know he made the statement about me being ‘fake tough.’ It’s actually fortunate that I’m playing a lot smarter than I used to,” said Mitchell, who also said he’s excited to play against the team that drafted him, the Oakland Raiders, for the first time.

“That easily could have been a face shot or a knee shot and he probably would have been out a lot longer. I thought it was a perfectly legal hit. I just got up and celebrated with my sideline. I didn’t know the guy was hurt. You can kind of feel it and hear it when you stick a guy good. I knew I had a good, clean hit. That’s a good one.”

The celebration, with Mitchell running to the Steelers’ sideline and mimicking digging a hole – presumably in which to bury Jones – drew the wrath of the Bengals.

Two plays later, Mitchell was penalized for getting in the face of Cincinnati wide receiver A.J. Green after the Steelers made a third-down stop.

Mitchell said there was plenty of talking back and forth between the Steelers’ defense and Cincinnati’s offensive players.

Green contended that Mitchell told him that he was next for a big hit. Mitchell didn’t deny the charge.

“Yeah, that happens,” Mitchell said. “That was one of the multiple conversations we were having.”

This season, Mitchell has let his play do his talking.

He had a disappointing 2014 season – his first in Pittsburgh after signing a 5-year, $25-million contract as a free agent – playing through two torn groin muscles.

But he’s been healthy and active in the secondary this season. He and cornerback Antwon Blake lead the team with two interceptions each and his 39 tackles are third on the team. He also has four pass defenses, one fumble forced and one fumble recovery.

More importantly, he’s been solid as a run defender.

Perhaps that’s why head coach Mike Tomlin, while unhappy in general about the Steelers’ 10 penalties against the Bengals, is quick to defend his highly emotional free safety.

“He didn’t stand over an injured player, demine him or show any disrespect in any way,” Tomlin said of Mitchell’s hit on Jones. “He was excited about a positive play he made for us. He made a conscious decision to really get away from the man. No, I have no issues with what he did.”

Mitchell knows he has to walk the line between being a physical presence in the secondary and an emotional sparkplug, and being a distraction or negative influence.

“What’s overly emotional? When you hurt your team? Yes, then I guess there’s a line for it,” Mitchell said. “I’m just a guy that plays passionate. If I was wearing a suit, maybe my behavior would be a little different. I’m out there to do a job that’s very physical and very violent. That is my mindset.”

The Steelers signed cornerback Doran Grant, their fourth-round draft pick this year, off the practice squad and released quarterback/wide receiver Tyler Murphy. … Wide receivers Markus Wheaton (ankle) and Martavis Bryant (illness), linebacker Terence Garvin (knee) and tight end Matt Spaeth (knee) did not practice Wednesday. … Defensive end Stephon Tuitt (knee) and safety Will Allen (ankle) each were limited.