Steelers safety Mike Mitchell was fined $48,620 for his low hit Sunday on Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith. The hit occurred in the fourth quarter of the Steelers' 19-13 victory at Arrowhead Stadium.
Mitchell did not speak with reporters Thursday afternoon, but Ramon Foster, the Steelers' player rep for the NFL players' association, was not surprised by the fine or the amount. He said Mitchell will appeal the fine and will have a call with the NFL later this week or early next week to determine if his fine will be reduced.
Video replays of the play show Mitchell was pushed into Smith by teammate Anthony Chickillo. Mitchell defended himself after the game and again on Monday, disputing he intentionally went low on Smith.
"I'm not a dirty player, I'm not out here trying to take his legs out," Mitchell said Monday. "It's just one of those things you don't want to see in a football game. So unfortunate that it happened because it ended up flipping momentum on the field in a significant way. We were in dominant control of that football game, and really before that."
Smith was upset with Mitchell on the field and talked about the play after the game.
"I thought it was pretty late," Smith said. "I mean, when you get hit in the back of your knee like that I didn't understand how that happened. Certainly, guys falling, rushing the quarterback I get hit when it's happening from the front and guys are trying hard. That one to me just seemed so weird to get hit that low coming from behind."
Foster said the large amount of the fine likely isn't due to Mitchell being a repeat offender because he hadn't received a fine in a few years. He said the amount likely was determined because the hit appeared to be bad.
