Last offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers did something that’s not very common for the Rooney family, and that’s dip their toes into the free agent pool, when they signed safety Mike Mitchell to a 5-year/$25 million deal.
On paper, the signing looked good, as it added an instant replacement for vacated starter and longtime fan favorite, Ryan Clark. Coming off an impressive 2013 campaign with the Carolina Panthers in which he posted 66 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 4 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles, he looked as if he was rounding into form, resembling his oft-maligned second round draft choice status back in 2009 by the Oakland Raiders.