CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Panthers free safety Mike Mitchell says he's being "targeted" by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after receiving his fifth fine of the season from the league office.
Mitchell was fined $7,875 last week for taunting after he shovedRams quarterback Sam Bradford out of bounds during a game on Oct. 20. Bradford suffered a season-ending knee injury on the play.
Mitchell wasn't penalized on the play for the hit or for taunting.
He says he only got fined because a big-name quarterback was involved.
Mitchell says, "I'm being targeted because I play football physical, but I'm not out here cheap-shoting guys and doing dirty plays like I've seen people from Detroit do."
Mitchell says he's been fined more than 10 times by Goodell since coming into the league in 2009.
Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press