Steelers' Mike Mitchell to undergo groin surgery, won't make excuses

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Mike Mitchell revealed he will require surgery to repair a torn groin muscle, but downplayed the impact the injury had on his on-field performance.

Mitchell played through the injury all season and was relatively disappointing in his first year with the Steelers. 

"If you have to get it surgically repaired, it's pretty (bad)," Mitchell told Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I am not trying to make this a story. Sometimes I have to be able to talk to you (reporters) like human beings."

Mitchell finished near the top of the Steelers' defense in total tackles, but struggled in coverage for much of the year. With veteran Troy Polamalu also turning in a sub-par performance this season, the Steelers could look to upgrade at safety in the offseason.