PITTSBURGH -- For a player who believed he was being targeted by the NFL after being fined five times last season, new Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Mike Mitchell has transformed his attitude and his style of play. "Ive adjusted to the new rules changes," Mitchell said Thursday, "and just looked forward to playing clean football and not getting fined this year." After four seasons with the Oakland Raiders and one with the Carolina Panthers, Mitchell is expected to earn a starting role in the Steelers secondary this season. Though Mitchell might have toned down his heavy-hitting ways, he still plans to make an immediate impact in due to his ball-hawking skills. The Steelers had just 10 interceptions last year, 29th in the NFL, while Mitchell had four picks in one season with Carolina. "I guess I made some big plays, but that was just me sticking my toe in the water," Mitchell said. "I expect to make even bigger and better plays this year, and I have a great guy to learn from in Troy Polamalu. . I dont know if Ill be jumping over the centre, but I do plan on taking the ball away." Thats been a major issue in recent years for the Steelers, who havent created more than 20 turnovers in a season since 2010 even as they have remained near the top of the league in yards allowed. Mitchell isnt wasting any time getting settled during the first organized team activities. "I had a great break on a ball today and should have picked it, but A.B. (Antonio Brown) did a good job getting his hands up there," Mitchell said. "I should have brought it down. . Shamarko (Thomas) is leading the way with one pick, but I should have had one, too." Thomas, a fourth-round pick last year, has not been able to get on the field often enough to make the kind of splash plays the team so desperately needs, but expects to have more opportunities this season. "Sure, I want to do a lot more this year," Thomas said. "I have three veteran safeties to learn from in Troy, Mike and Will Allen. Mike, he brings a lot of athleticism to the group, and hes made some great reads on the ball." Mitchell has played for three teams in three seasons, but the six-year NFL veteran believes there are some good points to go with the bad ones. "Its bad, because Ive had to leave some good friends behind," said Mitchell, who turns 27 next month. "But its good, because Ive been able to have a lot of different experiences, playing for different coaches and different schemes. Thats why this transition . Coach (Dick) LeBeaus defence isnt easy, but Ive actually picked it up fairly well." Mitchell believes playing in so many different defensive systems may actually be to his advantage. "In Oakland, I felt like I played for three different teams in four years, because we were always changing head coaches," Mitchell said. "So, learning a new scheme is nothing thats too different for me. I think that Ive handled it well. (And) I made a couple plays this week, but theres many more to be made." NOTES: The Steelers signed CB Shaquille Richardson from Arizona, their fifth-round pick, and have five of nine draft choices under contract. ... The top four picks are still unsigned, though they should come into the fold soon. Pittsburgh will free up $8 million in cap space when the March release of linebacker LaMarr Woodley officially hits the books. ... The club signed two players Thursday and released two. They signed rookie free agent offensive lineman Emmanuel McCray and claimed cornerback Deion Belue off waivers from the Miami Dolphins. ... To make room on the roster, the Steelers released offensive linemen Nik Embernate and Kaycee Ike. Cesar Geronimo Jersey . 15-23, the Ottawa Senators will by hoping to avoid going five straight games without a victory for the first time since a 0-3-2 drought from Oct. Custom Astros Jersey China .Pete Morelli said the back judge threw a flag on Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens on a pass to Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew in Dallas 24-20 wild-card win Sunday. But the head linesman said there wasnt enough contact and that Hitchens was face-guarding, which isnt a penalty in the NFL. http://www.customastrosjersey.com/custom...arge-1356y.html. But defending champion Elena Vesnina of Russia held off a strong challenge to beat Shuai Peng of China 6-3, 6-4, and there was another hard-fought victory for 2012 runner-up Angelique Kerber of Germany, who defeated Alison Riske of the United States 7-6 (6), 6-4. Chris Devenski Jersey . In a pregame tribute commemorating his final contest at Coors Field on Wednesday night, Helton caught the ceremonial first pitch from his daughter with his wife, younger daughter and good friend Peyton Manning watching from the field. Roy Oswalt Jersey . The Heat centre scored 10 of his 30 points early in the first quarter to silence the Toronto fans as Miami defeated the Raptors 113-101 on Friday night.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Demaryius Thomas stood silently at his locker, stumped.He just couldnt recall the last time the Denver Broncos lost a road game in the AFC West.Nope, he said finally. It wasnt with Peyton.That much he knew.The Broncos have found rarified air away from the Mile High City. Their last defeat in the division at an opponents stadium came on Dec. 19, 2010, when they lost to Oakland 39-23 in Tim Tebows first career start.That was a long time ago, Thomas said.On Sunday, the Broncos (10-3) will go for their NFL record-tying 12th straight divisional road win when they visit the San Diego Chargers (8-5).Since the merger, the San Francisco 49ers from 1987-90 are the only ones who have won 12 in a row away from home in their division.Thats huge, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said. I didnt even know that.For good reason: coach John Fox, whose Carolina Panthers won 10 consecutive divisional road games from 2004-07, has his team dialed in on Philip Rivers, not any records.Were still in our journey and right now all our focus is on the San Diego Chargers, Fox said. What that brings is kind of what it brings.A victory Sunday would bring the Broncos their fourth straight AFC West title and also keep the heat on the New England Patriots for home-field advantage in the playoffs.Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders admitted hes not just focused on the Chargers but also on the Patriots.I would be lying to you guys to say, Yeah, were only worried about ourselves right now, which we are. But obviously we want home-field advantage and I know the whole league is watching it also, Sanders said.What makes the Broncos streak noteworthy is that its encompassed both the offence run by Tebow in 2011 and the one engineered by Peyton Manning since 2012.OK, the Raiders havent had a winning record since 2002. But the Chargers and Chiefs crashed the playoff partty last year as wild cards and both are in the post-season hunt again.ddddddddddddOur divisions always tough every year, Harris said. Its getting better, too. With Derek Carr, the Raiders are only going to get better.The Broncos are hoping to get two sidelined playmakers back for Sundays showdown. Linebacker Danny Trevathan, whos had two separate left leg fractures, is eligible to return from IR, and tight end Julius Thomas said hes optimistic hell return from a sprained left ankle thats kept him out almost a month.Without the matchup nightmare that Thomas presents for defences, Manning has been a mere mortal as the Broncos focused on getting their ground game going. They went from passing the ball 64 per cent of the time through the first 10 games to throwing it only 45 per cent over the last three weeks.Mannings touchdown streak ended at 51 games last weekend, leading football fans and fantasy owners to worry that age is catching up to the 38-year-old QB.Its comical to me, offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase said. We heard the same thing about (Tom) Brady (in September) and hes been ripping the league apart since then. You never doubt players of this calibre, I know that. Im pretty sure every defensive co-ordinator is not thinking that.Notes: Sanders was blasted on back-to-back plays Sunday by Bills safeties Duke Williams and Aaron Williams, who went for the big hit rather than the ball. Sanders said one of them — he thinks it was Aaron Williams — even admitted to him that they were trying to knock him from the game. But thats not that big of a deal, I hear it all the time, Sanders said, adding, I enjoy it on Sundays but during the week its kind of painful.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton ' ' '