Josh Norman‘s recent comments about Odell Beckham Jr. and Dez Bryant, as well as the NFC East as a whole is just another desperate cry for attention on his part.
Dec. 20, 2015. A year and a half ago on this date, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman got into their famous “MMA brawl” at MetLife Stadium. In what was a game ultimately distracted by both of their tempers, both Beckham and Norman are now remembered for their antics in that game.However, ever since their run up in the Meadowlands, both players have gone in separate directions, in regards to the situation that transpired and their handling of its aftermath.
On one hand, Beckham has continued to perform at an elite level, posing as an uncontainable threat week in and week out, albeit some drama in-between. On the other hand, Norman has fallen off his pedestal a bit, in regards to his credibility as a player.
After a breakout 2015 campaign with the Panthers, Norman took his talents to the nation’s capital to play with the Washington Redskins — a change of scenery which hasn’t brought about a great deal of success for him. Ever since inking his five-year, $75 million dollar deal with them, the notion that Norman is an elite corner has disintegrated. That’s due to both his play versus some of the league’s best wide receivers, but also his running mouth.
Coming off a year in which he recorded a combined 56 tackles, as well as four interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns), Norman disappointed in 2016. While he did record more combined tackles (63), Norman finished the year with just two interceptions. However, what was the most bothersome about his underwhelming 2016 campaign was his play versus some of the game’s best wide receivers.
When Norman signed his $75 million dollar deal, the Redskins envisioned him coming in and being a force in their secondary — one which could shut down lethal receiving options, but one in particular (Beckham).
When the Redskins made Norman the highest paid corner in the NFL, the obvious takeaway was that he’d be facing Beckham and the Giants twice — now that they’re in the NFC East together. However, despite getting in Beckham’s head the year before, Norman couldn’t contain him in their week three matchup.
Finishing the afternoon with seven receptions, to go along with 121 receiving yards, Beckham had Norman’s number all afternoon. However, this wasn’t the only time Norman struggled versus some of the game’s best wideouts.
In addition to the rival Giants, Norman struggled in the Redskins’ week two affair with the Dallas Cowboys when he was matched up against Dez Bryant. Finishing the afternoon with seven receptions, to go along with 102 total yards, Bryant had his way with Norman. Steelers’ wideout Antonio Brown also put up 126 yards and two touchdowns on him. Bryant though, unlike Brown, had another incident with Norman later on in the season on Thanksgiving day.
In their Thanksgiving day affair, Norman and Bryant had an altercation of their own. These run-ins occurred after passing downs, but also after the game where they budded heads.
While Bryant finished the afternoon with just 72 total yards, the NFL world began to see that maybe Beckham wasn’t as insane as they first thought, given Norman’s game long feud and postgame run-in with Bryant. However, despite all of his antics in the last two seasons, as well as his inability to truly serve as a lockdown corner, Norman has officially made it clear that he’s a player who’s desperate for attention.
Over the course of the last few days, Norman has made some bitter and controversial comments regarding both Beckham and Bryant — ones which are embarrassing cries for attention. In an interview with Bleacher Report, Norman made his remarks about the two NFC East receivers, as well as the division as a whole.
When his history with Beckham was brought to the table, Norman gave his take on the Giant wideout as a player.
“He tries to be a tough guy. He tries to put on this persona which he’s not. Because he’s always going to have his head on a swivel. Always. Always when we play each other. He’s scary like that. He does things that he normally wouldn’t do because of all the pressure and added hype that he has to put on his whole persona. He’s not this guy. If you go back and watch the games in which we play compared to the games we don’t play each other, he’s a totally different guy” Norman explained.
When asked about the Cowboy wideout, Norman accused Bryant of trying to be a “tough guy”.
He’s trying to be a tough guy and that’s not him. That’s not how you play ball. The media really created this “talk trash” with me. I don’t really talk to these guys. They’re talking to themselves. I just play them. And then they get a little snippet of me having a conversation with them and blast it on ESPN. So now when I go up against people, the coaches tell them: “Don’t talk to Josh! He’ll get in your head!” My coaches think I have this magic wand and just automatically make these people do something crazy” said Norman.
Norman was then later asked about what the NFC would be like this year and had quite the controversial response.
“Trust me when I tell you, it’s going to be bad blood this year. You think the NFC East didn’t like each other before? This year right here? There’s going to be a lot of fines and maybe some suspensions. I’m going to be honest with you: This s*** is going to get really ugly. Because I do have a safety that don’t give a f*** and I definitely don’t. And I know they don’t have that many people on the offense who do on their side” Norman preached.
When it comes to this opinion on Beckham and Bryant, Norman appears to have no remorse when it comes to giving his opinion on the two; he clearly doesn’t like them. While there’s nothing wrong with his hatred for the two, he’s going too far when he describes what this upcoming year will bring.
By essentially threatening Beckham, Bryant and the rest of the division, Norman is making himself look even worse, but is also showing that he’s desperate for attention.
Given his inability to let his feud with Beckham and Bryant go, Norman is showcasing his immaturity, as well as his inability to let the past go.
Another key thing to remember when it comes to Norman’s threats and criticism is that he’s not exactly the player he thinks he is. Is Norman an above average corner and an important piece to the Redskins’ secondary? Yes, but ever since his departure from Carolina, Norman has shown how he’s unable to lock down opposing team’s top receivers, and also how he’s not so innocent for the antics he’s partaken in over the last couple of seasons.
The fact that Norman would continue to make foolish remarks and actions towards both Beckham and Bryant show how immature Norman is. Him doing so also shows very clearly how he’s desperate for attention, given he’s not one of the game’s best true corners – embarrassing on his end.
[graphiq id=”10SCP7pcSSF” title=”Josh Norman Defensive Numbers in 2016″ width=”600″ height=”528″ url=”https://sw.graphiq.com/w/10SCP7pcSSF” frozen=”true”]
