Does Josh Norman have room to blast Sam Bradford?
It’s safe to say that Josh Norman won’t be part of the Sam Bradford cheering section this season, but has he spoken too soon?
Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman joins a long list of players, fans and media personalities who have taken the opportunity to bash Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback Sam Bradford. The Eagles and Redskins, as you know, meet twice a year and every year. The Redskins have taken the measure of the Eagles in the last three contests. Their games are normally venomous, but now you can probably expect a little more fuel added to an ever-consuming fire.
Eagles
In a recent interview for ESPN the Magazine, Norman was quoted as saying “Have you ever once been one of the top 20 quarterbacks in the league? Not that I remember — and you want more money? I can’t wait to play him twice a year.”
The initial reaction of any Eagles’ fan would be to defend “Sammy Sleeves” (as he’s affectionately known around “Eagle Nation” and the city of Philadelphia. In this case, it’s hard to argue the validity of some of Norman’s statement. Many have questioned where Bradford’s stubbornness in contract negotiations and where his belief that he deserves more money comes from. Norman, on the other hand, is a cornerback who was quoted as saying “I’m the best cornerback on Earth”. Another question can be asked about that theory. Where did it come from?
Norman wasn’t really considered to be one of the best in the business by anybody until recently. As a member of the Carolina Panthers, many casual fans and some of the citizens of Charlotte, North Carolina couldn’t have picked Norman out of a lineup. In the much talked about match-up against the New York Giants and Odell Beckham Jr, Norman in the earlier portion of the game, was clearly beaten by several yards by Beckham but was bailed out by a bad throw.
In the same interview, Norman also took a shot at Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. “I don’t know what he was out there for…He was supposed to be an all-world guy, and I shut him down.” What’s left out of that comment is the fact that Norman was rarely left alone in coverage with Thomas. As a matter of fact, In many instances Norman benefited from scheme and safety help over the top.
Thomas responded to Norman in one classic tweet:
https://twitter.com/DemaryiusT/status/768176793945726976
Norman was drafted in the fifth round by the Panthers in 2012. He was benched in week 14 of the 2012 season. He fell behind veterans Captain Munnerlyn, Drayton Florence and rookie Melvin White on the depth chart in 2013. The Panthers drafted a cornerback and signed another in 2014 because they didn’t exactly believe that Norman was what they wanted in the first place. To his credit, he battled all year and would eventually earn the starting position by week eight. Last year he made the NFL Pro Bowl.
Norman enters the 2016 season as a member of the Redskins. The Panthers, this past off-season, rescinded his franchise tag and saw fit to let him go. He’ll turn 29 this season, and there are a lot of questions as to whether the Redskins will use him in the same manner that the Panthers did and whether or not he’s a good fit. One thing, however, is certain. We’ll learn quickly whether Norman was the reason for his own success or whether he benefited, like former Eagles safety Kurt Coleman, from the scheme he played in. Don’t be surprised if the latter statement turns out to be the correct one.
He may even be getting on the nerves of his new team already. Here’s the ESPN First take team discussing that issue:
By the way, he’ll also be facing Beckham twice a year for the next few years as well. The Eagles’ receivers are firmly behind Bradford and will want to make a statement to support their quarterback as well. Circle both of these games on your calendar.