Trying to explain the life of a famous person who smashes his body around for a living, Josh Norman settled on an interplanetary metaphor.
“It’s like we live on Mars, man,” Norman said.
The combustible Norman was relaxed then, back in the weeks just before the season, a time of relative calm. He threatened and hinted about what was to come, saying his aggressive behavior in deed and mouth might be amplified during his first season as the Washington Redskins $50 million cornerback.
Eleven games into the season, Norman has delivered on all facets.
The Redskins knew they were in for challenges and benefits with Norman, a man who has his own public relations team and stays after practice for extra work each day. When the news stumbled out that he would join Fox Sports as a pregame commenter on Sundays, Redskins coach Jay Gruden at first said he “had no idea” what a reporter was asking about. Norman later said the organization was aware. Around the same time, Norman was exchanging social media jabs with Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson. Peterson had been grumbling about Norman’s player ranking in a video game. Norman responded, then commented further.
That started a season filled with quarrels between Norman and others. From Peterson, he moved his anger toward the NFL. The league had randomly selected Norman to be drug tested following the Redskins’ Week 2 loss against the Dallas Cowboys. Norman was furious in the locker room, enraged that the league was asking him to take the test immediately after draining his body on the field.
“I don’t understand that,” Norman said then. “It’s crazy. I don’t have anything left in the tank, yet they want you to drug test. I don’t get it. Shoot, we can’t tomorrow? What’s a day going to do?”
Asked for comment, a league spokesperson pointed out that testing times are collectively bargained. From section 3.2 of the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances for 2016:
“Urine specimens may be collected on any day of the week. The collection of blood specimens is prohibited on game days unless the player’s day off is scheduled for the day following a game day, in which case blood collections may occur following the conclusion of the game.”
The following week was a rematch with New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., whom Norman almost fought with in 2015 when the two played. Then, at the end of October, Norman announced after a game that field judge Brad Freeman, who worked the Redskins’ tie with the Cincinnati Bengals in London, “sucked.” He was fined $25,000 for the comment. Gruden defended Norman afterward.
“Josh is his own man, and he really speaks his mind, and he felt strongly about the way he felt, and he put it out there,” Gruden said. “He was frustrated after the game. It’s one thing to have one or two calls, but he had quite a few on him that could have gone either way, quite frankly.
“It’s going to be hard to put a filter on Josh. He’s very passionate about the game. He’s a great player. I love his energy. I love what he brings to this football team. He’s one of the greatest competitors on this team that I’ve seen in a long time, and I will not take that away from him.”
As the rest of the secondary has floundered this season, Norman has maintained his reputation as one of the league’s best cornerbacks. Washington defensive coordinator Joe Barry was initially reticent to have Norman follow the opposition’s top receiver, but gave in and began using the strategy after watching Norman’s counterpart Bashaud Breeland struggle against the league’s top pass-catchers. That has forced teams to move receivers into the slot in order for them to avoid Norman, who does not cover them from that position.
Norman has just one interception — he’s had multiple pass breakups he felt should have been interceptions — but his two forced fumbles and 11 passes defended are in line with his starring season from a year ago with the Carolina Panthers. Then, Norman was part of the league’s sixth-ranked defense in yardage allowed. This season, he’s working with a unit that is ranked 25th in total yards.
“I’d say [the lack of interceptions is] frustrating because I haven’t been able to do more than I feel like I am doing,” Norman said.
Norman’s belligerent chatter and play crested Thanksgiving Day against the Cowboys. He scuffled with Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant on the field following the end of the game. Later, Norman used a gun metaphor when explaining his view of the tussle with Bryant, saying the Cowboys reciever told him, “Where I’m from, we unload the clip.” Bryant barked to television cameras that the Redskins needed to get their money back, an insult Norman had thrown in his direction in 2015. Monday, Norman pushed aside the combative words.
“It really wasn’t a situation,” Norman said. “It’s a game. We lost, they won, that was it.”
Washington was aware of what was coming when it signed a player one Redskins teammate smiled about and called a “honey-baked ham” because of Norman’s love of the spotlight. Norman’s aggressive spirit brought him to this point. It also launches him into the tumult of squabbles far and wide. What has he learned from all of them?
“Nothing,” Norman said. “Trolls and clowns. Trolls and clowns. When you’re at the top, everybody gun for you, so that’s what happens.”
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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