Josh Norman, Odell Beckham rivalry goes through another twist

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Scathing film from last season had not been forgotten by the league. Before Sunday’s rematch between New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman began, each were pulled to the side by referees for a conversation.

Last time the two were on the supple turf at MetLife Stadium, they faded away from playing football and moved into a dock fight filled with head shots, vitriol and a lack of control. The referees in Sunday’s game were not about to let a repeat ensue, telling the two from the start all eyes were on them and yellow flags and exit thumbs were cocked and ready.

“Wow,” Norman said. “The words that they said. I’m trying to figure out where they get them from. … Just coming out there, going with my group of guys, trying to get warmed up. Take me off to the side and him saying we’re not going to make a mockery of the game, wow. That surprised me. A mockery of the game. Hmmph. I don’t know if that was from up top or that was him directly saying it to me. I was like, geez. I’m just playing a sport that God has blessed us with and being as physical as a I can be but within the rules and confines of what they ask us to do. Why it have to be all that, though?”

Norman is too smart to not understand such a warning before the two lined up from each other again. He spent the entire afternoon following the darting Beckham, a bleach blonde lightning bolt who comes out of breaks as well as any receiver in the NFL. In the end, Beckham’s numbers were strong: seven catches for 121 yards. Many of them came against zone coverage. At least three were against Norman in man-to-man, though there are elements of the game plan — such as when Norman was supposed to have help and it did not show up — which are unclear.

Declaring a victor, beyond the referees who flagged each only once, is difficult. But for Norman, a tumultuous 29-27 Washington win was enough to make him giddy.

“We came out and we got a victory in a hostile environment,” Norman said. “Very hostile. And we got a ’W’. Right now, we’re going to ride on that bubble and take it into Week 4.”

Week 3 was the first time Norman trailed the opponent’s lead receiver throughout the game. He stayed away from Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown in Week 1, anchored on his left side throughout while Bashaud Breeland worked against Brown. In Week 2, Norman was put on Dallas’ Dez Bryant late in the game. Against the Giants, who have more receiving depth than both Dallas and Pittsburgh, Norman was assigned to Beckham from the start.

Hints of trouble were there early. When Giants running back Shane Vereen ran the ball in from the 1-yard line for the day’s first score, Beckham jumped in the air, pretending to go up for a fade pass. Norman caught him mid-air, released him and Beckham fell to his behind. He looked at the official, who looked back. No flags.

Late in the first quarter, Beckham put a severe double move on Norman to pop open in the end zone for a split second. Giants quarterback Eli Manning viewed the passing window a tick late, which was enough for Norman to pivot, drive and almost intercept Manning’s pass at the goal line. He was exasperated after not pulling the ball in.

“Heck of a move,” Norman said of Beckham. “Oh, my gosh. That was a freaky move.”

Beckham had issues outside of Norman. Following the first soul-rattling interception of the afternoon from Manning, a one-handed grab at the goal line by substitute cornerback Quinton Dunbar, Beckham had a sideline tantrum. He swung his helmet into a kicking net. The apparatus bounced back and the metal cross bar struck Beckham in the face. After the game, his comments about his sideline petulance, the interaction with the net and subsequent cut on his face were limited.

Asked if he had a meltdown, Beckham said, “I don’t remember.”

Asked if he was in tears at any point, Beckham said, “I don’t remember.”

Asked how he received the scratch on his face, Beckham said, “I don’t remember.”

Asked if why he does not remember those things was because of adrenaline, Beckham said, “I don’t remember.”

Down in his corner of the stadium, Norman was giggling. He touted rookie Su’a Cravens, who made a game-ending interception. He lauded Dunbar. He enjoyed talking about his three-piece, suit, God and good outcomes. Norman’s memories of Sunday will be clear. The Redskins won for the first time this season.

The rematch? It’s on new year’s day. Surely, Beckham will remember then what happened Sept. 25 even if it escaped him in the short-term.