For nearly two full seasons now, Josh Norman has caused plenty of disagreements.
He’s one of, if not the best cornerback in football.
Or that’s just a mirage created by zone defenses.
The Carolina Panthers’ sudden decision to release their Pro Bowl corner from his franchise tag this spring was inexcusable.
Or he bricked by playing hardball.
There is one thing that’s impossible to dispute, though.
“I think he’s a person that thrives on attention,” Norman’s former teammate Cam Newton said Wednesday ahead of their Monday night matchup in Washington.
To be clear, that wasn’t a knock from the Panthers’ quarterback.
“I think you have to have that when you get into the professional realm of football because you play in front of 70, 60, 80 thousand,” Newton continued. “Josh is a person that challenged me daily because of that competitive mentality.”
By now, it’s no secret that Norman, once a drama major at Coastal Carolina, craves competition – and the spotlight that often comes with it. So does Newton. That’s a reason why their 2015 training camp scuffle wasn’t completely surprising. Sure, it was odd seeing a guy in a red jersey involved, but that can happen when you put two alpha males on the field under the hot sun of Spartanburg, SC.
Ironically, both players have said that moment made them closer. But Newton wasn’t in the mood to merge into that part of memory lane.
“That’s irrelevant right now,” he said. “I gain nothing, you gain nothing besides a meaty story leading up into it. A week after this, nobody will remember it. So next question.”
OK, how about this – because you and Josh competed in everything from cards to video games to pickup basketball, will you be tempted to throw his way Monday night?
“It just depends,” Newton replied. “Knowing me and Josh, it’s a highly likelihood it’ll be there. But I have to control that beast.”
In 12 games this year, Newton has thrown nine interceptions, one fewer than he had in 16 games during his MVP-winning 2015. But Norman has just one interception for the first team he’s played for outside the Carolinas.
The weekend before the Panthers rescinded Norman’s franchise tag, he joined Newton in Atlanta for a couple days of workouts with some hoops on the side. Two days later, the budding buddies were no longer teammates.
“I got all respect and love for Josh,” Newton said. “That’s a relationship that will go further than football.”
But that doesn’t mean the alpha dogs won’t again bare their teeth.
“Josh is an outstanding player,” Newton said. “We know that we understand that and it’s going to be an added bonus as far as emotions come Monday night.”