Champ Bailey knows all about getting paid. The future Hall of Fame cornerback earned two contracts that at the time made him the highest-paid player at his position.
After retiring in October 2014, Bailey joined FOX NFL Kickoff this fall. His assignment this week – head to Charlotte and find out more about Carolina Panthers corner Josh Norman. Before their chat, Bailey told BBR he's already seen enough to become a believer.
"No doubt," Bailey said when asked if Norman deserved a big payday. "If it just started this year, then I'd be reluctant, I'd say show me more. But this goes back into last year.
"To have a whole offseason to prepare and come out and match up against the best guys and hold your own and still be rated the top corner in the game? No doubt, he should be paid as the top corner in the game."
If the graders at Pro Football Focus were determining salaries, it'd be a questionable practice. But that's high praise from Bailey, one of the best cornerbacks ever, a guy who made 12 Pro Bowls, the most for a defensive back. It took Norman four seasons, but he appears a lock for his first.
"You see that from a player sometimes. A light just goes on and it's like damn, this is what it takes," Bailey said. "He's excelling because he has a lot of confidence, he's playing within the scheme and he's understanding football."
Those aren't the only reasons for Norman's rise, of course.
"His instincts are ridiculous," Bailey added. "You don't play Cover 3 and then jump routes like he does. You don't just do that without film study or without confidence.
"And you see deep balls where he looks like he's beat, but that's all part of his setup. People don't understand it, but this guy is long and athletic, and he knows it, so he wants you to throw the ball."
On the surface, Bailey and Norman are distinct personalities. One's soft-spoken and the other is ... JNo. But like most great corners, they each have an ability to flip a switch.
"When you turned the lights on, I was a different guy. Real laid back off the field; on the field I'm an animal," Bailey said.
But did you ever believe you're a movie character?
"No. He's a little more dramatic like that, but I appreciate that," Bailey said. "I like guys who get out there and have fun, talk a little trash, and then can back it up. That's the most important thing that he's out there balling."
And it's every week.
When quarterbacks began to realize throwing Norman's way was a bad idea, they stopped. On Monday, Andrew Luck was the first to challenge Norman downfield in his past three games. Matched up for most of the night with T.Y. Hilton, Norman held the Colts' top wideout to a season-low one reception for 15 yards.
The scary part for offenses – and some owner's future checkbook – is Norman has room to improve.
"There's no doubt that he can get better. He just needs to stay healthy, stay on the grind, keep his nose down," Bailey said. "Don't read the headlines and do the work and it will pay off."
Literally.
| No. 1 WRs vs. CAR | Player | Rec | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAX | Allen Robinson | 1 | 27 | 0 |
| HOU | DeAndre Hopkins | 5 | 53 | 0 |
| NO | Brandin Cooks | 7 | 79 | 0 |
| TB | Mike Evans | 3 | 32 | 0 |
| SEA | Doug Baldwin | 3 | 23 | 0 |
| PHI | Jordan Matthews | 3 | 14 | 0 |
| IND | T.Y. Hilton | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 23 | 243 | 0 |