W hile many wanted to write off Ron Rivera after two non-winning seasons, things started to click his third year. Now the coach is giving one of his players a similar opportunity.

Cornerback Josh Norman’s first two years with the Panthers were largely a disappointment, but he has a third chance to prove the light can come on, and stay on.

Norman has spent most of his time with the second team during Carolina’s current offseason workouts. But the guys ahead of him — free agent signee Antoine Cason and 2013 undrafted free agent Melvin White — aren’t necessarily guaranteed starting spots come Week 1.

The Panthers plan to give Norman a long look through training camp, and even if he doesn’t move up the depth chart, a roster spot is his to lose.

“I feel good. I feel loose. I feel like my mentality is all there,” Norman told BBR Monday. “I’ve always had it there, but it’s now all coming together. Everything’s falling into place.”

Of course, it appeared things had fallen into place during each of his first two seasons.

A fifth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina, Norman started his first 12 games as a rookie. But after a rough outing against the Chiefs, he was benched the final four games.

Last preseason, he got folks all excited again when he picked off a whopping four interceptions. Then came the regular season.

Norman played a healthy 101 defensive snaps the first two weeks. The 101st sent him back into the coaches’ doghouse.

---

---

With the Panthers clinging to a lead in Buffalo, Norman didn’t make a switch in coverage, leaving Bills’ receiver Stevie Johnson wide open for a game-winning touchdown with two seconds left.

Norman played two defensive snaps the rest of the year. He was inactive for the Panthers’ final five games, including the playoff loss to the 49ers.

When asked about his first two years, Norman said of the ups, “That’s the tip of the iceberg. That’s just flashes of what’s there.” And of the downs, “It’s year three, so it’s got to be better than the first two.”

After next week’s minicamp, and before he tries to make a charge at a starting job during training camp, Norman’s leaving the country. He’s going to South America at the end of the month to check two items off his bucket list.

“I’ve always wanted to go to Brazil, and I like soccer,” Norman said. “The World Cup in the same place I wanted to go. There’s no way I wasn’t going to do that.”

Like many, Norman’s interest in soccer grew after he became addicted to FIFA video games. He has plans to attend three matches at the World Cup, and he admitted the closer it gets, the more excited he gets.

“You’ve got to think about it. It’s billions and billions. The whole world’s watching,” Norman said, sounding very much like a kid in the middle of December.

When he returns to work in July, it’ll be in front of a much smaller audience. But those practices in Spartanburg will go a long way in determining how much rope Norman will get in his third — and likely last — chance in Carolina.

---

---

BBR NUGGETS

• Alex Marvez throws some love toward Byron Bell. — Fox Sports 1
• Does this surprise anyone? — NFL.com
• Cam Newton doesn’t like going out of bounds. — Football Outsiders
• Cam the soccer fan. — ESPN/YouTube
• Luke Kuechly continues to slowly show his personality. — Twitter
• Mike Tolbert as Charles Barkley. — Instagram
• Graham Gano as Graham Gano. — Instagram
• Former Panthers’ receiver David Gettis resurfaces. — ProFootballTalk
• David Steele ranks NFL head coaches. — Sporting News
• In the Greensboro area? The Panthers Road Show heads your way Friday. — WFMY

COMING UP

This is the final week of OTAs, and Wednesday is the third time media will be allowed to watch. We’ll again provide analysis, pictures and videos throughout the day.

---

---