Taking out an ad in a local newspaper to thank the town you used to play in isn't anything new for an athlete, but Josh Norman is a different kind of guy. So of course the message in Sunday's Charlotte Observer from the former Panthers' cornerback to the Carolinas was uniquely Norman:

First and foremost I would like to say thank you to my teammates for making me a better person and opening me up to truly care for someone other than myself. Thank you for allowing me to be apart of something very special that I'll never forget. I will always appreciate the stories and memories we've shared together. 

To the coaching and training staff, equipment managers, personnel department, and media team, I want to thank you for your generosity, guidance and more importantly putting up with JNO these past 5 years. Through the valley lows and mountain highs, thank you guys. 

To the fans, what can I say; win the crowd and you win the day. Your support made it easy to wake up each and every morning to grind for the battle ahead. The crowd roar was as deep as the ancient Romans battle drums in the night. Your energy awakened my competitive soul each and every Sunday, so for that I thank you. 

Even though in this moment in time I no longer roam the Queen City skies, always remember, it's not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you. 

DarkKnight24