NORMAN VS. BRYANT

 

 

It’s always risky trying to compare a player to Steve Smith but hear me out for a second.

Cornerback Josh Norman:

–Took a non-traditional route from high school to the pros.

–Has an enormous chip on his shoulder.

–Is the most quotable Panther.

–Can take his fiery game to another level when someone starts yapping at him.

Saving a deeper Smith/Norman comparison for another day, what’s interesting about Thursday’s pregame trash talk is it was sort of like passing notes.

According to Norman, Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant said a few things to the Panthers’ younger cornerbacks when they were warming up and Norman was in the locker room getting stretched out. Those things were apparently about Norman, who didn’t need any extra motivation. But he got some.

“He shouldn’t have started with my DBs. He started pregame to come at them, and the stuff that he was talking was outrageous. They came back and told me. I put my thinking cap on and I went to work. I went to a dark place. I went to the bat cave. I went ‘Dark Knight’ on him,” Norman said, before tossing in another movie reference.

“He took me to a ‘300’ place. I ended up watching that. I was gonna save that until later in the season, but it had to come out today because of the magnitude of the disrespect. It was unbelievable.”

Bryant finished with two catches for 26 yards, with just one of those receptions coming against Norman for a gain of 6 yards. Bryant was also held out of the end zone, unlike what happened last week against the Dolphins.

“(Miami’s) Brent Grimes was obviously the best corner in the league. (Bryant) got his jersey. And he was four (catches) for 45 (yards) with a touchdown,” Norman said.

“So I don’t know if he’s going to want my jersey now. Maybe I’ll give it to him.”