Josh Norman is SI's Unsung Hero of the Week

[maddog1945]

What a defense we have!

Can't even dream of him not being apart of it.

Gotta sign him!!!!!

[zacka77ack]

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller did a feature on Josh yesterday, as well.

Meet the NFL's Next Great Shutdown Corner Flying Under Everyone's Radar

[Paa Langfart]

I do not see us signing him for a long term contract.  

[Khyber53]

If he wants the big, big, big bucks, it's going to be hard for us to keep him. Anything north of $8 million per year will probably see him following the Richard Marshalls and Captain Munnerlyns to greener pastures. Those guys had their moments in the sun with us, and then didn't show up so well once they got away from our system.

Norman looks great now, but those guys did too once upon a time.

[Seltzer]

The biggest issue with Norman is going to be his age.  Norman turns 28 in December.  He is certainly at his prime now, but how many years can he continue to produce like this and could he replicate his production in a different scheme (Byron Maxwell is looking like a massive FA bust right now).  CB's are probably only second to RB's in how fast their production falls off once it starts.

With the way Gettleman rolls, I could see him franchising Norman next year, drafting a replacement to groom, and letting him walk in 2017.  I really like Norman, and if he was 24-25, I think it's a completely different conversation.  Paying him the franchise money next year may not be the wrong way to go.  As good as Norman has been, he still doesn't even have a full 16 consecutive games performing like this yet.  It's not as easy a decision as Newton and Keuchly were.

I certainly don't blame Norman for wanting to get paid.  This is going to be his only chance to ever cash in big.  However, Gettleman has spent 2+ years finally getting our cap in decent shape, and he can't risk ruining all that good work on something that isn't a sure thing.  Definition of short-sighted.

[pantherclaw]

Gettleman comes from the school of thought you invest heavy on pass rushers, as thwy make the DB's look good. 

With that in mind, I will not be holding.my breath that Norman gets an extension from the Panthers. 

BTW, I'd love to be wrong about this.

[Chaos]

It's nice to see Josh getting noticed.  Yeah, it will drive his price up, but DG is showing his draft prowress with the late round picks being successful, so it may be our last year with Norman.  I hope not though.

[Mvp2014]

If he wants the big, big, big bucks, it's going to be hard for us to keep him. Anything north of $8 million per year will probably see him following the Richard Marshalls and Captain Munnerlyns to greener pastures. Those guys had their moments in the sun with us, and then didn't show up so well once they got away from our system.

Norman looks great now, but those guys did too once upon a time.

neither of those guys ever played like JNo.  I agree with your first point but dont lump him in with those guys.  Josh will ball out where ever he goes

[Peppers90 NC]

of course we should assume he will get a penalty sooner or later, or so we've been told numerous times

[Peppers90 NC]

neither of those guys ever played like JNo.  I agree with your first point but dont lump him in with those guys.  Josh will ball out where ever he goes

thats correct, they were zone guys. #24 can play man which makes him a good fit in most systems

[Khyber53]

neither of those guys ever played like JNo.  I agree with your first point but dont lump him in with those guys.  Josh will ball out where ever he goes

They both had their moments, and people were up in arms about them leaving, too. I just think there is a logical top end price for a DB, and Carolina traditional pays a bit below that. Norman is really good, right now, and he has the hallmarks of being a good career DB, but in the big scheme of things, he can only make so much in our team's system.

[Captain Morgan]

 

 

interesting to note that before the season started ( and Getty doesn't negotiate contracts during the season, so it's not going to happen till after we finish) but a it was reported that Josh called himself a top 10 corner.  He said there's not many shut down corners out there, and he's right.  

But he didn't call himself a top 5 corner.  I found that interesting.  I think he knows exactly where he is, a very good shutdown corner, just shy of elite.  And that leads me to think there is a chance he could accept a deal with us, that he won't go after top 5 money, but rather he'd accept top 10 money.

 

I was listening to CBS sports radio today and the horrible combo of Tiki and Tierney (sp?) were asked about the top 5 corners in the league.  They started by saying that it's hard because some players are system corners that do well, like Brady gets accused of so much, and I agree, our front 7 makes it easier for our DBs.  Still I was interested if they'd mention Josh.  They did not.

I love Josh and so many times he frustrates me.  I'm pretty sure Getty would like to build a locker room if guys who don't get in fights with our franchise QB in the pre-season.  But I love his fire, very Smitty like.  In fact the first sign he is questionable was the fact he trashed talked Smitty during his rookie OTA drills.  But I just like the guy.  Will Getty give a guy who is so good but has questionables another season?

Well, you see what uniform Smitty is wearing.

[jayflip]

I can't  the only one expecting this dude to finish the video by grabbing some Chinese leftovers, blasting Slayer and yelling, "Mom, I'm done with my assignment!"

[CPF4LIFE]

LOL....Its so funny how people still think Normans success really has a lot to do with the front 7, Norman only started seeing significant playing time when the front 7 got worse. He was still riding the bench when the front 7 was really dominant (greg hard). You can honestly make a case that its the other way around. The pass rush has dropped off since then, Norman and Bene give the line more time to get to QBs, they are skilled players in their own right without a great front 7.