Josh Norman And The Bucs
January 29th, 2016
Big time/big mouth Panthers cornerback Josh Norman could be an unrestricted free agent in a matter of weeks.
And the guy who drafted him had an intriguing take about that yesterday.
Former Panthers general manager Marty Hurney has been drawing a giant spotlight this week. As Carolina GM, Hurney delivered eight of Carolina’s 10 current Pro Bowlers to the team, either through the draft or free agency — before he was fired midway through the 2012 season.
Norman was drafted by Hurney in the fifth round back in 2012, just three spots after Tampa Bay selected linebacker Najee Goode. (Ouch!)
Speaking late last night on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Hurney said he believed the Panthers would be in a very difficult situation trying to re-sign Norman.
The team had talks with Norman’s camp last year, but didn’t get a deal done. And Hurney said breaking the bank for manbeast defensive tackle Kawaan Short likely would be their priority payout. Short, for those unaware, is the best DT in the NFC South. Hurney said Norman could walk even though the Panthers would like to keep him.
This begs the question of whether the Bucs would want to move fast on the premier cornerback, who just turned 28.
The Bucs have a pile of money available, and they won’t have to pay Jameis Winston a king’s ransom for at least three years.
January 29th, 2016 at 9:13 am
Would rather spend the money on a WR….DE…..draft a CB.
But……he certainly would bring a nasty swagger we need……
January 29th, 2016 at 9:15 am
Well first we need to get Martin locked up and as for Norman I think we got a little bit more levarage remember last summer we Norman got in a fight with cam all Jason has to say is ” here’s your chance to get back at cam” plus for all u that are saying he would be crazy to leave hear me out our offense last year was in the top ten next year it might be no 1 and for a star CB that’s attractive cause he knows his job won’t be that hard good things are coming buc fans I keep telling u stick with this team for the first time in a long time we have s offense that can hang with any team in the NFL
January 29th, 2016 at 9:18 am
If Norman walks, I hope that we sign him. Imagine Norman, Verner, and Banks all together in our secondary. If it happens then we can actually call ourselves “the no fly zone”
January 29th, 2016 at 9:18 am
Get Norman in a Buc uniform. Norman will make Evans a better behaved player in the field. Once Evans masters dealing with Norman’s abuse nothing will knock him of his game on the field…
January 29th, 2016 at 9:41 am
Tough choice, chase the money or chase the rings. Revis would say chase the money and the rings will come.
January 29th, 2016 at 9:41 am
On the surface, I would lean toward no on signing him. First, he’s going to command a high price tag, especially if the Panthers win the SB.
Second, he really has not produced much. Only 4 picks on the year. 3 Forced fumbles…which is good. The main reason to say no is his history. He simply has not produced hardly anything until THIS YEAR.
That, my friends, is called a One Year Wonder.
HOWEVER…as I said, that is one the surface…here are possible reasons to say yes:
Some Cornerbacks take time to develop. Ronde Barber did not get good until his 5th year, for example. Then he exploded. It’s entirely possible that this MIGHT be the case for Josh Norman. Certainly, if Barber hit the market after his 4th year, there would have been reason to be skeptical.
And then comes his swag. Is it an oversized ego or confidence? Would he alienate officials with his attitude? This team needs some fire. We have non at all in the CB group. We have David in the LBs, McCoy in the DL…but none in the CBs.
Depending on the price, it might be worth it.
Licht got rid of Revis because the man cost too much…I doubt he’ll break the bank on another CB.
January 29th, 2016 at 9:42 am
Also…it isn’t like we have any CBs that are clearly better than him.
comes down to price.
January 29th, 2016 at 9:43 am
Question is, is Norman a product of the Panthers excellent front 7 or is he really just that good…
January 29th, 2016 at 9:43 am
considering how he described Winston to Evans. a peasant throwing rocks at a giant i doubt they are buddy buddy with each other.
January 29th, 2016 at 9:44 am
“Begs the question” doesn’t mean what you think it means, Joe.
It’s a logical fallacy, not a question that should be asked.
January 29th, 2016 at 9:47 am
DB55 Says
“Tough choice, chase the money or chase the rings. Revis would say…”
Revis sucks.
He has 5 picks on the year…which is average for a good CB. He has no pick 6’s. No forced fumbles. No Sacks from blitzing.
His passes defended are nowhere close to Ronde Barber’s LAST YEAR…you know, when Ronde was old?
Heck, even his tackles are low!
Nowhere near worth the money. Licht made the right decision cutting him.
January 29th, 2016 at 9:48 am
scott fitzgerald Says
“considering how he described Winston to Evans. a peasant throwing rocks at a giant i doubt they are buddy buddy with each other.”
Smack talk between rivals. Nothing more.
January 29th, 2016 at 9:51 am
“big mouthed Panthers cornerback.” Would Norman be a distraction? Of course there are many that think the Buc’s could use a little swagger. How will Koetter handle his lockeroom. What if Norman got in Jameis’s face? I like the guy and hope he becomes available, “Big mouth,” does not mean criminal like Hardy.
January 29th, 2016 at 9:52 am
GMC isn’t the best DT in the NFC South?
January 29th, 2016 at 9:55 am
The Bucs signing Josh Norman would be a double-whammy: the Bucs get a superstar cornerback AND the Panthers lose superstar cornerback. It might be worth the price tag just to keep him off of Carolina’s roster for the next few seasons.
January 29th, 2016 at 9:59 am
BuccaneEric75 Says
“GMC isn’t the best DT in the NFC South?”
He might be…but he won’t get credit for it until the team does well. Not to mention…his stats were down this year due to injury. Stat-wise…he’s not the best this year.
January 29th, 2016 at 10:00 am
Johnny “America’s Commenter” Dejay Says:
“…the Bucs get a superstar cornerback AND the Panthers lose superstar cornerback…”
This view I like very much!
January 29th, 2016 at 10:03 am
Banks, Moore, Verner and Norman? Hell yeah! That would make even the worst dline look good, and I know Mike smith will know how to use him. Norman is better at corner than Vernon or anyone of them is at end. Draft Ogbah or Buckner. Then if you sign Norman, you can focus on finding a receiver in the second.
Only question I have is, why wouldnt Norman want to resign with his team, the team the took a chance on him? I get he wants to get paid, but is that his priority, to get a big pay day and thats it?
January 29th, 2016 at 10:05 am
When you have a short window to make a lot of money, and that window isn’t secured with guaranteed contracts, you have to take the dough. Have to.
January 29th, 2016 at 10:17 am
He’s a dirtbag. The second he starts playing for a bad team flags will be flying at him left and right for unsportsmanlike
January 29th, 2016 at 10:25 am
No
January 29th, 2016 at 10:33 am
Not a fan of Norman either. A midget could have picked off that duck in the first Bucs Panther matchup.
January 29th, 2016 at 10:38 am
All posturing for contract negotiations. I’d love to see Josh Normal in Pewter, and I’ll hope for it, but I wouldn’t expect it.
January 29th, 2016 at 10:42 am
Agree with FLMike…is it Norman or the Panthers front seven…and BB makes a great point as well…great player or one hit wonder.
What concerns me most of all was his fight with Cam. Do you really want Norman stiff arming #3 in practice and knocking his helmet off?
Having said all of that I have a growing trust in Licht. If Licht signs him I’ll be ok because I think Licht will do all the due diligence required.
January 29th, 2016 at 10:44 am
Norman is a guy we need on our side. Period.
January 29th, 2016 at 10:44 am
“Norman was drafted by Hurney in the fifth round back in 2012, just three spots after Tampa Bay selected linebacker Najee Goode. (Ouch!)”
Then remember that we took Mark Barron while Carolina took Luke Kuechly later in the same round. Double Ouch!
January 29th, 2016 at 10:59 am
My only question is are we buying at the top of the market with him? I realize that you overpAy in free agency but it does full a need.
January 29th, 2016 at 11:13 am
Bonzai
Agreed 1000% on Revis. I think he’s a fudge packer too but that’s neither here nor there.
January 29th, 2016 at 11:28 am
I can’t believe the stinking Panthers are going to let Chris Rock (Norman) walk away? There defense in known for having an elite player at each position group on their defense. If he does hit the market Jason Licht needs to get the checkbook out. First of all he is one of the premier, elite CB’s in the league. Second his swagger is one our defense can use and lastley do any of you want to see Norman go to the Saints or Dixie Chicks? Considering Darrelle Revis, Patrick Peterson and Richard Sherman each make $14,000,000 a year, you can bet the farm Norman wants as much. I mean you can pay Sean Smith 14M or we can pay Josh Norman? If cash is the issue simply release Alterraun Verner and that cuts Normans price in half or better yet release Verner and don’t re-sign Sterling Moore and a deal for Norman would pay for itself. Those of you who feel our CB’s are fine and that is was because of Lovie and the scheme that they did not perform, think again. We need new talent in our secondary and it all starts with Norman.
January 29th, 2016 at 11:33 am
@godzilla of course he will command somehting around that price….especially if they win SB50. Thats why I said no….he’s good but not that kind of $$ good.
January 29th, 2016 at 11:45 am
funny to hear people throwing stats out. hard to generate stats when most teams refuse to throw your way in the second half of the year. if we are digging for stats i’d like to know what the stats were of WRs on the plays he was covering them. that will tell you more
January 29th, 2016 at 2:22 pm
No way in hell Josh leaves Carolina. He will either resign or be tagged. You don’t let shut down corners walk for nothing. Unless their name is Revis and they do whatever the hell they want. I would love to have him as a Buc. But this story has 0% chance of happening. I repeat ZERO. Sign either William Gay, Janoris, Greg Toler, or even Sean Smith. And draft at least 1 other.
January 29th, 2016 at 2:28 pm
I can’t believe that the blog that defends Gerald McCoy to the ends of the earth just called another defensive tackle in the same division better. How many times has this site rolled out stats upon stats and comparisons upon comparisons trying to convince the masses that Gerald McCoy is actually a good player and above average at that
January 29th, 2016 at 3:05 pm
Sign him and weaken the competition
January 29th, 2016 at 4:11 pm
No brainier, sign him … Upgrade DB’s and remove one obstacle from Jameis in the division
January 29th, 2016 at 4:11 pm
@buctroooper, i’m pretty sure “good” or even “great” are not the same thing as “the best”. it is possible to defend mccoy – or any player – while also believing that other players are superior.
January 29th, 2016 at 6:39 pm
Norman is a very good player. My take is that the Bucs need more good players.
January 29th, 2016 at 9:28 pm
Bonzai….STOP it already you’re KILLING me. Bringing up Revis and Norman’s stats are pointless if QB’s never look their way….smh. Stop it!
January 29th, 2016 at 10:44 pm
Get him now… really! CB done!
January 30th, 2016 at 9:28 am
I agree with everyone that is saying to sign him to not only give us at least a decent CB, but more so to get him off of our competition. It just makes sense.