NFL Notes: Josh Norman, Bills, Panthers, & Redskins

Josh Norman

New Redskins CB Josh Norman mentioned that he was “sideswiped” when the Panthers elected to remove the franchise tag from him.

“It came out of nowhere. It really did,” Norman told CSN Mid-Atlantic on Friday night, via Redskins.com. “I got sideswiped — I didn’t see it coming.”

“And the crazy thing is I didn’t see it until a day and a half later because I was still getting over the fact of what was going on … That small amount of hours, everything went rapid and I came up here and it just felt right.”

Norman believes Washington is close to doing what the Panthers did in their Super Bowl run.

“I would say what attracted me the most was that it still was a competitive team,” Norman said. “When we played you guys last year, y’all was competing all the way until the bitter end. It was no let-up. You guys had the fight in you all. You’re a playoff team; it was in the thick of things. And one piece here, one piece there, you guys can do what Carolina (did) when they went to the Super Bowl last year. And when I came here and I said that (about) that one missing piece, who knows, but I guarantee I’m going to give everything I am, everything I’ve got, because that’s how I get it.”

• Albert Breer points out that the reality of Norman’s deal is that it’s really a two-year, $36.5 million contract that’s fully guaranteed. After that, it’s basically option years for him.
• According to Breer, the Redskins will have to make a decision on Norman in March 2018, when the remainder of his injury guarantee ($13.5M) becomes fully guaranteed.

Bills

• According to Matt Miller, the Bills are eyeing wide receives in round one including Laquon Treadwell, Josh Doctson, and Michael Thomas.

Panthers

• Joe Person reports that the Panthers were offering Josh Norman a $44 million deal over the course of four years.

Redskins

• The Redskins could consider releasing CB Chris Culliver following the addition of Josh Norman. Doing so would free up $5.5M or $8M depending on whether they cut him before or after June 1. (Spotrac)