Norman bristles as Deion tweaks DB over Beckham tussle
SAN JOSE — Odell Beckham Jr. did come up Monday at Super Bowl media day, but only briefly.
Deion Sanders had a short but testy exchange with Panthers DB Josh Norman over the fracas that Norman and Beckham engaged in during the Panthers’ win over the Giants in December at MetLife Stadium.
It was an ugly scene that came to a head when Beckham launched himself, helmet-to-helmet, at Norman in the second half, and it led to a one-game suspension for Beckham and plenty of talk from the chatty Norman after the game. And apparently, Norman didn’t like Sanders’ take on things, something that came up Monday night. “I really didn’t agree with what you had going on with Odell in that whole situation,” Norman said, when Sanders asked if he had any issue with Sanders’ actions over the last few months.
Sanders responded that he had hoped to get Beckham and Norman on the phone to patch things up, but a relaxed Norman wasn’t having it, seemingly unhappy that Sanders had appeared to take Beckham’s side.
“You said something like, if he was your son you would have gave him props or something,” Norman said to Sanders. “If a man is running at me full speed, trying to take me out, that’s what you give him ... a pat on the back and good job?”
Sanders tried to keep things light, insisting he was “proud” of both players, ostensibly for showing toughness while turning a football game into a street fight.
“If you were my son, by the same token I’m gonna applaud you,” Sanders said. “I want a dog. Not only am I proud of him, I’m proud of you as well.” Norman seemed to cool after that. “At the same time, I understood the situation,” Norman said. “How you fight and how you handle that determines the kind of man you’re going to become.” PICKS HIS SPOTS: Norman bows to no man. But for Peyton Manning, he’s willing to make an exception. Sort of.
The Panthers’ mouthy cornerback repeated a vow he made last week to bow to Manning if he picks off a pass from the Broncos quarterback in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday. But it would only be a small bow, not full, two-handed, overhead bow. “Let me make this clear,” Norman said. “If I was to be so fortunate enough and blessed to get an interception, I would do a Namaste bow. I would not do a whole, holy bow. No. No man would I ever do that to.”
But Norman said he definitely will do the small, polite, Justin Tuck-like bow with his hands pressed together in front of him because the 39-year-old Manning deserves that kind of respect. And Norman said he has respected his opponent since he was a young boy, rooting for Manning the Indianapolis Colts. “Since like 1999-2000 I’ve been a Colts fan and he was their quarterback and he was one of the main reasons why I was a Colts fan,” Norman said. “The guy was just unbelievable, what he did. Every time I picked up the controller and played my friends (in Madden) I ended up putting up 50 points and he was like P-freaking-M.”
Norman, the Panthers Pro Bowl corner, had four interceptions in the regular season, including two he returned for touchdowns. But the fourth-year pro is still looking for his first playoff pick.
And if it comes in Super Bowl 50, look out. Other than the bow, even Norman isn’t sure exactly sure what he will do. — Ebenezer Samuel and
Ralph Vacchiano