Norman departs gloating
JOSH Norman strolled into his postgame press conference at MetLife Stadium Sunday evening rocking a flashy burgundy three-piece suit. As soon as he approached the podium and started fielding questions, the Washington cornerback’s joy and jubilation were evident.
After months of buildup and verbal shots, Norman had bested his archrival, his adversary. Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. caught seven passes for 121 yards, a stout showing. But Norman earned the bigger prize: a 29-27 victory.
“It was awesome. Extremely awesome day, man,” Norman said, letting out sighs of relief and shaking his head in astonishment. “Towards the end, when I was celebrating with my teammates, victoriously, can’t ask for nothing better than that.”
Much was made of Norman’s first two regular-season games in a Washington uniform, after he signed a $75 million contract in April. He didn’t shadow the Steelers’ Antonio Brown or the Cowboys’ Dez Bryant, and instead played exclusively on one side of the field.
But on Sunday, he matched up across Beckham on 53 of the Giants’ 61 offensive snaps. Beckham had his way on most plays.
Early in the second quarter, Beckham spun Norman around on an out route to the left sideline and hauled in a 26-yard reception. Then early in the fourth quarter, Beckham caught passes on back-to-back plays, the first for 19 yards down the sideline. On the second, Beckham snagged a ball in the left flat, stiff-arming Norman and spinning away in one motion before scampering down the left side of the field for 24 yards, nearly scoring a touchdown.
“I love to compete and I hate losing,” Beckham said. “You want to go against the best and compete against the best. Today I think we did a great job of making it a lot about football.”
Norman had his flashes, too. In the first quarter, with the Giants driving inside the Washington 25-yard line, Beckham cut to the middle of the field on a post route and created separation. However, Norman broke to the ball and stepped in front. The potential game-changing interception went off his hands.
Despite the enormous amount of attention afforded to his rivalry with Beckham, Norman said he didn’t feel like he had anything to prove Sunday. Expect for one thing, that is. “I dressed nicely,” Norman said, sliding his hands down his burgundy lapels, “to come here and get a ‘W’.”