49ers reportedly add Norman to cornerback corps
SANTACLARA>> Cornerback Josh Norman was at the peak of his career five years ago, when he helped the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium and envisioned someday returning to the Bay Area.
“It’s beautiful out here. It really is,” he said in an interview before that Super Bowl defeat to Denver.
Apparently, the time has come for him to beautify the 49ers’ depth chart.
Norman, 33, is joining the 49ers on a one-year deal, as first reported by Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer. The contract is worth up to $2.5 million, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo said.
Norman was at his flashy, braggadocious best in 2015 when he collected Firstteam All-pro and Pro Bowl honors with the Panthers. He parlayed that into a massive contract that paid him $61 million the next four seasons with Washington, then played last season on a $6 million deal with the Buffalo Bills.
Finances aside, the 49ers may not be paying Norman to start for their playoff-caliber defense.
Then again, health is an issue among their cornerback corps that returns essentially last season’s starters, excluding Richard Sherman, who missed 11 games to injury last season and remains unsigned.
Projected starters Jason Verrett and Emmanuel Moseley practiced last week and looked on target for next Sunday’s regular-season opener at Detroit. That said, both recently missed time with health issues: Verrett, because of plantar fasciitis in a foot, and, Moseley, because of a hamstring issue.
Aside from nickel back
K’waun Williams, the only other cornerbacks on the initial 53-man roster are rookies Deommodore Lenoir and Ambry Thomas, plus veteran Dontae Johnson, the latter of whom missed practice last week with an abductor injury.
The 49ers have not announced Norman’s signing nor a corresponding roster move, and that may not happen until Monday, when they resume practicing after a three-day hiatus.
Norman indicated on his social-media accounts that a “decision has been made and now there’s only one thing left to do,” followed by a trophy emoji.
A year before Kyle Shanahan took over as 49ers’ coach, Norman was in town with the Panthers for the ensuing Super Bowl defeat to the Denver Broncos. The Bay Area scenery captivated Norman.
“I’ve loved it,” Norman said in February 2016. “I woke up this morning, opened my curtains and saw the hills of the valley. It’s so gorgeous.
“Yeah, man, it’s like a movie script, from the Lord of the Rings. It’s unbelievable. Then I roll up to San Fran, and I look at the scenery on the side of the road, and I was like ‘Man, this is really cool. I could probably envision myself here one time or two.”
While Washington and the New Orleans Saints were Norman’s finalists in the 2016 free agency, the 49ers were heading for a 2-14 season under one-and-done coach Chip Kelly, though Norman lauded the 49ers’ storied history.
“They’re tremendous, and one of the greatest teams we have among the 32,” Norman said. “Their championships in the Super Bowls are epic. They’ve had all-time greats. They’re right up there with the Packers and Dallas Cowboys in how they do things.”
Norman has 15 career interceptions, and he returned 2-of-4 with the 2015 NFC Champion Panthers. He’s started 95 of 120 career regular-season games.
Two years after finishing runner-up in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium, he also placed second on ABC’S “Dancing with the Stars.”