Washington Redskins: Is Josh Norman-Odell Beckham Jr. beef over?
By Donny Starr
Josh Norman has let his on-field disputes with wide receivers be a distraction, but the Washington Redskins corner seems to have the right focus for 2017.
Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman will not let disputes with New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (or others) define his legacy. When speaking with the media Friday after a walk through at training camp, the question came up again and he had the perfect response.
According to the Washington Times, Norman responded to the question by saying that it wasn’t a story anymore until the question brought it up. Whoever brought up the topic got a quick glance into the mindset of every Redskins player.
Norman is part of a defense that didn’t break the top 10, let alone the top 20, defenses in the league. He’s a guy that realizes that his past on-field transgressions did cost the team in certain situations. I think Norman realizes that he can be more than a guy talking trash to wide receivers. It’s great that he’s “being short” about the issue.
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Hopefully this is the plan on how to deal with receivers like Beckham. He’ll have more than enough time to deal with him. The Redskins play the first of their two games against the Giants Week 12. In the meantime, he’ll have more than enough receivers to cover and prove that he’s not going to be “that guy”.
Norman came to the Redskins at a high price, so expectations are high. He has a supporting cast in the defensive backfield filled with more new faces than old. Causing problems on the field this season would only show that he’s not dialed in to what defensive coordinator Greg Manusky wants: a bold, brash and brilliant defense.
Last week, Norman told ESPN he thought 2016 was a Pro Bowl-caliber season for him. That’s doubtful, considering the penalties. However, there’s no reason in terms of his talent and the new talent around him that he can’t have a Pro Bowl 2017 season.
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Last season showed the errors of Norman and the Redskins defense. 2017 will show how much they improved and if those improvements earn a playoff spot.