Four days after a postgame scuffle with Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman was ready to move on. Norman attempted to diffuse the situation following Monday’s practice in his first media session with local reporters since Washington’s 31-26 loss to Dallas at AT&T Stadium on Thanksgiving.
“Nothing,” said Norman when asked about how he felt about the postgame incident with Bryant. “It really wasn’t a situation. It was a game. We lost. They won. That was it.”
Bryant finished with three catches for 32 yards and no touchdowns with Norman in coverage, per Pro Football Focus, and called out Norman after the game. He told NFL Network that, “Washington needs to get their money back,” after signing Norman to a five-year deal worth $75 million in the offseason.
Norman initially claimed the fight started when Bryant told him, “Where I’m from, we unload the clip.” Norman confirmed twice after the game to the Post that Bryant said that, but clarified on Monday that Bryant did not say the phrase. It’s a phrase Norman intended as a metaphor to show that he’s going to give it his all on the field.
Just as Norman moves on from one beef, there’s another one upcoming in Week 13. Redskins will face the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson called out Norman during training camp on social media after seeing some 1-on-1 videos against Redskins wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon.
“Can’t get into it man,” Norman said. “Can’t get into it. Everybody wanna go against me for some reason. I don’t know. At the end of the day, that was then. This is now. It is what it is.”
It’s becoming a long list of NFL players who have gone after Norman this year, which also includes his well-documented history with New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
When asked what he’s learned from all these encounters, Norman responded, “Nothing. Trolls and clowns. Trolls and clowns. You’re at the top, everybody gunning for you. That’s what happens.”