Josh Norman was able to get into the head of Odell Beckham, Jr. today, and that enabled the Carolina Panthers to defeat the New York Giants, according to ESPN .
Heading into the game, fans were intrigued by the match up featuring one of the top shutdown corner backs in the NFL and one of the most dazzling wide receivers to have ever played the game. Josh Norman versus Odell Beckham, Jr. was the marquee match up that fans paid money to see.
Fans were just as disappointed in the game as boxing fans used to be when Mike Tyson would knock out his opponent in mere seconds on a very expensive pay-per-view event. Josh Norman played the role of Tyson today by playing mind games and keeping Odell Beckham, Jr. from being productive for his team.
Frustration levels were so high for Beckham, Jr. today that he was caught taking cheap shots at Josh Norman and Cortland Finnegan, the cornerback that the Carolina Panthers recently signed, who has a history of being dirty himself. That’s not normally how Beckham, Jr. conducts himself on the field.
Odell Beckham, Jr. had two drops and zero catches in the first half because he was harassed by Josh Norman. Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants coaching staff were unable to get through to Beckham in the locker room during halftime because he did not do that much better in the second half.
As expected, Odell Beckham, Jr. refused to acknowledge Josh Norman while giving his post game interview with the media. All he mentioned was that he was out there competing, just like he normally does on a weekly basis.
Josh Norman wasn’t nearly as polite. He compared Odell Beckham, Jr. to a ballerina because of the wide receiver’s tendency to dance around on the field in celebration.
“If you’re gonna be Michael Jackson and go around and dance and play and do all the other stuff and not be a football player and not train the way you’re supposed to train, it goes to show. I hope I pulled back the mask.”
Cortland Finnegan has never been known as someone that knows how to keep his mouth shut. The former St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans star also chimed in on Odell Beckham, Jr. as well.
“He may have something in his blood. I don’t know, maybe it’s female-related. That’s the only thing I can think of.”
A feud between Josh Norman and Odell Beckham, Jr. could provide some entertainment, but unfortunately, these two teams are unlikely to play one another again this season. With the loss, the New York Giants fall a game behind the Washington Redskins in the NFC East. They also have a tough game against a 9-5 Minnesota Vikings on the road.
The Carolina Panthers, on the other hand, are definitely going to the NFL Playoffs this season. At 14-0, they are the top-ranked team in the league and almost assured of home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
In addition to building up his reputation as a top notched defensive player, Josh Norman has also developed into one of the best trash talkers in the NFL. Odell Beckham, Jr. is not the first NFC East star wide receiver to have issues with him.
Earlier in the season, the Carolina Panthers defeated the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. A big reason for that victory was because Josh Norman was able to control Dez Bryant, who was clearly frustrated throughout the game. The two of them got into a couple of scuffles.
Josh Norman might have just supplanted Richard Sherman as the top trash talking shut down cornerback in the NFL.
[Featured Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images]