Josh Norman is a colorful character. Literally. Norman, the best cornerback in the NFL in 2015 - at least depending on your feelings toward Richard Sherman, Patrick Peterson and Stephon Gilmore - uses movie characters to help him prep for games. That's right. He dons a character, like a mask - oh, the irony - and then uses that persona to help him take it to his opponent.
Batman. Superman. Leonidas, the Spartan warrior lord from "300." Maximus, Russell Crowe's fearless character from "Gladiator."
Whatever (whoever) it takes. And while it's certainly an abnormal means of hyping oneself up for an NFL bout, it's clearly effective, at least for Norman, and it may soon be effective for the Washington Redskins.
UPDATE #2: It's reportedly a done deal between Norman and Washington.
UPDATE: It's down to Washington and New Orleans, which is making a big push for Norman from afar.
Norman, unexpectedly released from franchise tag hell by the Carolina Panthers this week, has the NFL's D.C.-based franchise first on his list of NFL free agency visits, and according to a report, it may well be his last.
Per the report, there's an expectation around the league that Norman - or Bruce Wayne, or Darth Vader, or whatever character he's culled from his "dark side" this week - will cross the "Is" and dot the "ts" on a pact with Washington by end of day on Friday.
It makes ample sense that WashTEAM would have so much interest in Norman. Last year, Jay Gruden's squad allowed 258.0 passing yards per game through the air (25th) and 30 touchdowns (22nd). Their top corner spots are currently manned by Chris Culliver, who appeared in just six games in 2015, and Bashaud Breeland, who has played relatively well and racked up some crazy tackle numbers through two NFL seasons (67 in 2014, 81 in 2015), but has just four interceptions over that span.
With veteran agitator DeAngelo Hall headed to safety, the cornerback depth chart suddenly looks mighty thin in Washington.
Adding Norman would be a coup and immediately upgrade the entire defensive unit.
Unfortunately, it won't be easy to make the financials work. Norman - assuming he's not just channeling the Joker - wants a deal somewhere in the vicinity of $14 million per season, though he's said to be holding out hope for $15 million to $16 million.
Right now, Washington has just over $11 million in cap space available, a good chunk of which will go to the team's incoming draft class.
Adding Norman would take some maneuvering on Washington's part, as well as maybe going the extra distance on term or annual value. Or both. Norman, from nearly every account, is trying his best to break the bank.
And considering the NFC East-rival New York Giants handed Janoris Jenkins, a talented player, but not quite as consistently effective as Norman, $29 million over the first two years of his deal, $40 million over the first three, it's likely Washington will have to fork over quite a bit.
Washington GM Scot McLoughan has done well during his short time on the job to focus on building the team through the draft, making only a handful of shrewd, cost-effective free agent signings, keeping the team competitive and even helping Gruden lead them to a playoff berth last year at the same time as he's revamping the core of the roster.
But when a guy like Norman, the ultimate exception to the rule, becomes available, you have to take a breath and see just what a deal would entail. Because despite his scheme deficiencies and age - Norman is 28 already - for Washington, Norman could be the difference between another NFC East crown and a middling 8-8 season, especially when Dez Bryant and Odell Beckham Jr. appear on the schedule twice a season.
