Josh Norman has a bone to pick. With Dez Bryant. With Skip Bayless. With Las Vegas odds makers. And pretty much with everyone else who he figures showed "disrespect" this week.
The outspoken Panthers cornerback, fresh from his triumph over Bryant during a 33-14 Panthers win over the Cowboys on Thursday, covered all that and more when he broke into a colorful postgame soliloquy.
MORE: Five reasons Panthers won't be disrespected again | Cam Newton adds a twist to his dab
Norman's much-anticipated matchup with Bryant was largely uneventful — the way he preferred — save for a handful of on-field taunting bouts between the two. The Cowboys' star receiver was held to two catches for 28 yards on eight targets. Norman told reporters Bryant gave him added motivation before the game — a big mistake, he said.
"He shouldn't have ticked off my DBs in pregame," Norman said, via ESPN.com, telling a tale of how Bryant was talking trash to younger Panthers defensive backs, instructing them to make like carrier pigeons and deliver a message to Norman. "That took me to a whole other place. Once that happened, you can't get me fired up (more). I'm telling you, I'm going to be at your throat for four quarters every time."
Bryant didn't talk to reporters after the game.
"I had to get myself physically, mentally prepared to the point I didn't want him to catch a single ball," said Norman, who was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct late in the fourth quarter after breaking up a pass to Bryant in the end zone. "I was on him like white on rice. I didn't care. And I was able to do it because of great teammates I have.
"The disrespect was just through the roof."
Josh Norman looks at media standing outside the locker room: "Hey, they need to get Dez's 70 mil back."
— Michael Florek (@michaelflorek) November 27, 2015When you start getn hate mail & tweets. From America's Team Fans & others who hate. Then you know you did your job VERY! Well. Give🙏🏽Thx😊
— *Joshua R. Norman (@J_No24) November 27, 2015Disrespect was a popular narrative shared ahead of Thursday's game, starting with the Panthers opening as one-point underdogs to the Cowboys. Panthers coach Ron Rivera said the point spread was "a little disrespectful," and it seems players such as Norman adopted the mantra.
Bayless, the ESPN analyst and noted Cowboys fan, had said earlier in the week he felt Vegas was being generous to the Panthers. He too incurred Norman's ire.
"For everybody that paid their money for that, I appreciate you guys but Las Vegas lost," Norman said. "And even Skip Bayless. We're going to give thanks to him for picking us a two- or four-point underdog.
"I hope he's happy right now, at home, eating crow. Because, obviously, he was wrong as well."
