Panthers’ Norman trades barbs with Broncos’ Sanders via media

Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman has been a popular attraction for television cameras and microphones all week, usually drawing large crowds as he’s held court with the media the last several days leading up to Super Bowl 50.

And his final session with reporters Thursday morning didn’t disappoint as the former Coastal Carolina standout was prompted by a comment directed toward him by Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.

Reports from Fox Sports, USA Today Sports and the Charlotte Observer quoted Sanders as saying Norman “talked his way into the media” or “talked himself into the media” with his words rather than his play.

And as everyone has well learned by now, it doesn’t take much to get Norman going.

“Wow. Well I think you have to be pretty darn good at what you do to talk your way into this spotlight,” he responded Thursday. “I’m sure if you’re not good, you’re not recognized as one of the best and I guess people don’t want to know about that person. So I’m not sure where he gets that from, but I haven’t been hearing much about him so obviously maybe he wants to go back and go practice some more.”

USA Today Sports reported that Sanders later clarified his initial comments, explaining that he was simply tired of answering questions about the same guy all week.

“No, he’s not overrated to me. I never said he was overrated,” Sanders told USA Today Sports. “That story has blown up. I pretty much [said] that I’ve been here for four days and I’ve answered questions about Josh Norman. Robert McClain is on the opposite side. Luke Kuechly is in the middle. They have a defense. They have 10 other guys out there. Is that fair to keep asking questions about one guy as if me and him are the only ones out there playing? ... I don’t want to talk about just one guy. That’s the reason I said it.”

On that point, Norman – and most every other player on both the Panthers and Broncos – can sympathize.

The buildup during Super Bowl week is a grind, starting with the spectacle that is Opening Night on Monday and sessions Tuesday for some, followed by Wednesday and Thursday when every player was required to be available for questions.

As big as the Super Bowl is, there is only so much to talk about at a certain point.

Before being prompted about Sanders’ comment, Norman was already reflecting some of that media strain himself as he was asked yet again about the challenge of facing both Sanders and Demaryius Thomas.

“We’re facing No. 88 and facing No. 10. I guess we’ll see them on Sunday,” he said, lacking his usual ebullience in response to that question. “I’m sure they’re tired of hearing about me, and I’m pretty much tired of hearing about them.”

Later pressed and prodded for more on the Sanders comment and his thoughts on the receiver, Norman offered praise and said a player doesn’t top 1,000 yards receiving – Sanders had 1,135 yards in the regular season – if he isn’t good.

That said, Norman is ever ready for the challenge, and whether there was anything to Sanders’ comment or not, it’s a safe bet the burgeoning star cornerback will be looking to let his play earn him a share of the spotlight later this week.

As for any verbal response Sunday, he was semi coy as to whether he’ll use this clash – if it can even be called that – as a source of trash talk on the field.

“No, it won’t become what I talk about on the field unless you do something outside the norm,” Norman said. “If you do something outside the norm then of course that’s somewhat played on the field, that’s going to play on the field for me. Because I want to see what that look[s] like, I want to see if I’m really tabbed to that label that you just said. And if that’s the case, then I’m going to show you otherwise. But I don’t know, man, I just do me. I have fun and I ball.”

For the most part Norman had his smile, laugh and laid-back demeanor in place throughout the session Thursday. When asked if he was tired of talking with reporters because it didn’t show, he said, “I hide it very well.”

And in regard to the Sanders stuff, Norman suggested that it’s partly a media creation in itself to some degree.

“It is what it is. I think incorporated in this whole big shenanigans is the media,” he said. “... You hear this and you hear that. It’s nothing we personally said to each other; it’s more so viral. Pretty much, I really don’t care. That’s what I said when we started off, we’ll see those guys on Sunday. We’ll see if that’s the same talk coming at 3:30 when we play those guys.”

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 6:22 PM with the headline "Panthers’ Norman trades barbs with Broncos’ Sanders via media."