IFWT_Josh Norman

It seemed bizarre when the Carolina Panthers rescinded the franchise tag they offered to Josh Norman.  The cornerback had not signed the tag which was offered to him March 1, and the Panthers decided to move on.  Many thought it was because Norman insisted on getting $15 million to $16 million a year and was prepared to go elsewhere to get it, but it turns out he wanted to remain with the Panthers and made a last ditch effort to do so.

When Norman was “blindsided” last Wednesday by the news the Panthers were pulling the tag, he contacted team officials saying he was finally ready to sign it, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

But it was too late: The Panthers’ front office had already notified the league it was rescinding the tag.

Norman also offered to fire his agent and try to work out a one-year deal for market value.  He says the Panthers weren’t willing to work things out.

Norman was looking for another agent to represent him and hired Ryan Williams. He intended to fire George, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, and the paperwork was filed to the NFL Players Association, according to NFL Network, but Williams and George were legally co-representatives. The logistics allowed Norman to avoid waiting five days to finalize a deal with an NFL team, although Williams ran the show.

The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers were both interested in Norman but he ended up signing a five-year, $75 million deal with the Washington Redskins which includes $51.1 million guaranteed.

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source: CBS Sports