Josh Norman is taking heat for not covering Antonio Brown in Monday’s 38-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday.
Brown caught eight passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns while being covered by third-year cornerback Bashaud Breeland. For what it’s worth, Norman didn’t allow a catch the few times he was matched up with Brown.
I’m not saying tracking would have worked better, but…
Brown v Breeland: 8 of 9, 113 yards, 2 TDs
Brown v Norman: 0 of 2, 2 PDs— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) September 13, 2016
New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz and cornerback Janoris Jenkins took shots at the Washington Redskins cornerback on Wednesday.
“Especially if he calls himself — I don’t call him this, he calls himself the best corner in the league — then you have to go cover the best receivers on the other team,” Cruz said, according to ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan. “Going in, I thought he was going to follow AB all over the place, but he didn’t. So it is what it is. He made his choice.”
“It’s always his choice. He can go to the powers that be and say, ‘Hey, I want to cover this guy.’ And if they say no, if maybe he did that and they say no, then I’ll have to eat my words,” Cruz said. “But for the most part, you can go make that request.”
“I think when you’re paying someone $70 million when there shouldn’t be no game plan,” Jenkins told reporters. “The game plan should be, you’re on this guy, and that’s what it is.”
The Giants host the Redskins next Sunday, the first time Norman and receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will be on the same field together since they got into an on-field brawl last season.
“He didn’t get into a fisticuffs with those guys last year, so it will be different,” Cruz said. “I’d be a little surprised given the circumstances if he doesn’t follow Odell around the field. I’d be a little surprised to be honest.”
Next Sunday’s Giants-Redskins game should be fun. Be sure to tune in.
