Josh Norman in awe of Redskins' Super Bowl trophies
Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman has more reasons to be happy about signing with his new team than his $75-million contract alone.
Coming from a Carolina Panthers franchise with little history, seeing three Lombardi trophies in the lobby of Redskins Park when he went to sign his new contract on Friday left Norman in awe.
"It just really felt right. I started looking like, 'Man, we're really here in Tiffany's right now,'" Norman said during an introductory press conference Monday. "This feels mighty nice. I can't help but want to be a part of something that's special and great because we're on the rise, man. Get on the train or not."
Norman's optimism comes only days after being "shaken" by the Panthers' removal of his franchise tag Wednesday, which suddenly left him a free agent after four seasons in Carolina.
"I cocked back and just - I don't know, man - sat in my room for a while. I was just staring at the wall," Norman said. "I really didn't want to be around nobody or deal with anything. I was trying to deal with it in my own way. ... It's kind of a shaken feeling ..."
Norman even says he scrambled to try and stay with the Panthers, attempting to sign his franchise tender or negotiate a different on-year deal.
"My agent called them up and said if they wanted to do something, like a one-year, market-value (deal)," Norman told ESPN on Monday. "We wanted to come back. They said they weren't willing to, so we had to do what we had to do.
"My hands were tied in the whole thing."
With Redskins owner Daniel Snyder telling Norman "be yourself" and encouraging him to take a leadership role on the team, the cornerback has no plans to lose his edge - or the famous chip on his shoulder that led him to play at a Pro Bowl level in 2015.
"I carried a big bag with me when I came up here," Norman said. "I've still got that bag. It's on my back right now. You can't see it. But when I step between the white lines, I'm going to drop it. I can't wait until that time comes. Right now I'm just getting acclimated with my new teammates."