Falcons' White, Jones: Panthers' Josh Norman isn't 'tough'

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White, like the rest of the NFL world, watched Odell Beckham Jr. and Josh Norman scuffle throughout Sunday's Carolina Panthers-New York Giants game.

However, White isn't imitated by Norman, and didn't hold back in his criticism of the cornerback.

"I don't believe he's a tough guy," White said, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN. "When you say you're out there talking, I don't pay attention to guys like that. I just don't think he's a tough guy."

The Falcons face the Panthers this coming Sunday, and while Julio Jones is Atlanta's No. 1 receiver, White and Norman will likely see some action opposite each other.

"I don't care if somebody says something about me saying he's not that tough," White said. "If I said I don't think he's that tough, then I don't think he's that tough."

Jones will see the majority of snaps against Norman, and he echoed his teammates sentiment, implying that because of the protection Carolina's scheme affords Norman, it won't be a true battle between the two.

"I don’t get like when people say Josh Norman is tough," Jones said, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good player. But they play Cover 2.

"If you want to be a lock-down corner, I feel like you, yeah, you’re following people, but you’ve got play one-high (no safety help)," Jones added.

White also feels Norman, who is in the discussion for defensive player of the year, doesn't deserve to be in the same conversation as shutdown cornerbacks like Darrelle Revis and Richard Sherman.

"You can't sit back and play zone, dropping, playing Cover 2 for half the game and say you're locking people up," White said. "Come on, man. Everybody knows that."