Ron Rivera made a somewhat shocking decision when he cut Josh Norman from the Carolina Panthers prior to the 2016 season, but the coach’s latest release of the Pro Bowl cornerback is not nearly as surprising.
Norman will be released by the Washington Redskins ahead of free agency, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
#Redskins are releasing CB Josh Norman, source says. Intriguing situation to watch, as he now has time to find his new team ahead of free agency.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 14, 2020
Norman signed a five-year, $75 million deal with Washington prior to the 2016 season. The move came after the Panthers placed the franchise tag on Norman and then rescinded it because they felt they were not going to be able to work out a long-term deal with him. Former Jay Gruden took a lighthearted swipe at Norman before the former Redskins coach was fired last season, and it was not exactly a secret that the 32-year-old was on borrowed time in Washington.
The Redskins will save $12.5 million against the salary cap by releasing Norman, so the decision is a no-brainer. While Norman clearly isn’t the shutdown corner he was in Carolina and the signing did not pan out for Washington, it will be interesting to see what type of market forms for him this offseason.
