The cornerback position has long been played by men who exude confidence, and Josh Norman fits right in.
Norman, the Panthers cornerback who has been hit with the franchise tag this offseason, appeared on ESPN today and was asked to list the Top 5 cornerbacks of all time. Norman put himself on the list, in a tie for No. 5:
1. Dick “Night Train” Lane
2. Mel Blount
3. Deion Sanders
4. Charles Woodson
5. Josh Norman/Darrelle Revis
“That’s just where I’m at right now and my mindset. I want to be the best. If you’ve got a problem with that, so be it,” Norman said.
The top of the list isn’t bad, and it’s actually rather impressive that the 28-year-old Norman thought to put Lane, who played from 1952 to 1965, at No. 1.
“Most picks in an NFL season,” Norman said, referring to Lane’s record 14 interceptions in 1952.
But while Norman’s confidence and knowledge of NFL history are both impressive, we should pump the brakes on any thought that he’s close to an all-time great. Maybe years from now he’ll be viewed that way, but right now he’s a guy who had one good season.