Josh Norman’s last team wouldn’t give him the deal he wanted, so he’s hoping a new agent can help him find one.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Norman has hired Ryan Williams of Athletes First to negotiate his new contract, after the Panthers rescinded the franchise tag yesterday afternoon.
Previous agent Michael George will remain as a co-representative. Agent changes generally require a five-day waiting period. However, because leaving George continues to represent Norman, the cooling-off period does not apply; Norman can sign a new contract with a new team right away.
The Panthers effectively gave up trying to talk Norman into a long-term deal, after realizing that a guy who thought he was one of the top five cornerbacks of all time wanted to be paid like one.
They valued him much differently, with General Manager Dave Gettleman placing a higher premium on linemen than corners. Norman was looking for $16 million a year, while the Panthers offer is believed to have topped out in the $10-11 million range, which explains Gettleman’s decision to not pay Norman $14 million for a one-year rental.
Whether a new representative will bring the desired result for Norman remains to be seen, particularly since he’s entering the market at a time when the people inclined to spend big money on a cornerback have already done so.