Josh Norman wrote a piece for The Players Tribune titled, “Steal Your Bologna” and in it he sent a message to Odell Beckham, Jr.
For those who don’t have time to read, Norman talks about how he got to where he is now and, everything else put aside, it’s a superhero origin story. Josh wasn’t picked to play street ball, his older brothers would steal his bologna if he wasn’t paying attention, and he’d toss the ball up in the air while laying in complete darkness, unable to sleep. Norman compared himself to Batman, because they both worked in the dark. Ironic that Bruce Wayne is technically the 1% and Josh was most definitely not. His new contract, though, places him closer to getting his Wayne Manor complete with bat cave.
Towards the end of the article, Norman drops the following:
"“For real — I do not talk that much shit. Go ahead and look at the film when I’m mic’d up against Julio Jones. We don’t talk when we play. When I’m playing Mike Evans? O.K., I’ll give you that. We have some conversations. He’s trying to be about that life. I am about that life. You can’t get in somebody’s head who is already in his own head. I came up through the darkness. I was born in that. I was molded by that. I love it, man.”"
Odell could learn a lesson from Julio and let his stupendous play do the talking, something you’d think former head coach Tom Coughlin would’ve instilled into the phenom. Anyone who thinks the Mara, Tisch, and Reese didn’t factor that game into Coughlin’s departure is mistaken.
But, here’s the oddly respectful dart tossed at Beckham:
"“When Odell and I went at one another last year, people got mad. Imagine that. People who watch this sport every Sunday and say they love it actually pretended to be offended. They don’t see the beauty in it. They don’t see the truth.The guy lining up across from me, he knows the truth. There are a lot of people who watch this game, or who are paid to commentate on it, who might not understand the true reality. They might get offended. They might think we’re animals.But Odell and I, we know the truth. Anybody who makes it to this level knows it. The truth is that on the football field, he’s trying to steal my bologna, and I’m trying to steal his.See you twice a year, bro.”"
Sure, there were people who were pretending to be outraged or offended and then there were people like me who thought Odell’s antics were among the most embarrassing moments in Giants franchise history. I went so far as to suggest the Giants trade OBJ! Total insanity. Giants fans were calling for Beckham to be suspended. That wasn’t truth. That wasn’t beauty. That was a no-holds-barred death match.
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What if Odell’s full-speed projectile spear knocked Norman out? Dislocated his jaw? Messed up his neck or spine or eyesight? If you were to ask 100 NFL players, 90 of them would say they don’t want to end someone’s career. Was Norman calling Beckham “crazy” before the Super Bowl just part of the act?
Josh makes it sound like what he and Beckham did was just part of the show. Part of the theatrics. Part of the soap opera. Like it’s the WWE. I don’t buy it. And, I’ll be a happy man if I never see that again.
Putting that aside, I’m HYPED to see Beckham battle Norman twice a year. Because now the entire league will be watching. And they’ll see Superman fly right past the Dark Knight and toast him multiple times. All the questions surrounding who won Round 1 in 2015 will be put to rest. Everyone will witness a figure who’s not of this Earth, who does things no other human can, put his otherworldly abilities on full display and Norman won’t have the kryptonite to keep Beckham at bay.
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Norman simplified the game with this statement:
"“There are really only nine routes a receiver can run. For all the complexity and terminology, the heart of my position is still the same as it was in Pop Warner. Whether the receiver is 6′ 4″ or 5′ 10″, there are still only nine routes he can run.Hitch. Speed out. Slant. Inside curl. Outside curl. Post corner. Post. Go. Fade.”"
There are only nine routes, Josh? Odell will burn you on all nine. Both games. Eighteen catches, all on different routes, for 100+ yards and at least a touchdown per game. Odell Beckham, Jr. is the Man of Steal and he’s just now fully realizing his powers. See ya Sunday, September 25th and try to get some sleep.