CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Josh Norman was a rookie cornerback out of tiny Coastal Carolina in 2012, but that didn’t stop the Carolina Panthers fifth-round pick from challenging veteran wide receiver Steve Smith in practice and then bragging about his efforts afterwards.
To the point that Smith felt disrespected.
“For a young guy, he's coming out and he's playing well,” Smith told reporters at the time. “But as far as how much swagger and [how] he loves to compete, I look at it like all the other veterans -- May and June you just kind of cruise a little bit just to get through.