Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman wanted to remain a Panther but was rebuffed by the team in a last-minute effort to sign his franchise tag, ESPN.com reported, citing an unidentified league source and multiple media reports.
According to the source, Norman contacted the Panthers last Wednesday after being told that the tag guaranteeing him $13.952 million for 2016 was rescinded, going so far as offering to fire his agent, Michael George, and sign the tag.
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By that point, however, the Panthers had decided to move on.