Bills signing Josh Norman - yes, seriously

[John from Riverside]

1 hour ago, Blackbeard said:

Norman was pretty good in his prime.  
This signing just goes to prove GOOD players just aren’t available. This is no slight on Norman.  
 

May want to look instead for an offensive piece in order to score more, cause this D is going to get scored on more now. 

I think that most fans and sadly it includes me can’t get the vision of what Derek henry did to him

[I'm Spartacus]

This is embarrassing. What is the obsession with "veteran presence in the room" garbage? What the heck are the coaches hired to do? Waaa, we need an old 35 year old to show us the ropes...what a joke.

[dgrochester55]

This guy was done three years ago to the extent that he was infamously posterized by Derrick Henry. Do they really think it would be any better in 2023?  I don't get the veteran mentorship angle either. We have Poyer and Hyde, along with Taron Johnson, Dane Jackson, Siran Neal, and Cam Lewis, who have also been with the team for a few years.    

 

 I know that the pickings are slim, but there has to be a late rd pick/UDFA who is used to the defensive scheme on a practice squad somewhere who could do better than Norman would if we needed him. 

Edited October 10, 2023 by dgrochester55

[Low Positive]

1 minute ago, dgrochester55 said:

This guy was done three years ago to the extent where he was posterized by Derrick Henry, do they really think it would be any better in 2023?.   I don't get the veteran mentorship angle either, we have Poyer and Hyde, along with Taron Johnson, Dane Jackson, Siran Neal and Cam Lewis who have also been with the team for a few years.    

 

I know that the pickings are slim, but there has to be a late rd pick/UDFA who is used to the defensive system on a practice squad somewhere who could do better than Norman would if we needed him. 

To sign a player off of another team's practice squad, you have to sign them to your 53-man roster. You have to give them three game checks too. In the coming days, we're going to hear about Ingram and Vickers being signed to the 53 so that will free up practice squad spots. Signing Josh Norman costs the BIlls absolutely nothing except for a PS slot. I took a look at the available current CB UFAs and it's a list of has-beens and never-beens. 

 

[muppy]

4 minutes ago, FrenchConnection said:

To sign a player off of another team's practice squad, you have to sign them to your 53-man roster. You have to give them three game checks too. In the coming days, we're going to hear about Ingram and Vickers being signed to the 53 so that will free up practice squad spots. Signing Josh Norman costs the BIlls absolutely nothing except for a PS slot. I took a look at the available current CB UFAs and it's a list of has-beens and never-beens. 

 

this is what I was curious about. Signing Norman vs who else could they have gotten with even conceivably better value? *shrugs*

[Low Positive]

10 minutes ago, muppy said:

this is what I was curious about. Signing Norman vs who else could they have gotten with even conceivably better value? *shrugs*

There are some good players with something left in the tank sitting at home right now, but unfortunately, they are not CBs. Former Packers and Charger Casey Hayword is out there surfing the couch too, but at this point, he's as washed up as Norman. Josh at least knows the system. 

 

Edit: Here is the list: https://nfltraderumors.co/top-100-2023-nfl-free-agents-list/

 

Edited October 10, 2023 by FrenchConnection

[Billever76]

The over valuing of draft picks continues....ship a first out and maybe even a player and go grab a top shelf player and maybe another decent starter

[TheyCallMeAndy]

He’ll be like AJ Klein. Next to no chance of seeing game day but will be really good for a really young CB room.

[Bangarang]

He looked done 3 years ago. What a bizarre signing.

[Dillenger4]

It's funny to read all the "he's washed up" comments. Take a look at Elams play on Sunday. Dude was useless and benched. It's not like the Bills can just snap fingers and get a stud CB without a trade that will include draft capital and $$

 

Norman was actually quite tough to play against in 2021 with the Niners. He can cover and hits hard. He may not be what we all want - but for the low return, he can be much better than Elam and he can be a safety blanket for when benford get's injured as he has proven to be. We will roll with benford and Dane at CB and Norman is insurance.

[Royale with Cheese]

1 minute ago, Dillenger4 said:

It's funny to read all the "he's washed up" comments. Take a look at Elams play on Sunday. Dude was useless and benched. It's not like the Bills can just snap fingers and get a stud CB without a trade that will include draft capital and $$

 

Norman was actually quite tough to play against in 2021 with the Niners. He can cover and hits hard. He may not be what we all want - but for the low return, he can be much better than Elam and he can be a safety blanket for when benford get's injured as he has proven to be. We will roll with benford and Dane at CB and Norman is insurance.

 

If I had to guess.  It would be Cam Lewis coming in before Norman if Jackson or Benford go down this season.

 

Elam was a major problem.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

What's the story on Benford? Is he out long-term?

 

[BigDingus]

Sadly says a lot more about Elam than anything else... 😓

[SCBills]

3 minutes ago, BigDingus said:

Sadly says a lot more about Elam than anything else... 😓

 

If he actually gets called up, I'll join the concerned chorus. 

 

This screams to me McDermott looking at his extremely young outside corner room and wanting a cheap vet presence that knows the defense in there to be an extension of himself in the room. 

 

[BADOLBILZ]

 

Yeah maybe they think the coaching staff isn't getting thru to Elam and he will take advice better from Norman.

 

[John from Riverside]

10 hours ago, John from Riverside said:

It’s to the practice squad we just got done bringing up a corner and we have a corner that played his first game being on an active this year

 

How do we know this just isn’t a backfill on the practice squad Pickens are probably very scarce

I’m certainly open to other suggestions, but we are into the season, pass training camp and are looking at a once productive player that knows the defensive system
 

It’s to the practice squad he’s not to the active roster. Of course the hope is that Jackson and Benford can hold it down. And sparingly use Elam.

[Blackbeard]

Everyone that is bitching needs to remember you don't just go out an grab a CB.  They're far and few between.  And it's not like it's training camp where you can teach system.  Norman is familiar with it already.  

 

Bills brass don't have a lot of options that make sense.

[FireChans]

38 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

Yeah maybe they think the coaching staff isn't getting thru to Elam and he will take advice better from Norman.

 

This signing is all about Elam imo. This is their last ditch effort to coach him up midseason.

[BananaB]

3 hours ago, boyst said:

----------------

 

Call the Ravens, and try to trade a 5th or so for Ron Darby, or a 6th or 7th for Keyvon Seymore. Bth former Bills.

McD got rid of Darby immediately when he got here.

[T master]

Was there any other CB's still available & if so who that could be installed in this scheme quickly ?

1 hour ago, BigDingus said:

Sadly says a lot more about Elam than anything else... 😓

 

I thought Elam did so good last season in the Miami game when they put him up against Hill i even heard he ran stride for stride with hill on a couple of occasions in that game . Now he's not worth a flip how did that come about ? 

 

And Cosell even said on 1 Bills live he was the most athletic & physically gifted CB they have to fill the loss of Tre so what are the Bills staff seeing that these people are not ?