I’m not sure how badly cornerback Josh Norman wants to be a Carolina Panther after getting into a fight with franchise quarterback Cam Newton Monday at practice. Here’s what I do know; Cam Newton is a big guy and can throw around a 6-foot cornerback like he’s nothing.
Love Cam SMILING while he’s tossing Josh Norman around. Great pics here: http://t.co/F0IFtDEzoy pic.twitter.com/y9NBfDh9C5
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) August 10, 2015
While I’m sure Norman isn’t the most popular guy to the coaches and team management after this altercation, in the grand scheme of things it’s probably not that big a deal and shows that Newton has a pretty good bond with his fellow teammates. Still, it’s hard to see a guy wrestling with Aaron Rodgers on the Packers and remaining employed. But every team is different.
Cam Newton and Josh Norman get into scuffle after Norman makes pick. #Panthers pic.twitter.com/MMPARTxMab
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) August 10, 2015
Newton just signed a $20 million a year contract this offseason and is coming off a playoff appearance and NFC south championship. He also is half a foot taller than Norman and outweighs him by 50 pounds of pure muscle, so maybe the fourth-year corner needs to think things through a little better in the future.
Panthers’ Johnson injures calf
With pass rushers at a premium on the Panthers’ roster, they can’t afford to lose defensive end Charles Johnson for any significant time. Monday Johnson injured his calf and had to be carted off the field. The Panthers don’t know how serious the injury is yet, but don’t expect it to be too bad.
https://twitter.com/BlackBlueReview/status/630737118931910656
Johnson had 41 tackles, 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles last season and two sacks in the Panthers’ playoff run.
Suisham out for the year after one preseason game
The NFL preaseason has cost many a player their season before and the first prize winner of 2015 is Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham, who tore his ACL while recording a tackle of all things on a kick off return in Sunday’s Hall of Fame preseason game against the Vikings.
The Steelers have already scheduled work outs with free agent kickers including Jay Feely, Alex Henery and Garrett Hartley.
#Steelers kicker workouts tomorrow now Shaun Suisham is done for the season: Jay Feely, Alex Henery, and Garrett Hartley, at least.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 10, 2015
Suisham was the fifth-best kicker in the NFL last season.
Eagles’ JaCory Shepherd tears ACL
Suisham wasn’t the only player to go down over the last two days with a season-ending ACL injury. Philadelphia Eagles sixth-round draft pick JaCory Shepherd out of Kansas tore up his right knee Sunday.
Shepherd had an MRI Monday morning and is expected to miss the entire 2015 season. The injury comes just a week after the Eagles traded away cornerback Brandon Boykin to the Steelers, in part because of the depth that Shepherd represented.
This is the second Eagle to go down since camp started. Last week Philadelphia lost linebacker Travis Long with a left ACL tear in a noncontact drill.
Somebody needs to keep Sam Bradford in bubble wrap.
Patriots cut Flynn, sign Lindley
Nagging injuries cost former Green Bay Packers back up Matt Flynn a job with the New England Patriots Monday. The team cut Flynn who has been on the active non-football injury list since camp began and has not been able to take a snap.
Matt Flynn, who was cut by Pats, has made $18 million throughout his NFL career. He has thrown for 17 TD's.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 10, 2015
With starting quarterback Tom Brady facing a four-game suspension for cheating in the DeflateGate scandal and backup Jimmy Garapolo having a less than stellar camp, the Patriots had to get a healthy body signed and decided that body belonged to former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley, who went 1-5 as a starter last year including a wild card playoff loss.
Flynn likely won’t be out of work long and would be a smart signing by multiple teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, the New York Jets, the Cincinnati Benglas and especially the Washington Redskins. Jay Gruden should be filling his voicemail inbox with messages right now.
In Case You Missed It
Here’s a couple of videos you might have missed over the weekend. The first was a brawl between the Houston Texans and the Redskins during a joint practice Saturday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jBBjfazhz8
And in case you think Odell Beckham Jr. might be in for a sophomore slump, check out this catch he made in practice with the New York Giants Saturday.
