Josh Norman says he was wowed by Redskins' Super Bowl trophies

ASHBURN, Va. -- Three Lombardi trophies shimmered in the lobby as Josh Norman walked into Redskins Park on Friday. The visual left an impression on the cornerback.

"It just really felt right. I started looking like, 'Man, we're really here in Tiffany's right now,'" said Norman, the Washington Redskins' new $75 million cornerback, during Monday's introductory news conference. "This feels mighty nice. I can't help but want to be a part of something that's special and great because we're on the rise, man. Get on the train or not."

Despite the optimistic vision, Norman wasn't feeling as positive following last Wednesday's decision by the Carolina Panthers to rescind his $13.95 million franchise tag. Norman said that upon returning from his stepsister's funeral, his agent informed him of the news.

"It kind of shakes the foundation of what you know," Norman said.

Norman added, "I cocked back and just -- I don't know, man -- sat in my room for a while. I was just staring at the wall. I really didn't want to be around nobody or deal with anything. I was trying to deal with it in my own way. ... It's kind of a shaken feeling."

Norman told ESPN's David Newton on Monday that he made a last-minute attempt to either sign his franchise tender after it was rescinded or work out a one-year deal for market value.

"My agent called them up and said if they wanted to do something, like a one-year, market-value [deal]," Norman told ESPN on Monday. "We wanted to come back. They said they weren't willing to, so we had to do what we had to do.

"My hands were tied in the whole thing."

Meanwhile, the Redskins were ready to swoop in to convince Norman to join their team.

Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan said he needed just 10 minutes to start courting Norman when he became available.

"I don't want to mention how many teams were involved. But it was a lot," McCloughan said Monday. "We knew we had to get him right away and just get him on an airplane."

Once Norman settled on the Redskins he began developing personal goals.

"I said I'm going to bring something magnificent here, bring everything I've got and give it to these guys," he said. "The fan base is so strong and they're looking for a championship here. And that's all I'm going to bring them, man, 110 percent, full-out effort."

It doesn't hurt that Norman is carrying a huge chip into this season after the Panthers walked away from the Pro Bowler in his prime.

"I carried a big bag with me when I came up here," Norman said. "I've still got that bag. It's on my back right now. You can't see it. But when I step between the white lines, I'm going to drop it. I can't wait until that time comes. Right now I'm just getting acclimated with my new teammates."

Redskins owner Daniel Snyder held a lengthy sit-down with Norman, 28, after the cornerback signed his megadeal that raised expectations.

What did Snyder tell Norman?

"'Hey, be yourself. Take the team, be a leader,'" Norman said. "'Don't feel pressure. Just be yourself.' That made me respect him even more. Mr. Snyder is just great. Hey, he wants to win. It don't matter what the cost, he wants to win."

Norman heard the track record of Snyder from his overzealous days when he would waste millions on over-the-hill free agents such as Albert Haynesworth, who turned into a $100 million bust.

But this is a new Redskins era headed for a change by a talented, draft-and-development general manager, McCloughan, who has the authority to call the shots.

So far, Norman, who led the league with his 54 percent passer rating allowed, according to Pro Football Focus, looks like a McCloughan coup and the potential missing piece to help the defending NFC East champs take that next step.

"I heard once they let you in they won't let you out," Norman said. "And I was thinking to myself, 'I don't know if that's true or not.' But I started going online, looking up the Redskins colors, doing more research."

He also will have the opportunity to face New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who Norman famously clashed with last season,twice a year.

"Best on best," Norman said. "You see me, I see you. Nothing more, nothing less. At the end of the day, after four quarters, let's see who is standing."

"I'm not done yet,'' the self-aware Norman said at his introductory news conference. "I haven't really got to the point where I feel like I've made it ...

"I'm just starting, to be honest with you. All my life I've been doubted, counted out, Carolina castaway. But now I have got a chance to make those doubters, everybody saying things about me reflect back and make that wrong a right, show them something different."