Josh Norman Responds to Giants' Criticism of Week 1 Performance

Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman continues to be a topic of conversation around the NFL, with the latest edition coming from New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz and cornerback Janoris Jenkins. 

On Thursday, Norman responded to their comments, which called into question the amount of time he spent covering Pittsburgh Steelers star pass-catcher Antonio Brown on Monday night, per John Keim of ESPN.com:

"

When you're at the top of your profession, someone is always trying to grab at you just because they're not at the top of your profession. You just have to extend down your arm and hand them an olive branch.

Crazy thing is, I guess if you say something, you get yourself on TV -- cause I'm always on. Add up the number of people who are saying something against me, compared to how many I say something to them, you'll see the vast number of people. Wow.

"

In what was expected to be the second great matchup of the season between a star wide receiver and cornerback after the Cincinnati Bengals' A.J. Green dominated the New York Jets' Darrelle Revis on Sunday, football fans were disappointed as Norman matched up against Pittsburgh's elite receiver sparingly. 

Washington's strategy allowed Brown to run wild Monday night, catching eight passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. According to ESPN Stats & Info, all four of Brown's targets on attempts of 15 yards or more came while Norman was on the opposite side of the field.

Washington's secondary pass defenders couldn't stop him, as he caught all four of those passes for 92 yards and a touchdown in the 38-16 Pittsburgh victory.

The NFL shared a replay of Brown burning cornerback Bashaud Breeland for a touchdown:

It left Cruz dumbfounded, as he told the media Wednesday, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com.

"Especially if he calls himself—I don't call him this, he calls himself the best corner in the league—then you have to go cover the best receivers on the other team," he said. "Going in, I thought he was going to follow AB all over the place, but he didn't. So it is what it is. He made his choice."

Jenkins called Norman's five-year, $75 million deal into question, per Raanan: "I think when you're paying someone $70 million, there shouldn't be no game plan. The game plan should be, you're on this guy and that's what it is."

Norman and the Redskins will take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, and all eyes will focus on whether Washington's All-Pro corner keeps tabs on star receiver Dez Bryant.

However, plenty of fans will be looking ahead to the following week, when the Redskins and Giants will meet at MetLife Stadium as Norman gets reacquainted with Odell Beckham Jr. after their fine-filled encounter in Week 15 last season.

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.