Gameday inside the mind of Josh Norman: How he finds the ‘dark place’

Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman often talks about getting in a “dark place” before games, something he did before facing Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant on Thanksgiving Day.

Norman, a big fan of all things Batman and gladiator movies, went to a darker place last month against New York Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr. Their game-long series of fights brought $26,000 in fines for Norman and a one-game suspension for Beckham.

The fallout from that game also resulted in a more subdued Norman for the Panthers’ final two regular-season games, against Atlanta and Tampa Bay.

Norman agreed to give the Observer a look into his pregame routine as he prepared to face the Bucs on Jan. 3 in Charlotte. He offered details on everything from his preferred room-service order to his Spotify playlist and his favorite lines from “Gladiator,” one of four or five warrior-type movies he watches before games on a rotation.

We gave Norman a digital tape recorder and carte blanche as to what he was willing to share.

Here’s what he gave us:

Saturday, Jan. 2

10:20 p.m.: I just got back in the room (at the team hotel in SouthPark). Every time at a home game I order my chicken wings and french fries and prepare myself with the last meal before we go into this dogfight. Get my mind right. Talking to the last few people of the night actually. Get myself prepared, go into this shower. Get myself together.

I’ve got my playlist going. I got my Fray, Teardrop, Into the Dust, the Wind, All that You Are, Transformers, the Dark Knight, I Can Barely Say – the Fray again, Be Still – the Fray, and Now We Are Free.

I play all that while I’m in the shower, get my mind together, get my thoughts clear. As I come out the shower, I end up ending it with putting on all my stuff.

11 p.m.: I just got back out of the shower and I’m putting on all my gadgets and my leggings, my tights, to compress my legs. I’m playing “Mask of Zorro” (soundtrack) just trying to ease on into the night. Getting ready to tap out and go to sleep. Bed check and everything’s up.

No movie tonight since the schedule got flexed till 4:20. I’m going to catch that in the morning before I go to the stadium at 2 o’clock.

Sunday, Jan. 3

9:30 a.m.: I woke up, getting ready to go down here. When I woke up I said my prayers and (read) my Scripture. From there I brushed my teeth, packed my bags and getting ready to walk downstairs, get in the car and ride on out to the house.

11 a.m. (back at Norman’s uptown condo): Watching “Gladiator.” (He begins quoting a line from the movie, which can be heard in the background). ‘My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.’ … It’s going down.

Sometime later: I just got finished watching this “Gladiator.” He won the crowd. So we will win the crowd today.

About 1:45 p.m. (in Norman’s Dodge Charger): Not much more to be said about it. I’m in the car, getting my brother (Renaldo) to drive me. As I head out the car I’m getting ready to walk down the stadium back (entrance). Looking at all the people outside and ready to walk up to the entrance now.

Hundreds of fans outside screaming our names. Getting ready to go get it. Can’t think of no better way (than) to play right now (than at) BoA.

About 2 p.m. (in the locker room): Finally at the stadium, walking up. I got my “Superman,” my “Spider-Man” playing in the background. Taking off everything. About ready to get in the hot tub, get my legs right for this movement.

2:35 p.m. (in the training room): Less than an hour down (before taking the field for warmups), getting ready to go. In this hot tub getting right. About to get stretched in a second.

I feel like the anticipation of this game is rising within. Oooowhhheeeeee. I guess we’re about to find out what happens in less than an hour.

Until then, hey, tune in and I guess we’ll catch you guys after this game. There’s a great saying that was once said that we’ll have up today, and this saying is: The devil whispered, ‘You cannot withstand the storm.’ And the warrior replies back, ‘I am the storm.’ …

Let’s go get ’em.

(Editor’s note: Norman had two tackles and a pass breakup in the 38-10 victory over Tampa Bay. He didn’t have many passes thrown his way. For the season, quarterbacks had a 54.0 passer rating when throwing toward Norman, the best mark among all cornerbacks.)

This story was originally published January 16, 2016 at 7:30 AM with the headline "Gameday inside the mind of Josh Norman: How he finds the ‘dark place’."