Panthers rescind franchise tag on cornerback Josh Norman

The Panthers have rescinded the non-exclusive franchise tag on cornerback Josh Norman, making him an unrestricted free agent.

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The Panthers have rescinded the non-exclusive franchise tag on cornerback Josh Norman, making him an unrestricted free agent, the team announced on Tuesday.

According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, the team and Norman’s agent were not close on contract talks, and the team ultimately decided to part ways instead of keeping him.

Talks between Josh Norman's agent & #Panthers were not going well. They weren't close. Most teams hold onto the player. Not the Panthers

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 20, 2016

The team had tagged Norman in March after he completed the final season of the four-year, $2.3 million rookie contract he signed with the Panthers in 2012. 

Context from Panthers source: Panthers didn’t think looming distraction of an inevitable holdout was worth the one-year, $14 million lease.

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) April 20, 2016

Norman earned first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career in 2015 after logging 48 tackles with four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, in 16 starts for the Panthers.

– Kenny Ducey