Panthers CB Josh Norman pretends to be a different movie character every Sunday

Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman studies twice as much film as a typical NFL player. Not because he’ll be looking for Saints tendencies any more than the next guy, but because the Defensive Player of the Year candidate has to pick which movie character he’ll portray in New Orleans this week.

That’s right. As we learned in a wonderful Wall Street Journal feature, Norman channels a movie character every Sunday, going so far as listening to the soundtrack, memorizing lines and choreographing scenes.

“For the Tampa Bay game, I was Maximus,” he said, referencing the Roman soldier played by Russell Crowe in “Gladiator,” the 2001 Best Picture winner. “When I do this, my job is to go out there and be that guy. With Maximus, it’s to go out there and win the crowd, win the day. That’s what he did.”

You certainly can’t argue with the results, as Norman has collected 40 tackles, 15 pass breakups and four interceptions — two of which he returned for scores — for a defense that’s a big reason for Carolina’s 11-0 record. Among his roles throughout the season have been Mel Gibson’s William Wallace from “Braveheart,” Gerard Butler’s King Leonidas from “300” and Christian Bale’s Batman from “Dark Knight.”

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The last time Norman played the Saints, he channeled Brad Pitt’s Achilles from “Troy” and apparently left the field repeating, “There are not pacts between lions and men,” after his game-saving Week 3 pick.

The only logical thing left to do is offer Norman some ideas for characters to play down the stretch:

— at New Orleans Saints: Patrick Swayze’s Dalton from “Road House.”

In the classic tail of a small-town Missouri bar recruiting the best bouncer in New York City, Dalton joins the Double Deuce, where despite his strict rule about “being nice” to everyone who crosses his path, he rips a man’s throat out after being told, “I used to (expletive) guys like you in prison.” I’m not saying Norman should rip Brandin Cooks’ throat out, but he should deliver a big hit and yell, “Pain don’t hurt.”

— vs. Atlanta Falcons: Thomas Jane’s Frank Castle from “The Punisher.”

If you’re unfamiliar with this version of the comic book character, Castle is enjoying a family reunion in the Caribbean, when John Travolta’s bad-dude character orders a bunch of his henchman to wipe out the undercover FBI agent’s entire family. And this isn’t a small family reunion. Castle’s entire extended family and his wife’s entire extended family is there, because hundreds of relatives from two families so often have their family reunions together on a remote island. As far as vengeance films go, this is No. 1. In order to play this Frank Castle character properly, though, you really need to drink a handle of Wild Turkey.

— at New York Giants: Gideon Emery’s Krampus from “Krampus.”

This game falls right around Christmas. Now, the extent of my knowledge about “Krampus” only comes from the incessant trailers we’re treated to every NFL commercial break, but from what I can gather Krampus is basically Santa Claus if he were a murderous goat-like creature. Good one for the kids.

— at Atlanta Falcons: Liam Neeson’s Bryan Mills from “Taken.”

Easy one. Norman walks out to Julio Jones and delivers this soliloguy: “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.” Jones either responds, “Good luck,” or gets really confused if he’s never seen one of Hollywood’s greatest films.

— vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jeff Cohen’s Chunk from “Goonies.”

Pretty sure Norman could do the truffle shuffle on every play and Carolina would still win. If not, just get Charles Tillman to play the role of Sloth and scream, “Hey, you guys,” as he swings in to save the day.