the oddity is that the Panthers did offer him the tag in the first place, that he had plenty of time to sign with the cap ramifications, and the Panthers knew he was looking to get the highest CB contract. Doing this makes it more likely they'll get a lesser compensatory pick in return with clubs spending most of their free agency money (or Norman signing a 1 year deal, with an outrageously high 2nd year option a la Revis w/ Pats, to test free agency next year, equating to a 6th round compensatory for example)... which is why speculation some event, be it a failed test or legal, contributed to this move.