GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Josh Norman has no doubt spent time this week watching film of Aaron Rodgers in preparation for Sunday's game at FedEx Field.
But it wasn't game film that came to Norman's mind Wednesday when asked to describe Rodgers. Instead, the Washington Redskins cornerback channeled "The Lord of the Rings."
"That is pretty much Gandalf the White over there," Norman said of Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers' quarterback, during a conference call with reporters. "That's a wizard. That's who he is, to me. Tom Brady is Gandalf the Grey and he's just an upper class of that. For me, that's the best of the best, man.
"I think a 'wizard' pretty much describes everything there is to know about the type of quarterback [Rodgers is]. ... That's him and Tom Brady. Of course, you have others. Yeah, I mean, that's the crème of the crème."
Norman was referring to J.R.R. Tolkien's series of books and Peter Jackson's movies, in which Gandalf the Grey is killed but returns as Gandalf the White.
When asked what he thought of the comparison, Rodgers said, "I love it, man. He's one of my favorite characters. I appreciate the comparison. Gandalf kind of fell into oblivion and then he came back and he's the White. He's a lot more powerful as the White. I don't really have any gray in the beard yet but I'll take any compliment from Josh like that, especially a 'Lord of the Rings' one. He didn't say Gimli so I felt pretty good about that."
Norman, who is in his first year in Washington, has apparently integrated himself into the Redskins' "Lord of the Rings" culture. Quarterback Kirk Cousins made reference to the series last season.
Week after week, opponents have praised Rodgers despite the Packers' struggles this season. They're coming off a 47-25 loss at Tennessee that dropped them to 4-5. They're on a three-game losing streak and have lost four of their last five as they prepare for the Redskins in Sunday night.
Diagnosing what's wrong with Rodgers and the Packers has become a popular topic this season, but Norman wouldn't partake in any of it.
"Man, I don't pay no attention to that," Norman said. "That's all people that are on the outside of the game and not an insider. That's all people who like to point out the X's and O's but, at the end of the day, look at the overall thing. That guy can hit you at any time, any place, anywhere, any given day. Any given game.
"I really don't care what the outside noise is. I know who we're facing and that's a cerebral quarterback that's the best of the best at what he's doing. Regardless of what others may think of him, I know for a fact that that is the toughest quarterback challenge to face because he has everything in his toolbox, in his arsenal, to make them win."
Norman said he wouldn't be lulled into thinking the Redskins were getting Rodgers, a two-time NFL MVP, at anything less than his best.
"What I'm concerned about is facing a cerebral quarterback that can light you up at any time," Norman said. "Yeah, I'm sure they're going to come in hungry. They took a pretty bad beating last week, they really did. I don't feel like they're going to come in here and lay this thing down. They're going to come out here fiery hot.
"A-Rod already said that it's on him, so I'm pretty sure that he's going to come out ready to go. I've got to be ready to go, too, because he's not going to shy away from nothing, I know that. I need to be on top of my P's and Q's, for sure."