Redskins CB Norman was benched for ignoring Gruden

"I made that boy check out after the first half," Thomas wrote, sparking the yo-yo exchange and the mother of all defensive back insults: zone corner.

Cornerback Josh Norman's benching at the start of the second half of the Washington Redskins' Monday night loss to New Orleans led to a Twitter spat with Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, but a new report suggests Norman's aggravation didn't end there.

Norman wasn't benched for his play on the field, but for refusing to take off his headphones as Washington coach Jay Gruden spoke to the team at halftime, according to Redskins pregame show host Kevin Sheehan, who discussed it on his podcast.

"The reason Josh Norman was benched for the start of the second half against the Saints had very little to do with him getting lost in coverage," Sheehan said, according to a Washington Post transcript. "At halftime, according to my source, he put his headphones on while the coaches were addressing the team.

Jay Gruden told him to take them off. He either didn't hear Jay or he ignored him, but with that, I was told, the headphones were removed. By whom? My source says that he believes it was Gruden who removed the headphones from Norman's head. But regardless, Gruden benched him to start the third quarter, and that was the reason why."

Sheehan also said there seems to be some tension between Norman and several of the team's coaches.

Thomas, the No. 1 receiver for the Saints, drew a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct during the game and spent much of the game jawing with Redskins defensive backs. On Saturday, the NFL fined Thomas $10,026 for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Thomas then called out Norman via Twitter in a back-and-forth that arguably was more competitive than the WR-CB matchup during the game.

Thomas caught four passes for 74 yards in the Saints' lopsided 43-19 win.

Norman was benched for five plays and allowed two touchdowns on two targets, good for a 158.3 passer rating, per Pro Football Focus.

"I made that boy check out after the first half," Thomas wrote, sparking the yo-yo exchange and the mother of all defensive back insults: zone corner.

Norman replied to the first tweet: "You clout chasing! 25-times Lined it up toe-toe (blocking decoy) outcome of that 0-0-0!! Drew didn't even look yo damn way 'Juice' Waste of a tweet!"

Thomas replied: "Zone Corner, play your role. Lol, you don't have any clout to chase. I didn't have to do nothing but punk you all day and watch you bust coverages all game and cost your team so who really a clown(?) And I'm going to bully you ever(y) time I see you just so you know #sis."

The exchange continued for a while before Norman began deleting his tweets, prompting one final dig from Thomas: "You corny for deleting your tweets @J_No24 we grown man walk it as you talk it. Goofball con artist this my favourite part when we find out you not who you say you are."

Following news of the fine Saturday, Thomas simply tweeted "Child support," perhaps another dig at Norman.