The 49ers put on a clinic of shooting themselves in foot during Sunday’s 31-17 loss to the Cardinals. Perhaps no moment encapsulated that more than Josh Norman’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty midway through the second quarter.
With the Cardinals up 14-0, the 49ers held firm on a 3rd and 19 at their own 18 yard line, stopping Rondale Moore for a loss of two yards. It looked like a huge play to force a 36-yard field goal.
Yet it was erased by Norman’s penalty, which took place after the cornerback got in the face of Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury and then in the face of some Cardinals players near the Arizona sideline. When the dust settled both Kingsbury and Norman were issued penalties, giving the Cardinals a 1st and 24 at their own 25.
Cardinals tackle D.J. Humphries was one of players who got into it with Norman. After the game, Humphries made it clear he had unfinished business with Norman.
“I just saw him walking toward Kliff like a tough guy, flexing his arms, so I wanted to nip it in the bud,” Humphries said of the incident. “Was looking for him after the game, but I couldn’t find him. I had my helmet off. I wanted to give him an advantage.”
Norman did not speak after the game, but Shanahan explained the incident from his vantage point.
“I didn’t have much of a view on it, Josh told me that some of their coaches were talking to him so he was talking back,” Shanahan said. “Then he told me he got head-butted by one of their offensive linemen, and then he said he got the taunting penalty.”
Norman didn’t play another down after the incident. Shanahan said he it was his decision to pull him out initially, but other members of the coaching staff decided to bench Norman for the se
“I wanted him to get out right there. I wanted him to cool down a little bit. Then in the third quarter we kept Dre in which wasn’t my decision but I was okay with it.”