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So sad!!!!

He was an absolute beast stuffing the run up the middle and he could out right boogie to the ball despite his size. He had the best cuts, shifts and momentum changes for a guy his size I've ever seen.... also a super sweet personality to boot! How could you not love him. Such a shame!



I remember in '01 after beating the Rams to advance to the Wild Card round, where they would face the Rams again, he came out and stated that they would hold Marshall Faulk to under 50 yards rushing!!! He was reminded that Faulk had just ran for over 100 yards on them.... he smugly held his head high and repeated his outlandish claim. I don't know why, but at the time, it didn't seem jaded, and I know from my own personal feelings, I was confident in him and it just got me pumped up (opposed to scratching my head). Turns out, they held Faulk to under 25 yards.... EPIC! That is and was to this day, the boldest claim I've heard made and delivered in the game.

HintOfLogic

also, I don't know the circumstances regarding his death.... but I've got a feeling a lot of issues are going to be made in regards to oversized players and their health following this. I don't know if y'all remember, but around the time he was finishing his duties as a Saint.... there was a big news story about oversized players and their helath risk. It literally featured him. It also talked about his Fried Chicken place he opened up and all. but in all, the theme was the high health risk these overweight guys face especially when they retire from the game. Regretfully, he was also let go from the Saints because of lingering weight issues and lack of the ability to reach target weights. I faintly remember a coach or team personnel coming out and publically saying they were concerned about his weight.... not as it pertained to playing the game, but for his own health.

st thomas

the hand that rocked the cradle (QBs) like me and my old man used to yell at him. RIP BIG WIGGLE.

QBREES9

God Bless Norman, you left us way to soon. Prayers and thoughts go out to his family.

st thomas

i do remember he opened a wings place or something of sort nice call. what a big teddy bear.

diamond12

My condolensces to his family.

breesfan27

So sad.

RIP Norman Hand.

CashAndFlash

when I applied for college, one of the questions for the place I eventually ended up going to was to name three people you would like to have dinner with. this was spring of '01, and Big Norm was one of them.

RIP.

CheramieIII

Hey Norman say hi to JoeSam and Buddy D for us. Damn, just damn!

TheDeuce

That's too bad, RIP.