Takeo Spikes remembers the first time he met Moran Norris.
Spikes and the Buffalo Bills were preparing to play the Texans, and Norris, then Houstons starting fullback, continued to catch his eye on the videotapes.
Norris looked so much like the toughest guy on the Texans offense that Spikes, the toughest guy on the Bills defense, bragged to his teammates that Norris would be in trouble come Sunday.
The two had never met, but Spikes geared himself up for a nasty encounter.
He (ticked) me off just watching him on film, Spikes said. Tough guy. I had a bounty out on him. I wanted to do him.
That Sunday afternoon, the two met on the football field. And they met. And met. And met.
Over and over, Spikes tried to lay the wood to Norris, and over and over, Norris, who brought his own wood on a number of occasions, came back for more.
I was giving it to him tagging him and tagging him giving him my best stuff, Spikes said, laughing. Were in the third, fourth quarter, and he was still coming, still talking.
What Spikes learned that day is something Norris friends, teammates and coaches have known for many years. Norris doesnt wear down easy. In fact, he thrives on the contact.
He earned a lot of respect from me that day, said Spikes, who didnt tell Norris how impressed he was until the two met again last year.
