n after Atlanta traded away Gold Glove shortstop Andrelton

GREEN BAY, Wis. --?Josh Norman has no doubt spent time this week watching film of Aaron Rodgers in preparation for Sundays game at FedEx Field.But it wasnt game film that came to Normans 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. Thats a wizard. Thats who he is, to me. Tom Brady is Gandalf the Grey and hes just an upper class of that. For me, thats 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]. ... Thats him and Tom Brady. Of course, you have others. Yeah, I mean, thats the crème of the crème.Norman was referring to J.R.R. Tolkiens series of books and Peter Jacksons 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. Hes one of my favorite characters. I appreciate the comparison. Gandalf kind of fell into oblivion and then he came back and hes the White. Hes a lot more powerful as the White. I dont really have any gray in the beard yet but Ill take any compliment from Josh like that, especially a Lord of the Rings one. He didnt 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. Theyre coming off a 47-25 loss at Tennessee that dropped them to 4-5. Theyre on a three-game losing streak and have lost four of their last five as they prepare for the Redskins in Sunday night.Diagnosing whats wrong with Rodgers and the Packers has become a popular topic this season, but Norman wouldnt partake in any of it.Man, I dont pay no attention to that, Norman said. Thats all people that are on the outside of the game and not an insider. Thats all people who like to point out the Xs and Os 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 dont care what the outside noise is. I know who were facing and thats a cerebral quarterback thats the best of the best at what hes 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 wouldnt be lulled into thinking the Redskins were getting Rodgers, a two-time NFL MVP, at anything less than his best.What Im concerned about is facing a cerebral quarterback that can light you up at any time, Norman said. Yeah, Im sure theyre going to come in hungry. They took a pretty bad beating last week, they really did. I dont feel like theyre going to come in here and lay this thing down. Theyre going to come out here fiery hot.A-Rod already said that its on him, so Im pretty sure that hes going to come out ready to go. Ive got to be ready to go, too, because hes not going to shy away from nothing, I know that. I need to be on top of my Ps and Qs, for sure. 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ATLANTA -- Shortstop Dansby Swanson, born and raised in the north Atlanta suburbs, had a big dream come true Wednesday night.Thats the only way you can really sum it up, he said. Playing for your hometown team and basically going out there and doing what youve worked your whole life for is pretty special.Swanson, the Braves top prospect and the No. 1 overall draft pick of 2015, had his contract selected from Double-A Mississippi and went 2 for 4 batting eighth in his debut.It came in another lackluster effort by the Braves -- a 10-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins in a matchup of the two worst teams in the majors.But the sparse crowd at Turner Field, not unusual this season for a team that dropped to 18-41 at home, gave Swanson loud cheers before and during the game. He walked up to his first at-bat with Ludacris Georgia playing over the speakers and received a standing ovation before lining out in the second inning.The 22-year-old Swanson met with family and friends before the game and loved hearing a group of them cheer from their seats about 30 rows up from home plate.Theyre nuts, I know, Swanson said. It was great to hear that. It means a lot to me. I love every single one of them and Im just glad they were able to be a part of it.Next year figures to be just as special. Swansons family home will be even closer as the Braves move into a new ballpark in Marietta, just a few miles from his former high school.The Braves made it 2-2 in the third on Freddie Freemans 24th homer. Other than that two-run shot, the focus was on Swanson, who singled in the fourth, struck out in the seventh and singled in the ninth.Swanson was running on adrenaline and excitement before the game.After a six-hour drive from Jackson, Mississippi, on Tuesday night, he arrived at his parents home in Marietta at 2 a.m. He got about four hours of sleep, took a surreal drive to Turner Field and was the first player to arrive in the clubhouse around 11 a.m., spending 30 minutes talking with Brian Snitker in the interim managers office.Hes a very well-grounded kid, very intelligent, Snitker ssaid before the game.dddddddddddd He gets it. The intangibles are just dripping off this young man, not to mention his athletic abilities as a baseball player.Atlanta created a spot on the 25-man roster for Swanson after trading shortstop Erick Aybar to Detroit on Tuesday night and designating Mike Aviles, the utility man acquired in the deal, for assignment.Swanson was eager to get on the field and prove that he belongs in the big leagues. He was the first No. 1 overall pick to debut in the season following his draft year since Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg in 2009.Expectations have been predictably high since last December, when the Braves traded pitcher Shelby Miller and minor leaguer Gabe Speier to Arizona for Swanson, center fielder Ender Inciarte and pitcher Aaron Blair.Swanson was projected to fill a big spot at his position after Atlanta traded away Gold Glove shortstop Andrelton Simmons the month before.Pressure is kind of something that comes about when I guess you dont believe in yourself as much, that you dont believe in something you can do or accomplish, Swanson said. I just worry about what I can control and theres no pressure on myself when I do that.Swanson spent just 127 games in the minors. The former Vanderbilt standout had a combined .275 average and nine homers and 55 RBI in 105 games between Mississippi and Class A Carolina.This is a very smart kid and a good player, President of Baseball Operations John Hart said. However he performs up here, I think its going to be beneficial for him and for us as we go to make a decision to what were going to do with the shortstop position next year.Swanson said he was too young to remember his first game at Turner Field, but by the time he was old enough to pay attention, Braves star third baseman Chipper Jones made a lasting impression.Every time I came to a game, Chipper always hit a home run, like five different times, Swanson said. It was pretty spectacular. ' ' '