Giovani Bernard, Bengals Agree to New Contract: Details, Comments and Reaction

Running back Giovani Bernard will be with the Cincinnati Bengals for the foreseeable future after he received a contract extension on Wednesday.

The Bengals announced the news on Twitter:

According to USA Today's Tom Pelissero, the Bengals were “finalizing” the three-year, $15.5 million deal on Wednesday. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirmed the report.

“I love Cincinnati and want to be here for as long as I can," Bernard told reporters after.

"It’s a secure feeling knowing I’ll be here and can help this team win," Bernard added. "I can’t picture myself in anything but orange and black."

The Bengals selected Bernard No. 37 overall in the 2013 draft, and he has been durable and consistent. He played in 45 of a possible 48 regular-season games in the first three years of his career, all of which ended in a postseason appearance.

Bernard posted more than 1,000 total yards from scrimmage in each of his three seasons as a valuable pass-catcher out of the backfield and someone who averaged four or more yards per carry since he was drafted:

Season	Games	Carries	Rushing Yards	Yards per Carry	Catches	Receiving Yards	Total Touchdowns
2013	16	170	695	4.1	56	514	8
2014	13	168	680	4.0	43	349	7
2015	16	154	730	4.7	49	472	2

NFL.com's Chris Trapasso tweeted that the extension was “well-deserved” and described Bernard as the “ideal ‘modern day’ air/scat RB” because of his vision, shiftiness and hands as a pass-catcher.

Bernard forms half of the Bengals' “thunder and lightning” combination in the backfield alongside fellow running back Jeremy Hill. Hill is a 6’1”, 235-pound bruiser who picks up difficult yardage in the trenches, while Bernard is more of a speed threat (4.53-second 40-yard dash) who can get to the outside and contribute in the aerial attack.

Hill is the traditional workhorse with 445 carries in the past two seasons compared to Bernard’s 322, but splitting the carries helps keep them fresh. Both running backs played all 16 games in 2015. 

Perhaps the best part of the extension from Cincinnati’s perspective is Bernard is only 24 years old and theoretically just approaching his prime. Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com tweeted that he thinks Bernard “is only going to get better” and called it a “great deal” for the Bengals.

The Bengals lost wide receivers Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones to free agency this offseason but still feature Bernard, Hill and wide receiver A.J. Green offensively. They will look to continue their impressive run of five straight postseason appearances.