UNC Football: Giovani Bernard released by Cincinnati Bengals
The former UNC football running back is looking for a new home after he was released by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Giovani Bernard has spent his entire NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals. The former UNC football standout was drafted by the Bengals in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, and has been a rather productive player for them ever since.
In eight seasons with the organization, Bernard has accumulated 6,564 yards from scrimmage and scored 33 total touchdowns. Mostly used as a complimentary running back, Bernard embraced his role in Cincinnati and made the most of his opportunity.
After starting a career-high 10 games during the 2020 season, it appeared as if Bernard still had a role with the Bengals moving forward. However, that isn’t the case.
Gio Bernard asked for his release and the #Bengals granted it, source says. The team had asked him to take a pay cut two weeks into free agency, which hurt his chances of landing elsewhere. But he's expected to find a new gig soon.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 7, 2021
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Bengals asked the veteran running back to take a pay cut. This request occurred about two weeks into the free agency process, which definitely impacted his chance to find opportunities with other franchises. After this situation, Bernard asked for his release, and the organization granted his wish.
Now, after spending his entire eight-year career with one organization, the former Tar Heel is looking for a new home.
As Garafolo noted in the above tweet, Bernard’s late start to the free agency process shouldn’t impact his ability to find a new gig. It is possible that Bernard’s process could be quick, as signing with a new team within the near future is definitely not out of the picture.
Heading into his age 30 season, Bernard still has a lot to offer. He isn’t a guy that you’d view as a “featured back,” but with the way the NFL currently operates, it’s never a bad thing to have too much depth at the running back position.
There could be a handful of teams in the mix for Bernard’s services. Given his ability to make an impact in both the run and pass game, teams looking for additional depth at the position could take a close look at the veteran running back, especially teams that have playoff aspirations for the 2021 season.
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