The Bengals did what they're great at doing and re-signed one of their best young players today. Giovani Bernard, currently 24-years-old, will be only 28 when his deal with the Bengals expires following the 2019 season. Reports emerged a few weeks ago that the Bengals were trying to extend Bernard's contract, but the team rarely does contract extensions at this point in the offseason so the announcement was somewhat of a surprise.
Bernard was set to play the final year of his rookie contract in 2016, but now is locked up for the next four years.
The response to Bernard's extension was overwhelmingly optimistic, so let's take a look at what fans and the media are saying.
What a deal for Gio and Bengals. https://t.co/jwEZIRJZ10
— Lindsay Patterson (@LndsPatterson) June 8, 2016
Congrats G! https://t.co/shDnLZnlzl
— Cedric Ogbuehi (@Nuff_ced70) June 8, 2016
Aye @G_Bernard25 congrats on that contract extension boss!! glad you will be here for awhile...#RunGio...#JungleLife pic.twitter.com/pjZAyjKAHn
— Who Dey Nation CEO (@BengalsFiend) June 8, 2016
The Bengals got a great deal with Gio Bernard. Believe he is only going to get better
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) June 8, 2016
I am ALL ABOUT this. Good for Gio, good for the Bengals. https://t.co/xuQNq8enmN
— Andrea Hangst (@FBALL_Andrea) June 8, 2016
I’d be surprised if Bernard didn’t significantly out-gain Jeremy Hill again.
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) June 8, 2016
Looks like a top 10 RB per year deal for Gio.
— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) June 8, 2016
Giovani Bernard is 24, turns 25 in Nov. & has plenty of snaps still in him since hasn't been asked to be workhorse. Signed through age 28.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) June 8, 2016
the selling point: when deal runs out in 2019, he'll only be 28
— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) June 8, 2016
Crazy to think in 2019 Gio will only be 28.
— Lindsay Patterson (@LndsPatterson) June 8, 2016
This has been an out-of-ordinary offseason for #Bengals. Almost never do extensions this time of year, but now two of them (Shawn Williams)
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) June 8, 2016
.@G_Bernard25 has been a player doing everything the right way since moment he walked in building. Team always tries to reward those guys.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) June 8, 2016
Happy for @G_Bernard25. He's earned every penny of that extension.
— Connor Howe (@HoweNFL) June 8, 2016
Happy to have him. https://t.co/7CpLgGQrWA
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) June 8, 2016
Jeremy Hill needs a good season. Usually isn't a good idea to pay 2 RBs decent money. Hill having a great year forces the Bengals to pay.
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) June 8, 2016
Congrats to #Bengals running back Giovani Bernard on his contract extension. pic.twitter.com/0AgmTqEQdy
— Emily Parker (@Emily_Parker) June 8, 2016
Glad I get to rock my @G_Bernard25 jersey for 3 more years. #WhoDey!
— Joe (@JoeskiBroski) June 8, 2016
Giovani Bernard finished last season as PFF' 24th-highest-graded RB; cracked the top five in his rookie year (2013). pic.twitter.com/cf3hBRRmc6
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) June 8, 2016
Gio Bernard is an important Bengals piece. He'll have a big role this season.
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) June 8, 2016
Gio Bernard is one of my favorite guests on #BeyondTheStripes. He has one of the best stories in the NFL. He's pretty good at football too
— Lindsay Patterson (@LndsPatterson) June 8, 2016
Can't help but to smile when someone you respect a great deal gets his turn to get paid. Congrats to Gio!! #WhoDey
— Eric Winston (@ericwinston) June 8, 2016