“It’s Still Buzzing”
April 14th, 2021
New Bucs RB Giovani Bernard signs his contract. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers.)
Just think of the change of scenery in the past week for new Bucs running back Giovani Bernard.
When last week began, Bernard called Cincinnati home. Many trees likely still looked like brown claws as spring hasn’t yet fully bloomed. Coats are still in order. The football future of the Bengals casts a gloomy cloud over the Queen City.
Eight wins with a healthy quarterback sounds like a dream for residents along the Ohio River in 2021.
Then, Bernard is cut and in a matter of days he’s back in his home state of Florida, where the weather is Ohio-summer warm and the team that just signed him is hellbent on winning another Super Bowl.
And his quarterback isn’t just a second-year hopeful coming back from knee surgery, but the greatest quarterback, Tom Brady, who is still waiting for his seventh ring in the mail.
Today speaking to the Tampa Bay pen and mic club, Bernard said there is no question it is a different vibe at One Buc Palace.
“You can already feel the difference,” Bernard said of his first day at One Buc Palace. “That atmosphere — you could tell as soon as I walked into the building. Whether that is the facilities stuff or the cooks or the guys in the training room, to everybody here.
“You can tell there is an excitement. It’s still buzzing. Obviously [the organization] won the Super Bowl last year but you can tell that nobody has let their guard down. Everybody is excited for that next run.
“And I’m just excited to be a part of that.”
If fans get to watch that video, you can see how excited Bernard was and is. He looked and sounded like a guy that wanted to play a game now, not in September.
Joe can only guess the excitement in the building he spoke of already was rubbing off on him.
Damn, what a difference one old player from Boston can make.
April 14th, 2021 at 2:29 pm
Weekends with Bernie!
April 14th, 2021 at 2:40 pm
Joe – You are so right about that “one old player” comment. What a leader – in so many aspects of this organization. Unique.
April 14th, 2021 at 3:01 pm
Wesley, that’s a great comment (and an awesome movie). Twenty years from now our QB will still be Tom Brady. May have to assign 2 additional OLinemen to hold him upright in the pocket but hey, you do what you gotta do to win 20 Super Bowls in a row.
April 14th, 2021 at 3:01 pm
Great signing , there is just one more piece to the puzzle and this team is unstoppable.
April 14th, 2021 at 3:03 pm
He’s growing on me.
April 14th, 2021 at 3:08 pm
As I posted previously, Bernard must think he has died, and went to Heaven, compared to the trash Team he was on.
April 14th, 2021 at 3:13 pm
Gio is very well spoken, impressed.
April 14th, 2021 at 3:57 pm
I can’t really say why, but that was a terrific interview. Like this guy already.
April 14th, 2021 at 4:53 pm
he has experience at returner right?
GO BUCS!!!
April 14th, 2021 at 4:57 pm
“If fans get to watch that video, you can see how excited Bernard was and is. He looked and sounded like a guy that wanted to play a game now, not in September.”
My how times have changed. Remember Logan Mankins’ first presser when he got here? From the JBF archives:
Logan Mankins Seemed Dazed
August 28th, 2014
logan mankings 0826
“A shell-shocked Logan Mankins,”
“At times, Mankins seemed he was about to break out in tears. He stood slumped forward, constantly staring ahead with a faraway look in his eyes, mumbling answers. He wasn’t rude, but he clearly seemed homesick for New England.”
This is much better, yes indeed!
April 14th, 2021 at 5:00 pm
Very impressive. Starting to warm up to the Giovani buzz.
April 14th, 2021 at 5:03 pm
hes one of us now
April 14th, 2021 at 6:07 pm
Lokog, ya he’s one of us until he drops his first pass then the shat will fly. The dynamics will be interesting, Lenny and Rojo want to be the premier back and to be honest other than the 3rd & 4th in goal Rojo ran just as hard as Lenny in the SB, he just has stone thumbs. Now Bernard not to mention fumble your out Vaughn. A lot of guys for a team that likes to pass.
April 14th, 2021 at 6:26 pm
“superfly” (the original one)
April 14th, 2021 at 7:35 pm
I’m super happy that we signed this dude!
April 14th, 2021 at 9:50 pm
I’m as “pumped up” as he is ! A GREAT sign indeed !
April 14th, 2021 at 10:01 pm
Casual observer – I’d be more than happy to say why for you. Let me put it like this: watch the video where the reporter asked Anthony Edwards (NBA GUY) about Alex Rodriguez. It’s not the fact that he didn’t know who A-Rod is that bothered me, it was just…the WAY he is, the way he talked. 15 seconds of that video was enough to make me damn near hate the guy. Or should I say kid. At the end of the day 90 percent of these people I would never wanna spend even 5 seconds around at a bar because young people are extremely stupid and awful. We make compliments about Gio being so well spoken because it isn’t the norm and is a pleasant surprise and a breath of fresh air when you see someone acting and talking like a real man, and someone that doesn’t act like an entitled but plug
April 15th, 2021 at 6:44 am
I mean the guy did fo to UNC a school most of us can’t get into. What did you expect to hear….
Congrats GIO and welcome
April 15th, 2021 at 8:42 am
good player thats seen better days but good 3rd down receiving back just wish money was spent on d line depth with a already crowded rb room but a solid vet and teammate
April 15th, 2021 at 10:57 am
Good player good person great pickup!