“This Could Be My Last Play”
July 31st, 2021
Giovani Bernard
Tampa Bay has a new veteran player on the practice field.
They really do. Joe promises.
He’s running back Giovani Bernard, who forged an excellent eight-year career for himself with the Bengals as a third-down back who also is a capable runner.
Bernard was chatting yesterday about his attitude. He’s a work-ethic, team-first guy. That’s why he was so committed to attending voluntary spring practices when other Bucs veterans were staying home.
Bernard, 29, explained that he brings a simple approach to football that is timeless. “This could be my last play” is the steady mindset, he said, noting that he keeps it very basic with Tom Brady when it comes to his job out of the backfield. “At the end of the day, there’s really nothing to it, just get open.”
He added that Brady doesn’t overcomplicate things and just wants Bernard to beat the guy the guy covering him.
Joe already has seen Bernard catching a lot of extra balls after practice in the heat, which doesn’t seem to be fazing the Fort Lauderdale native one bit.
Buccaneers running backs caught 84 passes last season. Joe thinks Bernard easily could walk away with two-thirds of those balls in 2021.
July 31st, 2021 at 10:44 am
This guy is gonna come up HUGE in the playoffs. Pete can feel it.
July 31st, 2021 at 11:16 am
That’s a pro right there. Very happy to have him.
July 31st, 2021 at 11:23 am
The addition of Giovanni is gonna pay big dividends for us.
He can only help our passing game because he is one more threat defenders will have to account for.
July 31st, 2021 at 12:08 pm
I gotta see how good his blocking is. Little known fact. On that play where Brady hit Scotty on that bomb right before halftime Gronk missed a block and Playoff Lennie made a picked up the loose defender beautifully.
July 31st, 2021 at 12:09 pm
Replaces Shady…….Who can’t be happy about that? Shady was a great player in his prime but he contributed practically nothing to us last year.
July 31st, 2021 at 12:29 pm
Tampabaybucfan, I think he may have contributed a lot behind the scenes, such as knowledge, experience and leadership.
July 31st, 2021 at 12:57 pm
Best pickup in the offseason. Definitely an upgrade from Shady.
July 31st, 2021 at 1:30 pm
We’ll see. The video shows us next to nothing, but you can only record what’s being shown.
July 31st, 2021 at 1:53 pm
Bernard is BA’s kind of running back. He’ll prove his value in both the passing game & in pass-blocking. Got a hunch he’ll carve out a nice role this year, and will probably stick with us for another 2-3 more years.
July 31st, 2021 at 8:32 pm
He catches the ball..then what? He’s shot. Offers nothing as a runner or runner after catch.
August 1st, 2021 at 1:38 am
Very glad they have but I was hoping to see Vaughn more this year, he was good out of the back field in college
August 1st, 2021 at 7:44 am
Moving the sticks is good enough.
August 1st, 2021 at 8:08 am
Ya Jojo. He should be a very good possession receiver to keep drives going. Fills an important role that was a glaring weakness last season. Running backs with hands of stone.
August 1st, 2021 at 3:44 pm
Obviously the other one who should have been doing this is ROJO
August 2nd, 2021 at 8:26 am
He is the ultimate team player. Yes he can block and yes he can run after the catch. I have been watching him for 8 years. The fact that he left Cincy shows the Bengals ignorance.