Bernard, 30, becomes a free agent and now will be looking for a new opportunity.
“Something I’ve prided myself on is how you rebound from something bad,” Bernard said in December after helping the Bengals bounce back from a bad loss to Dallas to beat Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football. “Throughout my life I’ve been dealt bad cards here and there, but it’s always what does that next hand hold. There is always an opportunity to capitalize. There is always an opportunity to grow from your mistakes or whatever it may have been.”
No better friend, teammate and mentor than @G_bernard25. I’ll always cherish our time together and can’t thank him enough for all he has meant to my career. Wherever he goes is getting a great player and even better person.
— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) April 7, 2021
The Bengals reportedly had been trying to trade Bernard, who was set to become a free agent in 2022. Cutting him saves $4.1 million in cap space, and they have others to turn to in his absence – plus flexibility in the draft to add to the group.
Cincinnati re-signed Samaje Perine to a two-year deal last month, and Mixon is healthy following a foot injury that sidelined him the final 10 games of 2020. Trayveon Williams also returns, entering his third season.
Bernard played in 115 games with 30 starts during his eight seasons in Cincinnati. While he rushed for 3,697 yards and 22 touchdowns on 921 carries, he also was a significant contributor in the passing game. His 342 career receptions are the most by a running back in Bengals history, and his 2,867 receiving yards are second-most.
“No better friend, teammate and mentor than (Gio Bernard),” Mixon wrote on Twitter. “I’ll always cherish our time together and can’t thank him enough for all he has meant to my career. Wherever he goes is getting a great player and even better person.”
Mixon’s extended absence last season led to a bigger role for Bernard. He finished 2020 with 416 yards and three touchdowns on 124 carries to go along with 355 yards receiving and three touchdowns on 47 catches.
That was the most carries he had seen since topping 150 rushes each of his first three seasons in 2013 to 2015. Bernard carried the ball just 53 times in 2019 and 56 times in an injury-shortened 2018 season.
“I just can’t say enough about his leadership and the way he’s led this offense,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said of Bernard in December. “As guys have gotten injured — we’ve had a lot of leaders get injured; a lot of energy guys — and Gio has just been that steady guy for us.”
In addition to his on-field production, Bernard was a supportive voice for Taylor the past two seasons and a player who led by example and voice in the locker room. The Cincinnati Chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America named Bernard the “Good Guy” award winner in January for his professionalism and cooperation with media and understanding the media’s role in covering the team.
“I’ve always been a type of guy, ever since I came in, when those opportunities show themselves, just take advantage of them because you never know what’s going to happen, especially playing the position that I play at running back,” Bernard said after recording two touchdowns against Pittsburgh on Dec. 21.
The Bengals likely will be looking at running backs in the draft to help add around Mixon. They focused attention in free agency on signing new players on defense and could be looking at an offensive-heavy draft, as they hold the No. 5 spot with a first-round pick expected to go to Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell or LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Cincinnati did not draft any running backs last year but took two of them in 2019 – Williams and Rodney Anderson in the sixth round. Anderson was released last year.t.
About the Author