Giovani Bernard said he has some unfinished business with the Cincinnati Bengals.
The three-year $15.5 million contract extension the 24-year-old running back signed last week gives him a chance to complete it.
“I’m definitely excited to be part of this team for that much longer,” Bernard said in his first address with the media since the extension was finalized June 8. “I think the biggest thing is that we still have a lot to do. I’m just happy to be here to be part of that. I think as an organization, there are things we want to accomplish and I’ll be there for that.”
The Bengals rewarded Bernard – who boosts his 2016 base salary from just over $1 million to an average value just over $5 million a year – for his production the past three years while he averaged 701.7 rushing yards and 445.0 receiving yards per game.
When asked about what it means to be a part of an organization that seems to like the continuity of keeping young players around, Bernard said he didn’t count on being a part of that trend.
“I just kept my head down and kept working and that’s how it’s going to continue to be,” Bernard said. “This is definitely a reward, this is definitely something I thank the front office for and something that’s a blessing. The biggest thing is just keep playing hard, just keep being who I am.”
Bernard is now among the league’s top 10 highest paid running backs.