I would have to say that first preseason game. Just to put the pads on as an NFL player for the first time. It's a humbling experience because you realize that you are here and now you have an opportunity to go to work and continue to better yourself as a player. It's what you work for as an athlete and you know once you get there the real work begins.
Giovani BernardEvery team in the NFL is hard, but when we play our own division it's a fight. Our goal is to make it to the playoffs and to do that we have to win games within the division. We match up well against this division, it's just a matter of getting on the field and doing what we know we can do.
Giovani BernardYou don't realize how long that NFL season is. It's a long season, especially in your first year. Not only do you spend a lot of time preparing for the draft and working out, but they you have OTAs, minicamps, training camp, preseason games. By the time you get to week six you've already had one of the longest years of your football life and you still have 11 weeks to go, plus the playoffs.
Giovani BernardI'm expecting a lot from myself, I have set the bar high and I want to do really well for my teammates. I love working out and preparing so I have spent a lot of time doing that.
Giovani BernardBenJarvus Green-Ellis was great to me. He's the type of person that you want to learn from because he understands the game and he's been in the league for a while. He's a great role model to a lot of guys on the team, including myself.
Giovani BernardI don't know how much things have changed. You still need to be able to run the ball, pick up blitzes and catch the ball out of the backfield. Perhaps you need a running back to do a little bit more or be more versatile today but that is a good thing. People say we get hurt and don't last as long, but it's still an important position and you need everyone in the backfield to be able to contribute.
Giovani BernardI've just been training and working on my speed. I want to be faster, Everyone knows that the more speed you have the more of a threat you can be in the NFL. For me I have been working on my speed and being more explosive. Everyone knows I can get the 10- or 15-yard runs, but I want to have the 60- and 70-yard runs.
Giovani Bernard