TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to terms with running back Giovani Bernard on a one-year deal, a source told ESPN Monday, giving the Bucs an eight-year veteran's presence and solid pair of hands in a running back room that already has Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette, along with second-year back Ke'Shawn Vaughn.
Bernard got a late start to free agency as the Cincinnati Bengals did not release him until last week in a salary cap-saving move. A source told ESPN he spent the weekend weighing multiple offers, but after he was personally contacted by both head coach Bruce Arians and quarterback Tom Brady, Bernard opted to sign with Tampa Bay, where he could be a viable contributor in the short passing game.