Tempers flare between Giovani Bernard and reporters
Well, it’s safe to say a select few reporters have made Giovani Bernard’s naughty list after their loss to the Bengals on Sunday, in which Bernard botched a fake punt that likely would have yielded a first down. It was a very costly play and gave the Bengals all the momentum as they began their second-half comeback.
Following the game, a group of reporters tracked Bernard down as he was leaving the locker room to ask him what happened on the play in question. And let’s just say that it got heated rather quickly.
Following this clip, people went into a frenzy blaming Bernard for being unprofessional and citing the fact that’s he required to talk to the media. Others attacked the reporters, saying their actions were inappropriate. But as often is the case in situations like this, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
Bernard does have a requirement to talk to the press following a game. And when watching the video, it seems clear that Bernard was trying to avoid this, which is something I am not a fan of as a college student in the world of journalism.
I know reporters usually get a bad rep for asking dumb questions moments after a devastating loss. ‘How do you feel?’ ‘Do you feel like you could have done more?’ You know, the usual dumb stuff. But at the end of the day, it’s what these athletes sign up for. You’re making millions of dollars playing the sport you love; you should be able to answer a few questions here and there.
However, the reporters in this instance were clearly out of line and seemed to almost be attacking Bernard from the jump. There seemed to be some pent-up frustration on behalf of the journalists as a result of being unable to talk to Bernard throughout the year due to his injury. This frustration clearly showed in the tone of the reporters and the questions they asked.
Overall, it was just very unprofessional and didn’t serve the purpose of what reporters are supposed to do.
Eventually cooler heads prevailed, and the “interview” continued in which Bernard claimed full responsibility for the miscommunication. Ultimately, the whole situation de-escalated rather quickly, but that didn’t stop it from taking over Twitter and the NFL media.
As usual, this is a pretty mild story being blown out of proportion, but everyone has to have a side, and someone always has to be right in today’s society. In this situation, I feel like both sides are at fault and have some blame.
Bernard was clearly frustrated and upset following an emotional loss that he played a part in, while the reporters were visibly angry at Bernard’s attempt to avoid talking to them. The combination of the two quickly led to a bickering match fueled by emotion.
If you want an example of a good interaction between players and the media, then just look at Jakobi Meyers and his post-game interview.
You see? Overall, a much more professional experience. Despite the obvious anger Meyers probably felt at that moment, he stayed calm and answered the questions asked, rather than trying to dash out of the locker room. Meanwhile, the reporters stayed professional the whole time and made the process very easy for Meyers.
***
Subscribe to the Vendetta YouTube!!
Check out our merch!!
