'Mean & Mad!' Falcons’ Matthew Bergeron Signs Rookie Contract
Atlanta Falcons second-round pick Matthew Bergeron sipped from his straw, smiled and laughed while standing in front of reporters.
Bergeron, the 6-5, 318-pound offensive lineman who played his college ball at Syracuse, had just wrapped up his second practice as a professional at Falcons headquarters at Flowery Branch.
The topic at hand? Bergeron's reputation of being "mean and mad," which has already made its rounds inside Atlanta's organization. Grinning from ear to ear, the 23-year-old Canadian delivered his best answer.
"It's just natural," Bergeron said. "I think I was born with it. I don't know where I got it from. When I get on the field, I just flip a switch and I become mean and mad.
"It was always, even when I was a kid. I'd go in and I was just pushing kids. It was just natural, always."
Mean and mad - naturally. Surely music to Falcons offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford's ears ... and eyes. Ledford knows he has work to do with Bergeron, who on Tuesday night signed his four-year rookie contract.
That work? Bergeron started 39 games at Syracuse, all at tackle, with the last 32 coming on the left side. But now there's going to be a learning curve for Bergeron as he moves inside to left guard - but perhaps not as big as one would expect.
Bergeron saw action at guard during practice at the Reese's Senior Bowl, noting he improved tremendously throughout the day. Impressively, he hadn't thought about kicking inside until being told by the Senior Bowl staff the morning-of.
The experience in Mobile helped prepare Bergeron for what to expect inside and how to handle the nuances of a professional playbook, which come with several post-huddle adaptations like flips and checks that can create a dizzying experience.
Of course, there's also the on-field adjustment of playing guard, where interior defenders are bigger and things are happening quicker. But Bergeron, who exudes self-confidence, has no doubt surrounding his ability to make the position change.
"What's cool about me is I'm athletic but I'm also strong and kind of big, too, so the transition's been alright," Bergeron said.
Growing up in Victoriaville, Quebec, Bergeron stayed busy, playing hockey, basketball and soccer, where he was a goalie. There was also a stint with swimming, in addition to starting football around 10 years old.
Despite his size, athleticism and multi-sport background, Bergeron slipped through the cracks as a high schooler. Syracuse was his only offer, regardless of level, and didn't come calling until he impressed their staff at a camp.
All he proceeded to do from thereon was become the first freshman to start at tackle for Syracuse in 17 years and earn the honor of being the highest-drafted Orangeman in a decade.
Unlike out of high school, Bergeron was highly thought-of by pro teams and was close to coming off the board well before the Falcons traded up to select him at No. 38 overall; the Dallas Cowboys were down to Bergeron and defensive tackle Mazi Smith at No. 26 but ultimately opted for the latter, while the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 28 were also high on his talents.
But it simply wasn't meant to be, and Bergeron found his way to the Falcons, who he grew comfortable with during the pre-draft process thanks to a lengthy pro day conversation with Ledford that largely centered around things outside of football.
Now, Bergeron is back with Ledford - and spoke highly of his new position coach after their first two days working together.
"He's a great dude," Bergeron said. "He's straightforward, straight to the point. I feel he's a really technical coach, so we've been having a great time and I'm excited going forward with him."
The opportunity to learn from Ledford is one of several things that's exciting for Bergeron - there's the chance to study under All-Pro guard Chris Lindstrom, who he's already exchanged texts with, and join a run-first offense that he feels is a good fit for his play style, among others.
That's largely just scraping the surface of the excitement for Bergeron, which is mirrored by Atlanta's organization. But the underlying element to it is that he arrived to camp sharing the same vision as the Falcons, and his well-earned reputation only adds another layer to the buzz surrounding his potential.
So, excitement? Definitely - and Bergeron can't wait to get rolling.
"I'm excited for it," Bergeron said. "At Syracuse, we ran the ball well. I'm just excited to run the ball - I think that's one of the best attributes of my game; I'm physical, aggressive. I feel like the mindset of this team is running the football and I'm just excited to be a part of it."
Bergeron wanted to be drafted by a team that runs the football, and had that box checked … making an Atlanta team featuring first-round rookie Bijan Robinson a fine spot for a blocker who’s "mean and mad.”
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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