Christian Benford had a dilemma. He had a lot of signatures to do, and a looming question.
鈥淚f I should use my right or my left hand, because he started saying how many pages it was,鈥 Benford said Wednesday.
The cornerback had gotten a heads-up on the length of the contract from his agent.
Christian Benford signed a four-year contract extension with the Bills.
鈥淗e just like, 鈥業t鈥檚 all these pages,鈥 鈥 Benford said. 鈥淚 was like, my right hand will probably get tired. I鈥檒l have to use my left hand.鈥
Whatever method he needed, Benford got it done. On Wednesday, the cornerback officially signed his four-year extension with the Buffalo Bills.
A former sixth-round pick out of Villanova, Benford has established himself as one of the league鈥檚 emerging cornerbacks, carving out a steady role with the Bills. As Benford looked back on how far he had come since growing up, he recognized the gravity of the $76 million extension.
People are also reading…
鈥淟et鈥檚 be for real 鈥 like, it鈥檚 a life-changing moment,鈥 Benford said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 just put all things to the side. Let鈥檚 clear the air. Let鈥檚 address the elephant in the room. Like, this is life changing 鈥 like, family, legacy, everything.鈥
Life-changing in the grand scheme, but not in the day to day. Benford said his attitude and his approach to work remain unaltered by the deal.
鈥淢y drive鈥檚 already still strong to be the best in the league,鈥 Benford said. 鈥淚t don鈥檛 change nothing. I don鈥檛 feel different. My mindset is still the same. Get to the Super Bowl, be the best in the league. But yeah, for the drive standpoint, it ain鈥檛 really touch that foundation.鈥
Take after practice for example. Benford is always one of the last players on the field, but in those moments, he never thought about an extension. In fact, he never thought past Sunday.
鈥淣o shot,鈥 Benford said. 鈥淚f I鈥檓 on the field (after practice), it鈥檚 because there鈥檚 something I need to work on, and I didn鈥檛 like it. Like if my break was bad, like I鈥檓 about to work on it 鈥檛il I feel like I can鈥檛 get it wrong. Nothing like this was sparking my mind, when I was working with (Kaiir Elam) and all them, like J-Marc (Ja鈥橫arcus Ingram) and all them.鈥
Instead, motions become muscle memory, and on game days, Benford can play without thinking. That caliber of preparation led to his play on Sundays that had general manager Brandon Beane offering a contract extension.
The Bills鈥 cornerback room is still evolving. Benford lit up when talking about how veteran Dane Jackson is back with the team, but besides Benford and Jackson, the group is younger and less experienced on defense. Benford doesn鈥檛 think he needs to change his style in the room to bring along younger players, though.
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to say I was already leading 鈥 I was probably more so leading by example, though. I don鈥檛 really talk too much,鈥 Benford said with a laugh. 鈥淏ut I know I talk when I need to. ... I鈥檓 going to keep doing it, probably step up a little bit more. Obviously, you can always get better at something.鈥
And Benford is still looking to improve. After ending the season in concussion protocol, he has spent part of this offseason looking into all sorts of ways to get his mind, body and spirit right.
鈥淚鈥檝e been just trying to learn better ways of the body, ways to longevity,鈥 he said.
But physical health is just one facet of his life. A deeply religious man, Benford celebrates big plays by gesturing a telephone call.
鈥淚t means 鈥楥all God,鈥 鈥 he said.
And when the calls about his extension were coming, Benford started giving thanks.
鈥淕ot on my knees a little bit and prayed,鈥 Benford said. 鈥淎nd so much appreciation, so when the pen touched, it was just like, I don鈥檛 know. It felt like all the people that have been rooting for me, that was there for me since I was younger, that aren鈥檛 here now, that鈥檚 up top, had their hands on my back. So that鈥檚 what kind of felt like low key.鈥
