Peyton Manning may not lead by example, but the example of leadership that he established in Indianapolis will soon be put to use by one of the men he led.
Tight end Dallas Clark, who joined the Buccaneers last month, looks forward to his transition from a situation in which he wasn’t expected to be a leader to one in which he definitely will be.
“That’s the part that I recognize and something I haven’t been a part of,” Clark told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Thursday night (via JoeBucsFan.com). “My whole career I’ve been part of a veteran-based team. It kind of excited me to be that leader and that role player on a team, a team that is full of young talent that can flat play ball. It’s been exciting to get out here in practices and learning the system and getting to know these guys. It’s a lot of fun. It’s an exciting and energetic environment.”
The Buccaneers unexpectedly won 10 games in 2010, but they collapsed last season, after getting off to a fairly solid start. Coach Greg Schiano pointed last week during an appearance on PFT Live to inconsistency as the reason for the poor finish. That’s likely one of the realities of having young players. Clark and other new veterans like Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks can help demand consistency and maturity and focus and all the things that a young player may not be from the many young players the Bucs have.