He won a Super Bowl with the Eagles, played in another one, then helped the Steelers' offense. Now, Tampa Bay Buccaneers free agent Kenneth Gainwell is hoping to make an impact behind Bucky Irving.
Tampa lost leadership this offseason when Mike Evans left for the 49ers, and Lavonte David headed into retirement. Offensively, Tristin Wirfs and Baker Mayfield are who players look to, but Gainwell is making a strong, if not quiet, case for himself.
Head coach Todd Bowles spoke about Gainwell recently and his comments can't be discounted.
Kenneth Gainwell needed only a few practices to prove he can be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer leader
Last season, Gainwell put up career numbers in Pittsburgh, but not enough for Pittsburgh to give him a new contract. That proved beneficial for the Buccaneers. His 114 rushing attempts equated to 537 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. He added another 450 yards as a receiver.
The Buccaneers will love that level of production, but Irving is their top runner, and Gainwell is already exceeding expectations as a leader. Bowles has put his team on notice this offseason, and it appears Gainwell is taking it to heart.
"He brings an attitude element as well and he is one of the unsung leaders who has come in here in the offseason and from a mental standpoint, he has given us more toughness on offense."
Todd Bowles
The leadership part of that is hard to overlook. Gainwell has been a great teammate since he entered the league, and if he is already earning respect from his new Buccaneers teammates, it's exactly what the team needs.
Not all leaders need to be starters. Gainwell knows that he won't be the number one runner barring an injury to Irving, but he is clearly embracing his role and giving his team a reason to lean on him. The RB doesn't take plays off, even in practice. That effort and attitude will bleed into those around him, giving the team an unexpected leader they need.
Tampa's offense looks to be better on paper, but Gainwell and Irving won't be on the field together, so having a voice on the sideline is valuable, especially one who doesn't look at his situation as just a backup.
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