Running back Frank Gore signed with the Miami Dolphins in the offseason, returning to the area where he grew up and went to college.
But Gore isn’t interested in having what amounts to a ceremonial role for the team. Far from it.
“I’m going to show this organization that they picked the right guy bringing me in this year,” Gore said, per Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel. “Some guys go to different teams and as they get older, they just want to ride the coattail of the younger guys. I don’t want to do that. … I respect every man on this team, but I’m here to still play. I’m going to help the young guys, but I want to show my fans and family I can still be a top guy in this league.”
Gore will certainly have his hands full in competing for playing time with Kenyan Drake. Drake ran for 644 yards and three touchdowns and added 239 yards and another touchdown receiving. While those numbers may not look overwhelming, the vast majority of them (619 rushing yards, 232 receiving yards, all three touchdowns) came in the season’s final nine games, after Jay Ajayi was traded.
Gore will be 35 in May. While he’s objectively not the back that he once was, Gore proved in 2017 that he can still be quite effective. He ran for 961 yards and three touchdowns on 261 carries with the Indianapolis Colts in 2017. He added 29 receptions, 245 yards, and another score as a receiver.
So, while he’ll have to work hard to earn playing time, there’s nothing about Gore to indicate that the end is near.