Frank Gore: 'I want to let (the fans) know I'm here'

This is all you need to know about how much Frank Gore loves to play football.

After his first carry for the Indianapolis Colts, he was supposed to come out. He did not come out. He talked his way back onto the Lucas Oil Stadium turf.

For a preseason game. For the start of his 11th NFL season.

"After the first carry, I guess they wanted to take me out. 'At least one more.' You know, I was happy to be out there with my guys," Gore said. "New team, all the fans.

"I want to let them know I'm here."

Oh, everybody knew that already.

Gore carried twice for 10 yards in Saturday night's 23-11 loss to the Chicago Bears. But those aren't numbers that matter.

What matters is that Gore, 32, rushed for 1,000 or more yards in eight of the past nine seasons for the San Francisco 49ers. What matters is that he signed a three-year contract with the Colts worth $12 million. And the Colts will get their money's worth if he even approaches such productivity.

When an offensive tackle such as Anthony Castonzo says Gore is fun to have a teammate, that matters.

"He's got physical tools that allow him to be as successful as he is," Castonzo said. "But he's also very savvy. He loves the game of football, and he knows it very well."

Castonzo said Gore is a collaborator and communicator, telling linemen what he sees and what he wants. That helps the offensive linemen, who in turn help Gore.
"That's huge to be on the same page with a running back like that," Castonzo said.

Gore said he was excited to be playing at all – practice, preseason, regular season. He was withheld from the first preseason game and said he spent all week looking forward to this one.

He said if you'd seen him back playing college football at Miami (Fla.), the last thing you'd project is an 11th-year NFL running back.

"It's a blessing. I take advantage of it," he said.


(indystar.com)