Should the 49ers Bring Back Frank Gore?
By David Ochoa
Frank Gore was the lone bright spot on a number of bad San Francisco 49ers teams. When he was drafted in 2005, the 49ers were midway through a decade-long playoff dry spell, and wouldn’t see the playoffs again for another six years, and yet he gave it his all every game. He is one of the all-time 49er greats and a fan favorite. But with the position that the 49ers are in, should the team re-sign him?
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In May, Gore will be 32 years old. It is well documented how running backs fall of after age 30, but Gore has seemingly been able to hold off the inevitable decline. He ran for over 1000 yards at ages 30 and 31. However, the numbers may be deceiving.
In the last two years, Gore has posted some of the lowest numbers of his career. In 2013, he had a career low 4.1 YPC, and last year he scored the lowest amount of TDs other than his rookie and injury years. If you have watched Gore last last couple of years, it is apparent he is not the same back he used to be. He can still consistently get four yards or so, but after that, he runs out of gas quickly.
The decision to bring him back would be much easier if the 49ers did not have two young stud running backs on the roster already. Carlos Hyde and Kendall Hunter look more than ready to take over the load the Gore has carried for so many years.
Hunter is going into his fifth year in the league, but he has only played two and a half seasons. He has suffered two season ending injuries in his short career. When he is healthy, he has proven to be able to run both inside and outside the tackles, as well catch out of the backfield. Hunter is a very good change of pace back that has done a great job spelling Gore.
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Hyde is the main reason why it won’t hurt the 49ers to let Gore sign with another team. Hyde looks like a younger Frank Gore. He hits the hole with power and is able to bounce of tacklers for extra yards. For a few games, it appeared as though Hyde was already the better back, but when Gore ran for 158 yards and 144 yards the last two games of the season, it reminded everyone what Gore is capable of doing.
With the season that the 49ers had, it was almost a forgone conclusion that this was Gore’s last year as a 49er. But when he finished the season as strongly as he did, doubt started creeping into the minds of fans and analysts alike.
Both Trent Baalke and Gore have expressed desire to continue on with one another, but if we learned anything from Jim Harbaugh is that people can say one thing but mean another.
With how tight the 49ers’ cap situation, it doesn’t seem too smart to bring back Gore. The 49ers need every cent they can muster up to pay other important free agents like the ones in their secondary. With Hyde, Hunter, and possibly a rookie, the 49ers are already set in the backfield. It seems unnecessary to jeopardize the team’s future for sentimental reasons.
Bleacher Report has reported that Gore is a “shoo-in” to play for the Indianapolis Colts. If Gore really wants to finish his career with a ring, then the Colts are probably a better choice for him.
Regardless of what happens with Gore and the 49ers, the fans will always love him and cheer for him wherever he goes. If he does end up with the Colts, then myself and many other fans will have an AFC team to cheer for as well.