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The Jets agreed to a one-year deal with veteran running back Frank Gore on Tuesday. Here are some thoughts on the move: 1. This move has more to do with what Gore can provide the Jets in the locker room than on the field. That is not to say they won’t be hoping he can …
The Jets agreed to a one-year deal with veteran running back Frank Gore on Tuesday. Here are some thoughts on the move:
1. This move has more to do with what Gore can provide the Jets in the locker room than on the field. That is not to say they won’t be hoping he can be a vital member of their backfield, but Gore’s impact likely will be more from a leadership standpoint.
Jets coach Adam Gase is a huge fan of Gore. He first coached him in 2008 when he was an assistant with the 49ers and then again in 2018 with the Dolphins. It will help Gase to have someone who knows his system and also has been around him before to be an extension of him in the locker room. Bill Parcells loved bringing in a “Parcells guys” wherever he coached. Gore is a “Gase guy.” That will help Gase in an unusual season where there is not an in-person spring program.
There are not many players more respected around the league than Gore, who turns 37 next week. Players marvel at his ability to play 15 years in the NFL and still maintain a high level. His work ethic is legendary and this move will help the younger players in the Jets locker room.
2. Everybody wants to immediately connect the dots between this move and Gase recently telling ESPN that he wants to lessen the load on Le’Veon Bell. I think Gore’s arrival is being a little overstated when it comes to the effect on Bell. We have not heard the contract numbers yet for Gore, but I suspect he is not going to be making much money in 2020. Bell is still a $13 million back for the Jets and I suspect he will be used like that.
While Bell’s carries might dip a bit from his unproductive 2019 season, I still think Bell will be the featured back and get spelled by Gore and rookie La’Michal Perine. I don’t think this will be a situation where the carries are divided equally. Expect Bell to still be on the field, if healthy, a lot more than Gore.
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I think everyone is overreacting to the Gore signing because of his career credentials and because nothing is going on and we are overanalyzing everything. At this point in his career, Gore is a complementary back. This should not be viewed as something more than that.
3. One person who is probably thrilled with this move is Jamal Adams. The Jets safety and Gore have had a mutual admiration society for the last few years. Gore has spoke glowingly of the way Adams plays the game and Adams has marveled at Gore’s ability to keep going.
One scene that came to mind when I heard about the Gore signing came in Buffalo last year after the Jets’ Week 17 win over the Bills. Gore came to the Jets locker room to seek out Adams and exchange jerseys with him. I can’t remember ever seeing an opposing player inside the Jets locker room. It spoke to how highly Gore thinks of Adams that he sought him out and how highly players think of Gore that they welcomed an opponent into the locker room.
Things are icy between the Jets and Adams right now as he tries to get a new contract. Gore won’t solve that, but it was a move that surely made Adams happy.
