Current San Francisco 49ers running back and soon-to-be free agent running back Frank Gore revealed recently that, while he always feels the love from the 49ers fans, he hasn't been feeling much of anything from the Niners front office as his tenure with the team draws to an unceremonious close.
With Gore set to hit the open market for the first time in his career, there are, no doubt, a number of teams keenly interested in adding a player coming off his eighth career 1,000-yard season - even one who is fast approaching his 32nd birthday.
Chief among those teams already showing interest in Gore through NFL back channels is the Indianapolis Colts and head coach Chuck Pagano.
"Well there's definitely a market for Frank Gore outside of San Francisco," reported Matt Miller of Bleacher Report. "The Indianapolis Colts are definitely going to be linked to him. The Trent Richardson trade has not worked out for them, they need a power running back. Chuck Pagano wants Frank Gore. Rob Chudzinski, who has the Miami connection to Frank Gore, also wants him."
The ill-fated swap by Colts GM Ryan Grigson, sending a first-round NFL draft pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for former third-overall pick, running back Trent Richardson, continues to haunt the team.
Richardson, who has never averaged better than 3.6 yards per carry in his four-year NFL career, was deactivated for the team's AFC Championship Game loss to the New England Patriots amid swirling rumors that the coaching staff was unhappy with his weight and preparation.
Richardson's failure combined with Ahmad Bradshaw's fragility - and recent legal troubles - and Boom Herron's questionable ball security have left Pagano and Grigson to seek outside help at the running back position - help which may very well come in the form of Gore.
"From everyone I've talked to around the league and this includes multiple people in these cities, a couple of people in San Francisco, they feel like the Indianapolis Colts are probably the shoe-in to get Frank Gore," said Miller. "...It's the only situation where Gore can really come in and be the No. 1 running back, still be the starter, so I think the Colts are the team most likely for him."
With Colts quarterback Andrew Luck struggling to overcome the one-dimensional nature of the Indianapolis offense late in the regular season and into the playoffs, the potential addition of a rugged, versatile player like Gore would immediately upgrade not only the running back position, but also the entire offensive side of the ball.