It was unlikely that the Buffalo Bills were going to re-sign running back Frank Gore. But it appears there was a 50/50 chance he would have left the AFC East.
Following the 2019 season, Gore said he was going to reassess whether he’d want to play again. Then he announced he wanted to. Gore likely told the Bills he was interested in returning before making that announcement. So it’s been unlikely since the start that he wouldn’t be coming back to Buffalo.
On Tuesday, Gore decided he would stay in the AFC East, though. Gore signed another one-year deal, his third-straight with an AFC East team. In 2018 he joined the Dolphins, then Bills last year, and now he’ll reunite with head coach Adam Gase with the Jets.
Apparently that relationship with Gase meant something because he was considering heading to Las Vegas instead, according to Raiders Wire.
“I got an opportunity to get back with a good friend and a guy I respect, and I’m happy that he wanted me to be on his team,” Gore said. “And I’m happy to be around a guy who has done some great things in this league in Le’Veon Bell. That can motivate me. And I can help out the young kid that they just drafted, La’Mical Perine.”
Probably a smart decision by Gore. While he slowed down with the Bills late last season, he had much better numbers under Gase in 2018 with the Dolphins. Gore, who will turn 37 this month, averaged 4.6 yards per carry in 2018. Last year that dipped to 3.6, a career-low.
While with the Bills, Gore jumped to the third spot on the NFL’s all-time rushing list. He currently sits at 15,347 and it’s unlikely he’ll move up another spot. Above him are Walter Payton (16,726) and Emmitt Smith (18,355).
There’s likely no bad blood between the Bills and Gore, but hopefully he’s not using that to fuel him in two games against Buffalo in 2020. Had he joined the Raiders, Gore would have only faced the Bills once when the Bills visit the Raiders.
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