Colts to let Frank Gore walk in free agency

Lost in all this Combine news, we never had a chance to talk about former San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore. Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard said during media availability that the Colts will let Gore walk in free agency. Several are saying this may be because Gore can go to a contender. Others think age may have caught up with the running back.

NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport has said the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens could be potential landing spots for the 34-year-old running back.

In his three-year stint in Indianapolis, Gore managed to average just under 1,000 yards a season rushing. He’s currently ranked fifth in NFL history with 14,026 rushing yards for his career. At 34, he definitely has something left in the tank, but if it’s a feature back may be a question, and if he’s willing to take reduced carries

A few have wondered if he’d come back to the 49ers. If Gore were, there’d be questions on if he could be a schematic fit for Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Obviously age is an issue as well. There’s no doubt he has a season or more left to give to a team, but as a bell cow is definitely a concern. The reason Gore left San Francisco in the first place was because he was told he would become a situational back.

Carlos Hyde, who was a rookie on the 49ers in Gore’s final year with the team, took over the duties of a lead back when Gore left. Could Gore replace the man who originally replaced him on the 49ers and be their bell cow again for a season or two? Or even be fine as a change-of-pace back?

Would you be open to a Frank Gore return?