“Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” – Winston Churchill, 1940
In the last decade, the San Francisco 49ers have endured a pounding on the gridiron. But nobody has endured more or given more than San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore.
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| Frank Gore during 2011 Training Camp (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) |
Not only has he fought intrepidly in the face of superior opponents, he’s been a staple of hard work in the off-season, excelled to become an elite athlete in his position, suffered many injuries, and endured physical poundings after physical poundings as offensive coordinator after offensive coordinator kept calling his number. In the age of drama-addicted media, he has somehow found a way to keep clean, focused on the moment, his team, and the ill-fated goals of success during his six-year career.
His poised and successful service deserve more then your typical NFL athlete. He’s not only an icon for the 49ers; he’s a rule model for the way professional athletes should behave. The 49ers owe a swift and complying contract extension with Gore. Not only would they pay for his ability, they would show that athletes with dedication, maturity and proven successes are the ones who deserve what they’re owed.
However, Gore has yet to feel these sentiments from the 49ers.
“But I’d like for it to get done before the season, so I can put all my focus on having a good year and trying to get to the playoffs,” Gore said Monday.
As a fan, it’d be nice for him to have that too - and, if you can believe any NFL athlete, it’d be Gore, who has no temperament to stage a proper holdout.
After proclaiming a contract holdout at the start of training camp, Gore couldn’t even wait long enough to see if the 49ers were going to call his bluff; and as rumors of a possible trade begun to swirl, Gore has reiterated that he’d like to finish his career as a 49er, he said.
Gore understands the nature of the business, but the difference is that Gore isn’t a businessman; he’s always been uncomfortable with the media, and shies away from stating personal opinions on team related issues.
More often then not, NFL athletes play businessman well, and some even enjoy it.
This is not the case for Gore, and don’t forget who you’re dealing with 49ers! This is not an unproven rookie living a state away while the team starts the season. This is not an aging veteran threatening to walk away from the game. This is not your typical twitter campaigning, end zone dancing, me-me-pointing, egotistical athlete.
Gore has played beast of burden for a struggling team his entire career. He’s carried the ball 1,371 times for 6,414 yards with 44 total touchdowns. All the while, staying positive and drama-free. He also has one of the most popular and safest 49ers jerseys you can buy!
Make no doubt about it; if Frank Gore is re-signed, he is a future 49ers Hall of Famer.
As a fan of a losing team, it’s too easy to let the negatives stand in front of proud and exciting moments. Though they’ve been the minority moments, they have quietly persisted, and Gore is often the man behind them.
Complying with his request could have the power to change the way younger athletes approach playing for the 49ers. They will see Gore with his nice contract and may say, “Hey, I’d like that in a few years, how’d he do it?”
Wouldn’t that be a better precedent then rewarding players who stage circus-like holdouts with no proven success?
Sign him now; Match Deangle Williams’ contract plus $1. He’s only asking what has already been given. You’re paying for an Icon that could ultimately save you money and generate a new culture. And the quicker you do it, the greater impact it will have.
As for Gore, don’t worry man, I’ll Stage the lockout for you. Check it out, I was planning on buying a Gore jersey this year. But now, I’ll only buy it when a contract extension is signed. You hear that 49ers!?
I will be interested to see what the Niners do here. I'm a huge Gore fan and really appreciate all he has done for a team that has struggled so much since he was drafted. So, part of me would love to see him rewarded for that service. However, Gore is a power back that takes a lot of tough hits and he may only have a few years left before his production falls off considerably. (Remember Eddie George?). So, a huge contract extension would probably need to be filled with performance based incentives.
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