Frank Gore - Pro Football Rumors

Eagles Rumors: Murray, Mathews, Kelly

March 12th, 2015 at 6:45pm CST by Zachary Links

Eagles coach Chip Kelly took the podium today to announce the team’s signing of DeMarco Murray. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from that and more concerning the Eagles..

Kelly said his plan was always to bring in two running backs, according to the staff at PhiladelphiaEagles.com (on Twitter). Kelly believed that the three best backs in free agency were Murray, Ryan Mathews, and Frank Gore, and he wanted to get two to replace LeSean McCoy (link).
Despite speculation that the signing of Murray could dissuade Mathews from going through with his agreement, Mathews said the situation was never in doubt, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com (via Twitter). Breer also writes that people within the Eagles’ organization were uncertain of Mathews would sign with the team after Murray was signed (via Twitter).
Kelly said he thought Murray would be out of the Eagles’ price range, but Murray turned down more money to go to Philly, Chearean Williams of the Star-Telegram tweets.
Despite having Murray, Mathews, and Darren Sproles on the depth chart, Kelly said he still plans to retain restricted free agent Chris Polk, Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com tweets. Kelly also said that he might only carry three tight ends this year.
Kelly isn’t sure if he can or will make a move towards a wide receiver in free agency, but he’ll look hard at this year’s wide receiver crop in the draft, Mosher tweets.
Kelly went into free agency with dollar figure earmarked for each position, Mosher tweets. He said the numbers were flexible, but his actions clearly show that he values running backs over wide receivers.
Murray told reporters that he felt that the Eagles gave him a great opportunity to win a Super Bowl and that the deal “wasn’t about financial security or anything like that,” Williams tweets.

Colts Sign Frank Gore

March 11th, 2015 at 9:59am CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 9:59am: Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed today (via Twitter) that his client has officially signed with the Colts.

TUESDAY, 5:12pm: As expected, the Colts have agreed to terms with running back Frank Gore, the team announced today in a press release. Considering Gore appeared to have a deal locked up with the Eagles this weekend, reports that had the former Niner headed to Indianapolis required some additional confirmation, and the Colts have now provided that confirmation. Drew Rosenhaus, Gore’s agent, tweets that Gore has not yet signed the contract, but with Indy already announcing the deal, it’s to safe to say that Gore will be a Colt.

The 31-year-old Gore will apparently earn similar money in his new home — according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the deal Gore is expected to sign with the Colts is similar to the one he would’ve signed with the Eagles. It’s for three years, with a total value of $12MM, and $7.5MM guaranteed.

We’ll surely learn more about why Gore spurned Philadelphia for Indianapolis, but early reports indicated that the veteran didn’t want to deal with an aggressive coach like Chip Kelly. Gore also had a more favorable impression of the Colts’ offense, especially given that Jeremy Maclin is headed to the Chiefs. Additionally, the chance to play to with Andrew Luck is surely more appealing that whomever the Eagles plan to turn to, whether it be Sam Bradford or Mark Sanchez.

Gore, who had spent his entire career with the 49ers, was said to be targeting a $4MM annual salary, so it looks like he’ll hit that goal. With the Colts, he’ll add stability at the running back position, where Indy is expected to try to release Trent Richardson.

Colts Expected To Sign Frank Gore, Meeting With Andre Johnson

March 10th, 2015 at 11:13am CST by Zachary Links

11:25am: According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the deal Gore is expected to sign with the Colts is similar to the one he would’ve signed with the Eagles. It’s for three years, with a total value of $12MM, and $7.5MM guaranteed. However, we shouldn’t lock that in quite yet, given what happened between Gore and the Eagles — Pro Football Talk reports (via Twitter) that the veteran back hasn’t made his final decision yet.

11:13am: Both Johnson and Gore are traveling to Indianapolis today to meet with the Colts, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets.

11:06am: Frank Gore appeared ready to join Chip Kelly and the Eagles, but on Monday night he started having second thoughts. Now, he appears to be leaning heavily towards signing with the Colts instead. According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, Gore got cold feet with Philly in part because he didn’t want a coach like Kelly to ride him hard at this stage in his career.

There were multiple concerns for Gore even beyond that. The tailback told friends he was more intrigued by the chance to play in the Colts’ offense than with the Eagles’ personnel. Also, the Colts’ offer to him is slightly more lucrative than the deal Philly was ready to give him. And, from a football standpoint, he was worried that the Eagles might struggle without Maclin and without a big-time receiving threat. Sources that Garafolo have spoken with are reluctant to say that he’s headed to the Colts for sure given that Gore has flip-flopped once already, but all signs are pointing that way.

Meanwhile, it sounds like the Eagles had a plan to pair Gore with a big time receiving threat before the deal fell apart. Someone close to wide receiver Andre Johnson told Lance Zierlein of NFL.com (on Twitter) that the Eagles wanted both him and Gore. Now, Johnson is on the owner’s private jet in transit to Indianapolis and after a phone conversation, both veterans have agreed to join the Colts.

However, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter) says that while Johnson may end up in Indy, three people close to him insist that he’s still working out in Miami this morning.

Frank Gore Leaning Toward Colts, Not Eagles

March 9th, 2015 at 7:09pm CST by Dallas Robinson

7:09pm: Gore is “intent” on joining the Colts, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports.

6:28pm: Gore is speaking with Colts players to learn more about the organization, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).

MONDAY, 5:54pm: Gore is reconsidering his potential deal with the Eagles, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Rapoport suggests that the Colts could enter the mix if things don’t work out in Philly (link).

SUNDAY, 4:02pm: Gore will sign a three-year deal that will guarantee him $7.5MM in the first two seasons, tweets Schefter.

3:31pm: After trading LeSean McCoy to the Bills last week, the Eagles appear to have have found a replacement at running back, as Frank Gore has told people close to him that he will sign with Philadelphia next week, per Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link). Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link) was the first to report that the Eagles had an offer out to Gore that would pay him $5MM annually, with $7MM in guarantees.

Per Getlin, the 49ers, Gore’s former team, were “bracing to lose” their longtime running back. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee tweets that San Francisco values the running back at $4MM per year, so it looks like the Eagles are set to top that figure. With McCoy out of the picture, Gore will vault to the top of the Eagles’ RB depth chart, joining Darren Sproles, Chris Polk, and Kenjon Barner. The transition from McCoy to Gore makes some sense — though Gore is five years older, he’ll cost much less, and could save Philadelphia more than $5MM in 2015 alone.

The Eagles, who are reportedly set to sign free agent corner Byron Maxwell, still need to re-sign their top offensive free agent, receiver Jeremy Maclin. The 49ers, meanwhile, will presumably turn their running back job over to second-year player Carlos Hyde, and they have work to do in free agency, as well. They’ve already added Jerome Simpson, and with Michael Crabtree not expected to return, their entire receiving corps could be revamped.

With Gore and Mark Ingram now off the board, clubs with RB needs will turn their attention to the No. 1 available running back — DeMarco Murray — while also keeping an eye on other options like Shane Vereen, Ryan Mathews, and C.J. Spiller.

East Notes: Maclin, Gore, Clay

March 8th, 2015 at 11:34am CST by Rory Parks

There are a number of rumblings from the league’s east divisions today, so let’s dive right in:

We learned earlier today that Randall Cobb‘s decision to remain with the Packers would give the Eagles‘ Jeremy Maclin a little more leverage in his contract negotiations, and Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com has a little more on that front. Mosher writes that Maclin, who has asked for at least $11MM per season, is clearly the best wide receiver left on the free agent market, but the fact that he is two years older than Cobb and has torn his ACL twice since the start of his college career could deter teams from handing Maclin the same type of contract that Cobb received. Therefore, Mosher believes the stage could be set for Maclin’s return to Philadelphia.
Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com writes that the Eagles are interested in free agent running back Frank Gore and says that a deal could be done as soon as Tuesday.
The Bills are expected to make a “substantial offer” to Dolphins tight end Charles Clay, writes Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel. Miami placed the transition tag on Clay last week.
Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com has a deeper look into the Jets‘ trade for Brandon Marshall and what it means for the team moving forward.
In the same piece, Cimini looks at the future of Darrelle Revis. Cimini writes that the Jets will almost certainly try to overpay for Revis, who will have to choose between the mega-bucks in New York and a lifetime membership in Patriots owner Robert Kraft‘s fraternity.
Washington and the Giants have both expressed interest in Arizona nose tackle Dan Williams (Twitter links to ESPN’s John Keim and Dan Graziano).

FA Notes: Weatherspoon, Thomas, Houston, Forsett

February 28th, 2015 at 12:28pm CST by Ben Levine

As we heard yesterday, Falcons head coach Dan Quinn is hoping the organization can keep linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, citing the player’s athleticism and attitude.

“With him, it’s that toughness and the speed that he can play with so, yes, definitely someone that we’re talking to,” Quinn said (via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com). “I know he’s got that kind of attitude. And you know me, just from watching our style of defense, it’s fast and physical. And that’s what Sean is. So, we’re certainly hoping that he can be a big part of it moving forward.”

However, the coach acknowledged that he is worried about the veteran’s past injuries, including an Achilles tear last season.

“I think you always are,” he said. “But at the same time, what’s the rehab like? You can tell when a guy is going for it in that way, too. All that factors in.

“By the same token, he hit a string of bad luck. Can he come back and play at a level that he’s capable of? That’s what we’re excited to find out.”

Let’s take a look at some more notes pertaining to this year’s free agent class…

As expected, the Broncos will likely slap receiver Demaryius Thomas with the franchise tag. Sources tell Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com that it’s a “safe bet” the team will place the tag as they try to work on a longterm deal. Meanwhile, Florio wonders if Peyton Manning‘s rumored restructuring could mean a return for tight end Julius Thomas.
Following news that the Chiefs and Justin Houston were working on a multi-year deal, Florio says such a deal is unlikely at this point. Instead, the All-Pro linebacker seems destined for the franchise tag, and Florio notes that the 26-year-old’s leverage will rise when similar free agents start receiving lucrative deals.
For the time being, Reuben Frank and Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com believe the Eagles shouldn’t invest money in a linebacker like Brandon Spikes. However, if the team decides to move on from DeMeco Ryans, the team would be in the market for a starting linebacker, in which case Spikes could be a viable option.
Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome made it clear that he’d like to keep running back Justin Forsett in Baltimore. “We would like to retain Justin,” Newsome said (via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com). “I’ve learned something since the end of the season about Justin that I didn’t really know. He has mentored some very good, young backs, starting with Arian Foster,Marshawn Lynch, Maurice Jones-Drew when he was in Jacksonville. Having Justin here — and with the opportunity [of] also bringing in hopefully another young running back — to have Justin be around that guy would be an asset also. So, we will work to try to retain Justin.” If the team loses out on Forsett, Hensley suggests free agents Frank Gore, C.J. Spiller, and Mark Ingram as potential replacements.

NFC Links: Johnson, Eagles, Packers, Gore

February 21st, 2015 at 10:51am CST by Ben Levine

Some notes from around the NFC…

Despite Calvin Johnson‘s 2016 cap-hit of more than $24MM, Lions general manager Martin Mayhew made it clear that the team would do whatever it takes to keep the talented wideout in Detroit. “Calvin’s a stud,” Mayhew said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “Calvin’s a great player. He’s a phenomenal player. He has a very bright future and a very bright past. I plan on him being around for a long time. He’s a heck of a player.”
Draft prospect Eric Kendricks would be thrilled to play with his brother, linebacker Mychal Kendricks, on the Eagles. “Man, that’d be crazy,” the UCLA linebacker told Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com. “I played with him in high school and I think I took it for granted at the time, as far as how cool it was. But that would be unreal to say the least.” The younger Kendricks brother is expected to be a late-first, early-second round pick.
Jason Pierre-Paul is the type of pass-rusher Falcons head coach Dan Quinn loves, and D. Orlando Ledbetter says the organization is keeping an eye on the Giants defensive end.
Former Packers special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum still had one season left on his contract, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky points out (via Twitter). As a result, the team will pay the ousted coach for 2015.
Following news that 49ers running back Frank Gore could be seeking $4MM annually, Eric Branch of the San Franciscion Chronicle questions whether the veteran is worth the asking price. Ultimately, the writer believes the team will let Gore walk if he can “fetch” that $4MM in free agency.

Frank Gore To Seek $4MM Annual Salary

February 19th, 2015 at 1:51pm CST by Luke Adams

As he nears unrestricted free agency, veteran running back Frank Gore appears to be seeking about $4MM per year on a new deal, says Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. According to La Canfora, people around the NFL believe that Gore’s best chance – and perhaps his only chance – to land that kind of money is if he returns to the 49ers.

Gore and the Niners have both publicly expressed interest in continuing their relationship, though an Instagram post from the running back earlier this week suggested he was skeptical that the team’s front office is as eager as he is to work out a new deal. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report indicated earlier this week that Gore seems unlikely to re-sign with San Francisco — Miller identified the Colts, the Dolphins, and Washington as probable suitors for the 31-year-old.

Although Gore will turn 32 in May and has racked up nearly 2,500 career carries, a $4MM annual salary doesn’t seem unreasonable for a back who has rushed for more than 1,100 yards in each of the last four years, and has never averaged less than 4.1 yards per carry in a season. For comparison’s sake, Chris Johnson inked a two-year, $8MM deal with the Jets last winter, though that contract admittedly didn’t work out too well for the team. For Gore, a deal worth $4MM per year would be a step down from his current pact, which averages $6MM+.

We heard earlier today that running back Shane Vereen, who is younger than Gore but has never produced like the longtime Niner – will aim for $5MM per year. Ultimately, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see both backs settle for contracts in the range of $3-3.5MM annually.

NFC West Notes: Gore, 49ers, Cards, Lynch

February 18th, 2015 at 11:38am CST by Luke Adams

In an Instagram post earlier this week, Frank Gore publicly expressed some doubt about how invested the 49ers are in re-signing him this winter. According to Niners GM Trent Baalke, that prompted him to reach out to the veteran running back to reiterate the team’s position, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes.

“That’s why we talked. That’s the exact (reason),” Baalke said. “We reached out. He reached out back. He wasn’t expecting it to take legs like it did. Nor were we. He didn’t have any intentions by it and he made that very clear in our conversations. … It’s at the same place it was the last time we talked. We’re still working on it. It’s not something that’s going to get done yesterday. It’ll take some time to resolve. It’s our intention to have Frank back.”

While we wait to see what Gore’s future holds, here’s more from around the NFC West:

Baalke also said today that he plans to meet with Michael Crabtree‘s agent this week in Indianapolis, per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (via Twitter). The 49ers wideout is eligible for free agency next month.
Speaking today to reporters in Indy, including Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (Twitter link), Cardinals GM Steve Keim said he doesn’t want to get into specifics, but the team intends to talk to Darnell Dockett about his contract. Dockett, who missed the entire 2014 campaign with a knee injury, is on the books for a 2015 cap hit of $9.8MM, a figure the club may want to reduce.
Keim also today that he expects some of the Cardinals‘ free agents, such as Antonio Cromartie, to test the open market, though that doesn’t rule out the possibility of them re-signing with Arizona (Twitter link via Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com).
While a full breakdown of Larry Fitzgerald‘s new contract with the Cardinals isn’t out there yet, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap takes a stab at determining what it will look like.
A Seahawks player tells Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report that he thinks it’s 50/50 as to whether Marshawn Lynch continues his career or decides to retire. “Marshawn is a different kind of guy,” the player said. “He could retire tomorrow, walk away and not think twice about it.”
With Lynch’s future up in the air, Terry Blount of ESPN.com identifies three running backs that may be on the Seahawks‘ radar during this week’s combine and during the draft this spring.

NFC Notes: Wilson, Gore, Vikes, Gholston

February 17th, 2015 at 3:32pm CST by Luke Adams

Former agent Joel Corry tells Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times that he can envision the Seahawks and Russell Wilson‘s camp coming to a creative compromise on a contract extension. A good halfway point for the two sides could be a deal that comes in at significantly less money than a top quarterback would receive, but with that money fully guaranteed. Corry throws out the idea of a possible five-year contract that would guarantee Wilson something like $75-$80MM.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

Frank Gore doesn’t appear likely to re-sign with the 49ers this offseason, according to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (video link), who identifies the Colts, the Dolphins, and Washington as probable suitors for the veteran running back. Based on the conversations Miller has had with executives around the league, he names Indianapolis as the most likely landing spot for Gore.
The Vikings will meet with agent Hadley Engelhard in Indianapolis this week, according to Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500 Twin Cities (via Twitter). Engelhard represents current Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn as well as free agent wideout Mike Williams.
Former sixth overall pick Vernon Gholston hasn’t appeared in a regular season NFL game since 2010, but the ex-Jets edge defender announced today on Twitter that he has a tryout with Washington on tap.
Pass rushers will likely be atop the Falcons‘ list of priorities this winter, prompting Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com to explore just how much the team should be willing to invest in the position.
After tackling the AFC last week, former agent Joel Corry focuses on one pressing offseason issue for each of the 16 NFC teams in a piece for CBSSports.com. The topics addressed by Corry include Larry Fitzgerald‘s future in Arizona, Jerry Jones‘ willingness to keep spending on the Cowboys, and the moves the Saints will make to get under the cap.

Zach Links contributed to this post.