The Jets are adding an NFL legend to their 2020 roster, signing free agent RB Frank Gore to a one-year deal, per his agent Drew Rosenhaus.
Gore, who owns the third-most rushing yards in NFL history with 15,347, will now back up Le'Veon Bell in what will be an interesting backfield to watch. With Bell's slashing abilities and Gore's brute strength up the middle, these two Pro Bowlers complement each other well.
The Jets also want to get Bell's workload down, after taking 63.9 percent of the Jets' total rushes last season (245 out of 383 attempts) even though he missed a game. And for rushes by a Jets running back, he took 79.5 percent (245 out of 308 attempts). Gore can certainly help that area out.
He also is no stranger to the Adam Gase offense, having worked in it during his time with the Dolphins in 2018. He had 722 yards on 156 attempts that season.
And Gase loves everything that Gore brings to the table. Here's what he said last season before the Jets faced the Bills in Week 1:
"It's unbelievable. If you watched him work day-in and day-out, it wouldn't surprise you. We would always say, 'Hey, we think you should take today off,' and he's like, "Wednesdays, I'm practicing," and he wants every rep. You're in full pads and he's going at it like it's Sunday. That's just how he looks. That's how he's always been. He loves football. There's no other place he'd rather be than the practice field, game day. Everything about football, he loves."
Gore, who turns 37 next week, rushed for a career-low 599 yards with two touchdowns for the Bills last season. But he played a part in helping Devin Singletary break out during his rookie season. And though it was a low mark, those yards led to surpassing Hall of Fame RB Barry Sanders for third on the all-time rushing yards list.
So, entering Year 16 in the NFL, Gore will stay in the AFC East and make the Jets his fifth team played for in the league.
The Jets did draft La'Mical Perine in the fourth round this year to replace Bilal Powell on the roster. Trenton Cannon, a 2018 sixth-round pick, is also on the depth chart.
But Gore figures to take over that backup role now, and should be featured quite well despite his age. He also provides a great veteran presence in the locker room that will be a benefit to Joe Douglas' new culture.
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