Frank Gore – September 20, 2018
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Thursday, September 20, 2018
RB Frank Gore
(How cool is it to have the jersey you wore on Sunday go to the Hall of Fame?) – “It was cool. I think whoever does something special or big, like I did, passing someone or whoever breaks the record, I think they always do that for everybody. But it was cool.”
(Do you have any other pieces of equipment that you’ve worn that’s already at the Hall of Fame or is that the first one?) – “I think I’ve got some San Fran stuff in there. That’s why I think whoever does something good, who passes somebody or breaks a record on a Sunday, a piece goes to the Hall (of Fame). it was big.”
(Have you toured the Hall of Fame?) – “I think I played in the Hall of Fame Game, but I didn’t tour it, no.”
(Is it sort of weird your jersey is in there before you’re in there physically?) – “(laughter) Hopefully I’ll keep going and when that time comes, if I get in there, I’ll be happy about that. But I really don’t think about, though.”
(When you see someone like Raiders RB Marshawn Lynch who’s been doing it a long time like you, is there a running back to running back mutual respect?) – “That’s my man. Marshawn is my man. I know him. He’s a friend of mine. I love the way he plays the game of football. I’m happy that he came back because I knew that he still could play the game. I’m happy that a dude who came in back when I came in is still going. That’s a plus for us.”
(You always get a lot of personality on the field with RB Marshawn Lynch. Do you like watching him sometimes when he gets into his antics a little bit?) – “I like watching him. Hopefully we don’t get too much to watch of him this week. (laughter) We (need to) go out there and do what we’ve got to do to try to get a win.”
(Do you guys have a lot in common personality-wise? You seem pretty different from RB Marshawn Lynch.) – “We’re cool, but I’m more laid-back. I just come to work and work. So yes, we’re different.”
(Do you look at it like living vicariously sometimes, like it might be fun to kind of act like RB Marshawn Lynch for a day?) – “(laughter) Marshawn is Marshawn. I respect the way he plays the game. He plays the game the right way. We both do. I’m proud of what he’s doing and I know he’d probably say the same.”
(You’ve played with a lot of receivers in your time. Have you someone like WR Albert Wilson of that size who can break tackles like that?) – “He’s like a little running back. Tough. I like the way he plays the game too. He practices hard. When I was watching him in Kansas City, I said the same thing, the way he breaks tackles. I’m happy he’s on my team.”
(You said you were happy in training camp you were happy to accept the role, whatever it may be, that Head Coach Adam Gase had for you. Now have you embraced this role where they can count on you when they put you in?) – “I feel that my coaches and my teammates know the way I work and just seeing me in practice and know when I’m in the game, that it’s just like a starter out there. I’m just going to keep making plays when my number gets called.”
(Where is your edge right now because your credentials speak for themselves to be a future Hall of Famer. Is it more now that you’re here playing for your hometown team?) – “Yes, I love it. I still want to have success. I still feel good. I still feel I can play with the young guys. Like I said, when my number gets called, I try my best to make some plays.”
(Your snaps probably would have been more last week if not for the fact there was a drive or two where there were some issues early not involving you. Has Coach Gase said this is about the way he envisions it?) – “We don’t talk (about that). However the game goes, whenever my number gets called, my number gets called and when I’m out there, I’m going to try to have success.”
(Does RB Marshawn Lynch really eat that many Skittles?) – “I don’t know. (laughter)”
(Some people or outsiders may think you came here as some sort of victory lap or farewell tour, but you came here with the mind-set to compete with RB Kenyan Drake for a job, right?) – “Yes. I did; but they were real with me from the jump. They respect Kenyan Drake. I do too. I love the way he practices. I love how he prepares himself to get ready to play on Sunday. Whoever is out there, we’re going to try to do our best.”
(Did you come here thinking, I’m going to get the chance to earn … I will get whatever I deserve based on how I practice or you wouldn’t have come here otherwise, I assume?) – “I told myself when they signed me and they talked about (Kenyan) Drake, how much they liked him and the type of player he is, we were going to go out there and both compete against each other, and whatever happens, happens. He’s our starter and whenever our number gets called, whoever is in the game, we both help this team be successful. That’s the way it is.”
(Even though you are competing against each other, your lockers are next to each other, you watch film together, you play together. Have you taken RB Kenyan Drake under your wing?) – “Oh, yes. Drake is a great dude, a great kid. He approaches the game the right way and he’s very talented. Talented and fast. I like the way he plays the game.”
(Does RB Kenyan Drake ask questions?) – “Yes, he does. Drake will have a great career.”
(In the offseason, you took up boxing to help you prepare physically. Do you have a boxer’s mentality when you’re out there to attack?) – “Yes, I’m trying to win every round. (laughter) I’m not out there all the time, so when my round comes, I’ve got to try to knock him out. I’m going to try to keep going, keep working hard in practice and when Coach Gase calls my number again on the field, I’ll try my best to make something happen.”
(How has the boxing helped?) – “It helps me with conditioning and also saving my legs. It’s tough.”
(What do you like about that as far as the mental aspect of boxing?) – “It challenges me because I thought I knew how to fight, and then when I started, I felt like I couldn’t. (laughter) I just kept going, kept going and I got better.”
(How often does the age difference show up between you and RB Kenyan Drake? How often do you make reference to something that he’s too young to have heard or, or he mentions something where you’re like, I’ve got to ask my kids about this?) – “No, no. (laughter) We don’t really talk about old or stuff like that. We don’t really get into stuff like that.”
