49ers' Gore: Contract talks are ‘going slow'

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Aug. 22, 2011MAIOCCO ARCHIVE
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Matt MaioccoCSNBayArea.com
SANTA CLARA -- Running back Frank Gore said Monday he wants to be able to focus on football during the regular season and not an uncertain future with the 49ers.
Gore acknowledged talks with the 49ers toward a contract extension are "going slow" and he would be "upset" if he does not get a new deal before the start of the regular season.RELATED: Gore-49ers situation described as volatile
"That's up to upstairs (49ers management) and my agent (Drew Rosenhaus)," Gore said. "Me, I want to come here every day and get better and do what's best for my teammates and that's play football."Things aren't going well right now -- kind of slow. 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 is the third all-time rusher in 49ers history with 6,414 yards. He ranks behind only Joe Perry (7,344) and Roger Craig (7,064). Gore is entering the final year of the contract extension he signed in 2007, which pays him 4.9 million this season."I want to remain a 49er for my career," Gore said. "If it don't happen, hopefully I have a great year and test the market."I'd be upset, but I'm still a football player. I want to be here for my whole career. That's up to upstairs, the team. If they want me here, I want to be here. I'm just going to come out every day and practice hard."RELATED: 49ers' Harbaugh doesn't sense Gore's unhappiness
Gore had no comment when asked if he would request a trade if a contract extension does not happen."I don't have any comment for that," Gore said. "That's up to the team and my agent. If they want to trade me, it is what it is. But I don't have a comment with that."Gore, 28, has played a full 16 games only once in his first six seasons in the NFL. Last year, he sustained a hairline fracture of his right hip in Game 11, and missed the remainder of the season. He still led the 49ers with 853 yards rushing on 203 attempts."I know I can play football," Gore said. "In my six years, I have great film and everybody in the league knows I can play football. If it (contract extension) don't happen, I have to play football and put the best film out there I can and test the market."If it don't happen, I'm going to have to out there and show everybody that I'm healthy and I can be the Frank Gore that I've always been. If I have to test the market, that's what I'll have to do."

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