EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Just like he's done his whole career, Miami Dolphins running back Frank Gore handed the ball to the ref and ran back to the huddle with little hoopla, even as he passed New York Jets great and fellow model of consistency Curtis Martin for fourth on the NFL's all-time rushing list in the town that Martin ran wild in.
Gore appears well on his way to eventually joining Martin (14,101 career rushing yards) in the Hall of Fame. During Sunday's game against the Jets, the Dolphins running back ripped off an 8-yard rush late in the third quarter to reach 14,102 yards. Barry Sanders is next up at 15,269 rushing yards.
Gore finished the game with 25 yards on nine carries in the Dolphins' 20-12 win. Gore looked like his reliable self on a third and 19 late in the fourth quarter when he took a dump-off pass exactly 19 yards for a key first down to help seal the victory. He was given the game ball after the contest.
"Means a lot," Gore said of the milestone after the game. "Doubted my whole life especially coming out of college with the injuries I had. People saying I won't be in the league two or three years. I'll be done. Being able to be mentioned with the guys I'm able to mentioned with. Emmitt (Smith), Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Curtis Martin, (LaDainian) Tomlinson, a guy I looked up to when I entered the league."
Gore, who spent his first 10 NFL seasons in San Francisco and the past three in Indianapolis before signing with his hometown Dolphins in March, overcame two torn ACL injuries at the University of Miami.
Gore, 35, said this past week that passing Martin "would be big," but he didn't want to relish in his success just yet. He figures he'll take more satisfaction in his accomplishments when he retires.
He has had over 1,000 rushing yards in nine of his 13 NFL seasons. Now he's the NFL's fourth all-time leading rusher.