When asked after the season if running back Frank Gore might wind up playing elsewhere come September, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said point blank: "We sure hope not."
Gore isn't so certain San Francisco's front office is behind him.
"I know the fans love me but I need to know if the management does," Gore wrote Sunday on his Instagram account, before removing the post.
He followed up with a second note asking his followers: "(What) should I do(?)"
Gore earned $6.45 million last season, but the 49ers aren't about to pay that kind of money long-term for a 31-year-old runner. Still, his importance to San Francisco's offense rivals that of Marshawn Lynch in Seattle. New coach Jim Tomsula wants to pound the ball, but there's no guarantee that second-year back Carlos Hyde can step into Gore's shoes after just 83 carries as a rookie.
If Gore winds up elsewhere, one potential landing spot might be Buffalo. Depending on how Gore feels about reuniting with former Niners play-caller Greg Roman, the Bills could use help in the backfield if C.J. Spiller departs. Roman, though, also has a history with Anthony Dixon and might be inclined to hand a larger role to Bryce Brown.
Gore is just one of a handful of free-agent question marks for San Francisco, with CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco noting that neither Michael Crabtree nor Pro Bowl guard Mike Iupati are expected to return.
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