INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts locker room was nearly empty late on Monday night as Frank Gore exited the shower.
The clock had actually turned to Tuesday morning and the sighing from Gore while he was getting dressed at his locker showed the frustration.
The Frank Gore that Colts fans saw fumble on the goal line on Monday night wasn't the one who came to Indy this offseason with five Pro Bowls.
That wasn't the player who has rushed for 1,000 yards in eight of his 10 NFL seasons.
That wasn't the player who looked like the Colts lead back, they so desired this offseason, in the first half on Monday.
"I can't do that. I put that on me. I hurt the team there," Gore said of his third-quarter fumble on Monday that would have cut the Jets lead to 10-7.
Gore was concise with his answers but the words were clear.
What he plans to do about it also followed a similar line.
"I will get better. I will go out there and fight each and every Sunday and try to make it right," Gore said in a nearly empty Colts locker room.
Highlights from the Colts home opener against the Jets on Monday Night Football.
One play doesn't tell the entire story to Gore's home debut with the Colts.
Yes, Gore acknowledged that a touchdown there likely changes the outcome of the game, but what he showed for the bulk of Monday night leaves plenty of promise.
Gore had seven first-half carries for 41 yards (nearly six yards per carry) on Monday. That obviously doesn't include 12 and 11-yard scampers by Gore that were called back because of holding.
The vision from Gore has Chuck Pagano a firm believer in who the Colts next 100-yard rusher will be (the last time that happened was Vick Ballard in Week 15 of the 2012 season).
"We are well on our way of having a 100-yard rusher," Pagano said on Tuesday.
"(The offensive line) opened up some holes and (Gore) made some nice runs."
Throughout the entire offseason, Gore talked about how his motivation for 2015 came from proving himself to his new teammates.
The comment is a bit confusing because, why should a player with Gore's resume have to prove something?
At the age of 32, Gore knows why Indianapolis coveted him this offseason and that's why what happened on the goal line Monday night will be nowhere the near the norm.
"I promise my teammates that I'm going to get better," Gore said after the 20-7 loss.
"I will bust my behind for them and try my best to do everything well on the field."
