"The whispers began to grow, week by week, as Frank Gore struggled with a slow start this season.

He had lost a step. There was too much wear on his running-back tires. The 49ers never should have given him that big contract extension in August.

But the 49ers' star delivered a resounding message Sunday as he cranked out his second consecutive 100-yard game in a 48-3 rout of Tampa Bay at Candlestick Park: He's nowhere close to being done yet.

"Nah, I never heard any of that stuff," said Gore, who rushed for 125 yards on 20 carries with one touchdown. "Those were some tough games, no doubt. But defenses were gearing up to stop the run. But now my man Alex Smith is playing well, and they can't do that.""