One week after Colin Kaepernick's choice of headwear became a national narrative, San Francisco 49ers players continue to give offseason love to the Miami Dolphins.

Niners running back Frank Gore has spent the summer with Lamar Miller, the second-year Dolphins back penciled in to start the season. The two are working out together at Bommarito Performance Systems in North Miami Beach, and Gore's influence has paid dividends.

"The way Lamar is learning from Frank, it's a beautiful thing," Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Sean Spence told The Miami Herald on Thursday.


Pete Bommarito runs the training facility where a collection of NFL players gather daily. After training dozens of backs, including Maurice Jones-Drew, Bommarito said of Miller, "He's the fastest running back I've ever seen."

Lamar Miller never quite got his feet on solid ground as a rookie last season. Working behind Reggie Bush and struggling to learn the NFL game, he had just 51 carries, though he averaged a solid 4.9 per. Still, it seems clear that the Dolphins believe in him, because they didn't add any competition for the featured RB role after Bush bolted for the Detroit Lions this offseason. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald had this to say of the Fins' expectations for the second-year back.

"Privately, the Dolphins believe Miller can be not merely a good starting back, but a great one," Jackson wrote.

Miller has been working with fellow Miami Hurricane Frank Gore at Pete Bommarito's Bommarito Performance Systems and has generated some glowing reviews:

"Since Lamar started gravitating toward Frank, his work ethic and mentality are unparalleled," said Bommarito. "... He’s the fastest running back I’ve ever seen."

“His footwork got a lot better," said Gore. "... Lamar is probably the fastest [among Hurricanes RBs Gore, Edgerrin James, Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee]. He reminds me of Portis.”

Perhaps most importantly, teammates have been "impressed with Miller’s improvement in his pass protection."

That element could help Miller secure a three-down role this season. If the Dolphins O-line holds its own and the passing game lives up to expectations, Miller could have plenty of room to run free. He'll be a boom-or-bust option for fantasy squads.