The New York Jets signed veteran running back Frank Gore in early May, bolstering their running back depth behind former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro rusher Le'Veon Bell, who had a subpar debut season with Gang Green after his year off.

Gore, who turned 37 years old on May 14, opened up to reporters on Thursday about the availability of the AFC East crown following longtime New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady's stunning departure in free agency.

Gore, on the roster of his third of four AFC East franchises in three years, finished his 2019 campaign with the Buffalo Bills and clinched a Wild Card playoff berth. The NFL's third all-time leading rusher totaled 599 yards on the ground, scoring two touchdowns last year.

For the Jets' 2019, though, the running back position combined for just over 1,100 rushing yards, with the veteran Bell contributing 789 of those, and only three touchdowns. It was a strange year for New York, who saw second-year quarterback Sam Darnold go down early with a mononucleosis diagnosis and return after three weeks to lead the team 6-2 second-half record, narrowly missing the playoffs and being edged out by the Bills and the Tennessee Titans.

While Darnold plans to be the top dog in the offense and develop in his third season in the NFL, second-year head coach Adam Gase is familiar with Gore during their time in Miami, and the running game is very important to the coach. Gore rushed for 722 yards in 14 games for Gase and the Dolphins in 2018, the coach's final year with Miami.

With Brady in Tampa Bay, perhaps it's a new era for the AFC East. But the Jets, who didn't make the playoffs in the last nine seasons, still have a way to go.