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Frank Gore's Call To Andre Johnson Ended With One Thought: "Indy, Let's Do It"

Intro: When it became a reality that Andre Johnson was hitting the open market, his former college teammate Frank Gore wasted little time offering a new destination.

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INDIANAPOLIS – Frank Gore was barely letting his former college teammate breathe.

Andre Johnson was still in a bit of shock when Gore called him late Monday night.

After 12 seasons as the Texans greatest player in franchise history, Johnson had just been released by the team that drafted him No. 3 overall in the 2003 NFL Draft.

Gore, who was just a day away from becoming a free agent himself, was already thinking big picture.

He couldn't resist a call to a player, and friend, he won a 2001 National Title with at the University of Miami.

"Frank called me right after I got released and he was like, 'What are you going to do,'" Johnson said on Wednesday, trying to hide a smile retelling the Monday night call.

"I was like 'Frank, I just got released. I haven't heard anything. I don't know anything.'

Gore wasn't hanging up without an answer.

"What are you going to do?" Gore persisted.

"I don't know." Johnson repeated.

A behind the scenes look as Andre Johnson takes a tour of the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. He is accompanied by new teammate Frank Gore.

The Eagles had already contacted Johnson's agent trying to inquire about a potential package deal that would team Johnson and Gore up in Philadelphia.

After the initial surprise of Gore on the other end of the line, Johnson had his own question for a man he has trained with in prior offseasons.

"I asked him, 'Well, where do you think you can win a Super Bowl at? If you had to pick a team right now, today…" Johnson said, turning the question towards Gore.

"And he was like, 'Indy.'"

Johnson's thoughts on that destination?

"That's my same choice, too," Johnson said to Gore. "Let's do it. Let's go for it.'"

Two days later, the two walked out of the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center clad in Horseshoe gear.

The horseshoe logo might as well have been painted green and orange, resembling the University of Miami.

Back in 2001, Gore and Johnson played pivotal roles on the Hurricanes' undefeated National Championship team.

Gore, as a true freshman running back, was the backup to Clinton Portis and piled up 562 yards while being named Big East Freshman of the Year by Sporting News.

Johnson, a sophomore on the 2001 Miami team that some consider the greatest college team ever, had 10 touchdowns.

With current Colts Associate Head Coach Rob Chudzinski calling plays for the 2001 Hurricanes, Miami beat four straight top-15 teams to close out the season, winning by an average of 35.5 points.

A decade and a half later, Gore, Johnson and "Chud" reminisced about those "U" days on Wednesday at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.

The conversations were reaffirming the same talk Gore and Johnson shared late Monday night.

"I know when you play this game, you play this game to win a championship, win a Super Bowl," Gore said on Wednesday. "We both feel that the Colts have a great chance to get there."

"Once (Johnson's) done, he wants to have a ring on his finger, too."

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