By Bob Harris, Special to SI.com, FootballDiehards

Nicked Stars

Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Gore, who was battling the after-effects of a concussion, didn't speak to the media after last Sunday's win over the Lions. As the San Francisco Chronicle suggested, Gore let his play on the field speak for him, amassing a career-high 159 rushing yards -- 149 in the first half alone -- while setting up his team for victory.

"There's not a weak part of Frank's game," said Niners QB Alex Smith, who had a great view of Gore's 22 carries against the Lions. "You run him between the tackles, and he's breaking tackles. You put him out on the edge, and he's turning the corner and breaking long plays. You put him out of the backfield, and he's catching balls. ... He works hard at every facet of the game."

Gore averaged 7.2 yards a carry for his work Sunday. Without him, Maurice Hicks averaged 2.2 yards and rookie Michael Robinson gained 4 yards on five carries.

Dance With This Star? All day long -- assuming he plays.

Tatum Bell, RB, Denver Broncos

According to the Associated Press, Bell says he's lost a step because of two sprained big toes. That admission is the first for Bell, who had a bad game last week at Oakland, spurring head coach Mike Shanahan to say his starter hadn't been honest with him about his health.

As a result, Shanahan is sticking with a running back by committee even though he says he'd prefer to have one running back and stick with him.

Mike Bell could get another chance to be that guy. The rookie rushed for 135 yards in the second half against Indianapolis on Oct. 29 but averaged just 1.6 yards per carry a week later against Pittsburgh while filling in for the injured Tatum.

"The only game that he didn't play as well as I was hoping was the Pittsburgh game, but that doesn't mean that he is in the doghouse or anything," Shanahan said of the undrafted free agent.

Dance With This Star? No thanks. Tatum Bell isn't in the doghouse, either. But Shanahan clearly felt like he made a mistake in playing the veteran so much last week. A repeat of that mistake seems unlikely.