Orlando Pace Visiting EDIT: Bears Make Pace Priority at LT

[emperorjones]

No link yet. Heard it on ESPN 1000 sportscenter update. Trying to confirm...

March 30, 2009
Free agent offensive tackle Pace visits Bears at Halas Hall

By: Larry Mayer | Last Updated: 3/30/2009 4:55 PM



LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Veteran offensive tackle Orlando Pace, a seven-time Pro Bowler who was released by the St. Louis Rams on March 10, made a free agent visit to Halas Hall on Monday.


Orlando Pace
Pace, 33, was the first overall pick in the 1997 draft out of Ohio State. The mammoth 6-7, 325-pounder played 12 seasons with the Rams, including three from 2001-03 when Bears coach Lovie Smith was St. Louis’ defensive coordinator.

Pace blocked for the NFL MVP in three straight seasons in St. Louis: quarterback Kurt Warner in 1999 and 2001 and running back Marshall Faulk in 2000. Pace also won a Super Bowl ring with the Rams in 1999.

The Bears have already signed offensive linemen Frank Omiyale and Kevin Shaffer since the start of free agency. But as always they will continue to look to upgrade their roster.

Seems he already checked out Baltimore & said no thanks after being given an offer and not accepting. If we sign Pace we are definitely not going O-Line in the draft at all IMO. I'd like him as a RT and insurance for Williams at LT. Would be a great sign IMO.

[Pax for Prez]

I'm a little suprised by this ??

Happy, but suprised. I thought the Bears said earlier that they weren't interested in him ?

I'm guessing his asking price has come way down.

I'd be happy with the signing though !!

[Chewie]

WTF ?!?

I can only guess this means Chris Williams really "dazzled" them at the mini camp ?

Really confused on this one unless they're thinking of letting Kreutz go and are moving Beekman over to his spot or something.

[emperorjones]

Or they could be looking at Pace at RT and Shaffer as a swing backup. I heard nothing negative about Williams. I'd love to get a few more years out of Pace at RT.

[Chewie]

Here's a theory....

Let's say you're the Bears and you're going to make a play for Cutler when/if he's available. You were planning on taking an OT within the first two rounds of the draft. Since part of the price tag will no doubt be this year's #1 pick, you at least want to get an OT in the fold so you bring in Pace for a physical to have him at the ready.

If the Cutler trade goes down before draft day, you lose the #18 pick and you sign Orlando Pace which allows you to ignore OT early in the draft and you pull the trigger on a Robiskie-type in Round 2.

If the Cutler trade doesn't go down, you don't pull the trigger on Pace and either go OT/WR or WR/OT in the first two rounds in the draft.

[Pax for Prez]

Here's a theory....

Let's say you're the Bears and you're going to make a play for Cutler when/if he's available. You were planning on taking an OT within the first two rounds of the draft. Since part of the price tag will no doubt be this year's #1 pick, you at least want to get an OT in the fold so you bring in Pace for a physical to have him at the ready.

If the Cutler trade goes down before draft day, you lose the #18 pick and you sign Orlando Pace which allows you to ignore OT early in the draft and you pull the trigger on a Robiskie-type in Round 2.

If the Cutler trade doesn't go down, you don't pull the trigger on Pace and either go OT/WR or WR/OT in the first two rounds in the draft.

I was thinking something like that and tie in K. Lucus (a Buss Client) in the mix .... you know like "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" ..... maybe just maybe ....... Cutler to Chicago ?????

[NoSkyy]

Haha...maybe they just want to have someone to teach Williams the ropes and are tired of having this week ass offensive line? I guess they really don't want to draft a linemen.

[DanTown8587]

Orlando Pace probably has a year or two left at T before he has to shut it down. Would be a nice addition to play RT or even start at LT (if healthy) to start the year if Williams isn't ready.

[emperorjones]

Here's a theory.....

How did I miss that post?

Here's my theory. JA wanted to resign JSC to be his backup swing tackle behind Tait & Williams. He wanted to add a big guard and then maybe take the best available OT in the middle of the draft to groom for the future at RT. But...Tait retires and then after signing his big guard (Omiyale) he loses St. Clair (go figure right?). Sooo, he signs Shaffer to play the role St. Clair would have had as the backup swing tackle and then tries to get Pace to replace Tait at RT. If he can't get Pace, he goes RT early in the draft and lets that pick battle it out with Shaffer for the starting job.

Or....it may be all one big trick to land Cutler

[Cliff Levingston]

Wow, a lot of speculation going on here. Maybe it's just that Angelo is doing his proper due diligence in checking out these free agents to see if he can make a nice addition to the team. No doubt that adding either Pace, Lucas or both for reasonable prices would provide nice depth at those positions, at least.

[Chewie]

Emperor and Cliff - your theories of Pace providing depth may be logical but they aren't nearly as fun as mine.

A Cutler trade tie-in must be made with every Bears transaction.

[Balance-a-Bull]

Emperor and Cliff - your theories of Pace providing depth may be logical but they aren't nearly as fun as mine.

A Cutler trade tie-in must be made with every Bears transaction.

Not to mention the Earl Bennett and Chris Williams Vanderbilt connection already in place.

[Cliff Levingston]

Emperor and Cliff - your theories of Pace providing depth may be logical but they aren't nearly as fun as mine.

A Cutler trade tie-in must be made with every Bears transaction.

True. Regardless, the Bears should sign Pace if he's going to be fairly healthy and not cost a fortune which will allow them to maybe go with a defensive end in the 2nd round instead of a tackle, or of course, afford Cutler some extra protection up front.

[emperorjones]

Chicago Bears trying to sign tackle Orlando Pace
Should he sign, team plans to leave him at left tackle

By Vaughn McClure | Tribune reporter
April 1, 2009

The Bears have made signing Orlando Pace a priority and intend to leave him at left tackle if he joins the team, according to an NFL source.

Pace, who played 12 seasons with the St. Louis Rams before becoming a salary-cap casualty last month, visited Halas Hall on Monday. Agent Kennard McGuire said Pace "had a very good and productive" visit.

McGuire declined to discuss specifics in relation to a contract offer. Pace reportedly has an offer from Baltimore.

If Pace signs, the Bears probably would start him at left tackle and shift Chris Williams to the right side. Pace was selected to seven Pro Bowls at left tackle and is destined to be a Hall of Famer. He likely would have been the Rams' starting left tackle for the 2009 season had they not opted to save $6 million in cap space.

Williams, the Bears' first-round pick last season, did not start a game his rookie year after back surgery. He was slated to take over at left tackle even before John St. Clair left via free agency to sign with Cleveland.

Williams is versatile enough to play either tackle spot, which is why the Bears would be willing to move him to the right side.

The Bears have already signed veteran Kevin Shaffer, and he could compete to start at right tackle regardless. Adding the 33-year-old Pace would push newly acquired Frank Omiyale back into the mix at guard.

Pace had some injury issues the last several years, but the Bears don't appear concerned. Drafting a tackle is in the plans regardless.

The Bears also entertained veteran cornerback Ken Lucas on Monday, but there is only lukewarm interest in him.

Wow. I had not considered that the Bears would move Williams to the right side. If they don't get Pace, I could see them staying at 18 and taking a LT that drops at #18.

[Chewie]

This.

I can only guess this means Chris Williams really "dazzled" them at the mini camp.

[emperorjones]

That glass of yours is really half empty huh Chewie?

Unlikely they saw enough in 3 days without pads in 7 on 7s to come to such a dramatic conclusion. More likely they are looking at the overall talent that they could put on the line.

[Chewie]

That glass of yours is really half empty huh Chewie?

Unlikely they saw enough in 3 days without pads in 7 on 7s to come to such a dramatic conclusion. More likely they are looking at the overall talent that they could put on the line.

Or Williams sucks and/or will have chronic back pain that affects his play for his entire career.

Whichever.

[Balance-a-Bull]

That glass of yours is really half empty huh Chewie?

Unlikely they saw enough in 3 days without pads in 7 on 7s to come to such a dramatic conclusion. More likely they are looking at the overall talent that they could put on the line.

Or Williams sucks and/or will have chronic back pain that affects his play for his entire career.

Whichever.

I was thinking the same thing Chewie....we have a lot of activity on the OL and Williams has not been firmly slotted anywhere... so it does beg the question...why?

[Chewie]

I'm really just playing with emperor - it could be as simple as the fact that Pace can only play LT (and at a pro-bowl level) whereas Williams has the versatility to play either tackle position.

That being said, we didn't draft Williams with the intention of him playing RT and we drafted him as high as we did because he could play the more premium position - LT.

[Balance-a-Bull]

I feel a little better now.

I was getting a little worried.