OL Orlando Pace (Chicago Bears)

[LoKyBuckeye]

Possible Browns-Rams Deal?
by Site Staff of BerniesInsiders.com, February 24, 2004 at 9:23am ET

The morning papers in St. Louis mentioned "continuing speculation" that the Browns are interested in making a trade for LT Orlando Pace. Team President John Shaw refused to comment on the speculation. The Rams have until 3/17 to come up with a new contract for Pace, although they applied the franchise tag to him this week.

Howard Balzer of GridironGateway.com reports that the St. Louis Rams informed Orlando Pace on Thursday that they were going to use the franchise tag on him again. This gives Pace a steep raise and, from the perspective of the Cleveland Browns, dramatically increases the cost required to sign Pace. If the Browns sign Pace to an offer sheet that the Rams choose not to match, it will cost the Browns two #1 draft choices.


Not sure how many Browns fans we have around here... is it possible that the Browns might actally get a dominate OL?? Is Pace worth the two #1's if that's what it takes?

[Xevious]

Pace might be worth 2 first rounders as long as they aren't both in the top half of the 1st round. On the other hand giving up 2 early picks would help fit his salary in. I think the Browns would have to do a lot of creative accounting to fit big O under their cap. Last I read they are only 3.2 million under the cap which might be enough to cover 4 games of his salary? Last year his agent was looking for about 12mil a yr. I think the Rams are just abusing the franchise tag since they would only have to pay him 7mil for the season this way. They also get to choose whether to match any offer or take 2 first rounders. It's a win-win situation for them.

[vrbryant]

Odds of seeing 'PACE' on the back of a Browns jersey next season...

750:1

[IUbuck]

i wouldn't waste 2 first rounders on Pace, anyways gallery could end up bein just as good.

[tressforpres]

iubuck, the browns will not get gallery, he is supposed to go top 5, not 7th to the browns

[Xevious]

I'll second Tress on that one. I would love to get Gallery, but everything I've read has him going to NYG with the 4th pick, and his combine performance probably solidified him as a top 5 pick.

[IronBuckI]

Will the Rams ever drop the franchise tag on him, so the Brown's can pick him up?

[exhawg]

Originally Posted by IronBuckI

Will the Rams ever drop the franchise tag on him, so the Brown's can pick him up?

He gets a 20% raise every year so they can't do it forever.

[tsteele316]

pace is killing the rams cap every year. they are going to have to drop the tag eventually. of course this same line has been said for about 3 years now.

[AJHawkfan]

Kind of like the same line in Cleveland....

"wait 'til next year."

[exhawg]

If you were the Browns what whould you give up for Pace at this point? I say the second round pick and Verba.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I dont think Pace will ever be in a Brown's uniform....Cleveland has so many holes to fill, its pathetic.

It would be nice to see him finish his career up in Cleveland, but the odds are slim to none.

[buckeyegrad]

I know Pace has a connection to the northern shore of Ohio, but has he ever stated he would like to play for Cleveland or this just more wishful thinking by Browns fans?

[AKAKBUCK]

If you were the Browns what whould you give up for Pace at this point? I say the second round pick and Verba.

Its really an issue of whether the Rams Tag him or not. If they don't he's a UFA.... so... its down to money... He's not worth a player and a pick and the $.

[exhawg]

Originally Posted by AKAKBUCK

Its really an issue of whether the Rams Tag him or not. If they don't he's a UFA.... so... its down to money... He's not worth a player and a pick and the $.

They can tag him and trade him to a team that he will actually sign with. I thought I heard that he would be willing to lower his asking price to go to the Browns. The only way the Rams will let him go for nothing is if he is far too expensive to keep.