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OL Orlando Pace (7-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl Champion, CFB HOF, NFL HOF)

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Pace back to lead Rams in opener against Panthers
By R.B. Fallstrom, AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS ? Ten years ago, Orlando Pace was the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. Now he's the graybeard of the St. Louis Rams' offensive line, coming off an injury that prematurely ended his season and ready to prove himself all over again.
Pace's role in solidifying an inexperienced line could be an early key for the Rams, who open against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in a matchup of .500 teams from last year. He's approaching this year with youthful exuberance produced from the down time a torn triceps created.

"Just to be back playing football again, I'm excited," Pace said. "Sometimes in the 10th or 11th year you can get into a flow of things, but I'm excited.

"You want to go back out there and prove you can still play at a high level, and that's one of my goals."

Pace, who made seven straight Pro Bowls before last season, is 10 pounds lighter than last year, although he's far from wasting away at 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds. That's a concession to his advanced age and a bid to keep him at elite status.

He plans to hit the ground running, opening holes for Steven Jackson and protecting Marc Bulger's blind side.

"I think the older you get, probably the lighter you have to play just because it's easier on your joints," Pace said. "I think it'll help me immensely this year."
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"I'm that old guy, I guess I'm the next in line," Pace said. "It's cool. I accept the leadership role on the offensive line, and I told the guys if they need to talk about anything, I'm here."
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Pace back to lead Rams in opener against Panthers - USATODAY.com
 
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Rams' Pace Injures Right Shoulder
Monday, September 10, 2007; Page E10

Rams T Orlando Pace will undergo an MRI exam today after injuring his right shoulder in a 27-13 season-opening loss to the Panthers yesterday.

His teammates were bracing themselves for another extended period without the seven-time Pro Bowl selection.

"We played a lot without him last year," QB Marc Bulger said. "So, unfortunately we have some experience with it. Hopefully, it's not major."

The injury happened when Pace was pass-blocking with 1 minute 45 seconds left in the second quarter. It wasn't immediately clear what happened but there was not severe contact when Pace blocked Carolina's Julius Peppers.

After the play, Pace began to run off the field but was in enough pain that he dropped to a knee before reaching the sideline. Pace walked into the locker room for X-rays and did not return. For now, Coach Scott Linehan is calling the injury "a pretty bad sprain."
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washingtonpost.com
 
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Pace out for season
Associated Press


ST. LOUIS -- NFL Network's Adam Schefter is reporting that St. Louis Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Pace will miss the entire season with a shoulder injury that he suffered during the team's loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

His teammates were bracing themselves for another extended period without the seven-time Pro Bowler.

"We played a lot without him last year," quarterback Marc Bulger said. "So, unfortunately we have some experience with it. Hopefully it's not major."

The injury happened when Pace was pass-blocking with 1:45 left in the second quarter. It wasn't immediately clear what happened but there was not severe contact when Pace blocked the Panthers' Julius Peppers.

After the play, Pace began to run off the field but was in enough pain that he dropped to a knee before reaching the sideline. Pace walked into the locker room for X-rays and did not return. For now, coach Scott Linehan is calling the injury "a pretty bad sprain."
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Pace out for season
 
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Steve19;925955; said:
One wonders if this isn't the end of his playing career. It's been a long time for a lineman his size and playing the central role that he has. Best wishes to OP!
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Orlando will just be 32 this November 4th (which incidentally is the birthday of a lot of great people). He could play for another 4 or 5 years. Offensive linemen seem to have longer NFL careers than most other positions. Hell, didn't Bruce Matthews play for 20 years?
 
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Rams lose offensive line anchor Pace for season
Associated Press
Updated: September 11, 2007, 1:19 AM ET

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace will miss the rest of the season with a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder suffered in the season opener Sunday.

The injury is Pace's second season-ender in two games, after tearing his left triceps last November. Coach Scott Linehan said this one could be career-threatening.

Team physician Dr. Matt Matava estimated a six-month rehab period while calling it a "correctable injury."

"I think it's too soon to say what implications there are for his future," Linehan said. "I would think it's all up to the mind-set of Orlando and how he responds to another recovery to a season-ending injury.

"He's got to go through it again."

An MRI exam Monday revealed the damage to the seven-time Pro Bowl player who was the first overall pick of the 1997 draft, and coach Scott Linehan said surgery will be scheduled. The 31-year-old Pace was injured on the first play after the two-minute warning while pass-blocking against the Panthers' Julius Peppers, minor jostling that didn't appear out of the ordinary.

"I feel very bad, obviously, for Orlando," Linehan said. "He had a real unfortunate injury and we'll have to pick up the pieces.

"Come Sunday, we'll have our best five out there."

After watching a tape of the play, Linehan wasn't sure what happened. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson said Pace told him he "just felt it give out."

"You really can't see it, but it must have been a pretty dramatic blow to have that kind of damage," Linehan said. "It was a very unusual injury, but pretty severe."

Pace injured his triceps last year, also while pass blocking on an innocent-appearing play, landing him on injured reserve for the final seven games.
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ESPN - Rams tackle Pace (shoulder) done for season - NFL
 
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Cooper's 200th win

"He left with 193 victories and desperately wanted another job to get to 200. It never happened. Perhaps his age played against him, since most hiring athletic directors knew Cooper would only be around long enough to pick up win No. 200 and strengthen his resume for the College Football Hall of Fame. He was up for election to the Hall this year and missed. Maybe the story would have been different had he won seven more games."

The Morning Journal - Longevity, rare even in champs

This begs the question what seven wins was Cooper missing? I think the seven wins he was missing were the wins against tSUN and in bowl games. With any seven of those Cooper is in the hall of fame for sure.
 
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smithlabs;933459; said:
This begs the question what seven wins was Cooper missing? I think the seven wins he was missing were the wins against tSUN and in bowl games. With any seven of those Cooper is in the hall of fame for sure.
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Exactly, if he wouldn't have choked and lost 10 to Michigan and all those bowl games, maybe he wouldn't be cryin' the shoulda, coulda, woulda, blues. I don't feel sorry for him simply because anyone could have won 111 games with the talent he had at OSU, A real coach would have won more than that. But hey if he had one a few of the right games, maybe we wouldn't have coach tressel. So I guess it worked out better for the Bucks in the long run.
 
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smithlabs;933459; said:
"He left with 193 victories and desperately wanted another job to get to 200. It never happened. Perhaps his age played against him, since most hiring athletic directors knew Cooper would only be around long enough to pick up win No. 200 and strengthen his resume for the College Football Hall of Fame. He was up for election to the Hall this year and missed. Maybe the story would have been different had he won seven more games."

The Morning Journal - Longevity, rare even in champs

This begs the question what seven wins was Cooper missing? I think the seven wins he was missing were the wins against tSUN and in bowl games. With any seven of those Cooper is in the hall of fame for sure.
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With 7 of those wins he would have retired on his own terms and had more than 200 wins. And a NC or 2.
 
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GoodLifeSean;933582; said:
Exactly, if he wouldn't have choked and lost 10 to Michigan and all those bowl games, maybe he wouldn't be cryin' the shoulda, coulda, woulda, blues. I don't feel sorry for him simply because anyone could have won 111 games with the talent he had at OSU, A real coach would have won more than that. But hey if he had one a few of the right games, maybe we wouldn't have coach tressel. So I guess it worked out better for the Bucks in the long run.
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how do you think "the talent" got there? i think you're being a bit harsh
 
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smithlabs;933459; said:
This begs the question what seven wins was Cooper missing?
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'93 Michigan.
'95 Michigan.
'95 Any Bowl Game.
'96 Michigan.
'97 Michigan.
'97 Any Bowl Game.
'98 Michigan State.

Yeah, I think those seven games ought to do it ... Four or five national titles in six years to go with his 200 wins would make for an OK Hall of Fame resume. :smash:

Anyhow, did anyone else notice that all the "Master Coaches Survey" bios now include links to their Facebook profiles? :moo:

Facebook | John Cooper
 
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