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

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Rams give Pace the franchise tag again

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/CFDD9BF9B81BABB486256FA6001D6F51?OpenDocument&Headline=Rams+give+Pace+franchise+tag+again+for+2005Rams give Pace franchise tag again for 2005
By Bill Coats Of the Post-Dispatch 02/11/2005
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St. Louis Rams offensive lineman Orlando Pace battles with Seattle Seahawk Grant Wistrom.
(Gabriel B. Tait/P-D)
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Stop me if you've heard this one ...

For the third year in a row, the Rams have designated left tackle Orlando Pace as their franchise player. The two sides can work on a long-term contract until March 15 but then would enter a "blackout" period when negotiations must cease until mid-July.

If no deal is reached, Pace would have to sign a one-year tender to play for the Rams next season. The franchise number for offensive linemen this year is $7,424,000, but Pace would receive about a million more than that. Under league guidelines, he is entitled to the franchise number, which is the average of the five highest-paid players at his position, or 120 percent of his 2004 salary, whichever total is higher.

He was paid $7.02 million last year, so his 2005 salary would increase to $8,424,000.

Pace, 29, is in Hawaii this week for his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl and could not be reached to comment. The seven-year veteran out of Ohio State was the No. 1 overall selection in the 1997 draft.

After getting the franchise tag in 2003, he skipped training camp, finally signing the tender and reporting. Last summer, after turning down a seven-year contract for more than $42 million, he held out even longer, again missing the entire camp and also all four preseason games. He rejoined the team less than a week before the season opener but started that week vs. Arizona.

Pace split with his longtime agent, Carl Poston, last September. A players association representative confirmed Friday that Pace has not yet hired a new agent, which probably explains why the franchise designation was made almost two weeks before the NFL deadline.
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I love his success in the NFL - and you can take to the bank he won't start playing this year until Labor Day or so. He's got a guaranteed salary of 8+ million next year - who needs an agent when the rules give you the highest salary (and the Rams keep tabbing you as their franchise player because, well, you are.)
 
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luckobucko said:
I love his success in the NFL - and you can take to the bank he won't start playing this year until Labor Day or so. He's got a guaranteed salary of 8+ million next year - who needs an agent when the rules give you the highest salary (and the Rams keep tabbing you as their franchise player because, well, you are.)
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And if they tag him (again) next year that takes him to 10.08 Million. At this rate, unless he wants out of St Louis, why do you need an agent -- let alone a high profile agent like a Poston?

I forget though if there is a limit on the number of consecutive years a team can tag a player.
 
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Swigs said:
I would love to hear he is in Cleveland working on a deal
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I would not because the Texans are giving up a lot (possibly three picks) and the Browns need to add picks. As much as fans may not want to admit, the Browns are once again back to rebuilding and Pace's price is just too high.
 
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Carr has taken a lot of hits in the Texans first few years. This is a good move for them if they can land Pace. Too many QB's never get the chance to show what they can do because of a poor offensive lines.... having Pace would give Carr more time to throw to his weapons on that offense.
 
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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/football/nfl/03/15/bc.fbn.rams.pace.ap/index.html

Pace remains in limbo
Texans make offer, but ball in Rams' court for star OT

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Offered a contract by the Houston Texans, Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace says "the ball is really in St. Louis' court" in deciding whether to retain the veteran lineman.

Pace, during a visit Monday with Texans officials, told the Houston Chronicle that negotiations with the Rams are "at a standstill" -- what he called typical in recent years, when St. Louis has placed the franchise tag on him.

"I don't know if things are going to be resolved," Pace told the newspaper.

The Rams have until 3 p.m. Wednesday to sign Pace to a multiyear contract offer. At that point, a four-month negotiating blackout begins for the Rams and Pace, meaning another spring without Pace attending the team's offseason conditioning program, minicamps and training camp for the third year in a row.

A message seeking comment was left Tuesday with the Rams.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that talks between Pace and the Rams are at a standstill largely because the Rams' latest offer -- a revised proposal to Pace's agents Monday -- doesn't match Walter Jones' contract in guaranteed money and money paid out in the deal's first three years.

Jones, the Seattle offensive tackle, re-signed with the Seahawks before the start of the free agency period, agreeing to a seven-year, $52.5 million contract that included a $16 million signing bonus. The Post-Dispatch said the Rams' latest offer to Pace is believed to be $51 million with a $15 million signing bonus.

"I would love to go somewhere and have that security, and have that long-term future with a team and an organization," Pace told the Houston newspaper.

Under franchise player guidelines, Pace would have to get an offer sheet from the Texans. The Rams then would have a week to decide if they want to match the offer from Houston. If they match, Pace would come to the Rams under the contract terms negotiated with Pace and the Texans. If the Rams opt otherwise, they would get two first-round draft picks from Houston -- one this year, the other next. Houston has the 13th overall pick in this year's draft.

Still, the Rams, Texans and Pace can bypass the entire offer sheet process if the Rams decide to accept a compensation package other than the two first-round draft picks.
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I think that history has proven that you don't sign or trade for big names unless you are only one or two players away. You build through the draft and get your final peices through free agency. Pace is still in his prime, but by the time the Browns are ready to compete with the better teams in the league, Pace's talent will start to diminish, he will be a well overpaid veteren fan favorite that we will have to release for salary cap reasons and try to develop that position all over again. Left Tackle is one of those positions that you'd like to be able to count on being your consistent point for 7 or 8 years to come when you are building. That's what St. Louis did when they drafted Pace at 1.
 
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HAppy Ending for Pace (And Rams)

Now if the gets into camp early it makes you wonder about the improvement this can bring to the Rams O-line this coming year.
======================================
Mar 17, 5:17 PM EST
Pace Hopes to Finish Career With Rams
By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Orlando Pace has a chance to finish his career with the St. Louis Rams, and he has his new agent to thank for that.
The Rams have made the six-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle their franchise player the last three seasons, and the first two years talks on a long-term contract went nowhere. Pace fired Carl and Kevin Poston last fall when he signed a one-year tender, and his new agent, Kennard McGuire, came aboard two weeks ago with a fresh slate.
Pace, the first overall pick of the 1997 draft, signed a seven-year, $52.9 million contract Wednesday. He'll make $18 million in the first year of the contract, including a $15 million signing bonus, after the Rams raised their offer significantly.
"I think for me this year it was different for the simple fact of changing your representation," Pace said at a news conference Thursday. "The communication was pretty good throughout the past two weeks and I think that really sped the process along, and we really made the deal go through."
 
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DDN

4/17

Three cheers for 'Coach Coop'

By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer
Please allow me to raise my champagne glass and toast John Cooper.
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<!-- inset --> <!--begintext--> The former Ohio State football coach and current Cincinnati Bengals consultant has enjoyed quite a year so far. It's only going to get better.
His 1996 Rose Bowl team, a 20-17 winner over Arizona State on Jan. 1, 1997, was honored recently in Columbus. Following that Buckeye Bash, Cooper received the Gen. Robert R. Neyland Memorial Trophy on April 8.
The Knoxville Quarterback Club has presented the award since 1967 to an outstanding leader in intercollegiate athletics. What's more, "Coach Coop," who turns 69 on July 2, has been nominated for the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2006 to be announced May 16.
Yes, he had a dismal record against Michigan (2-10-1). And, yes, there were academic and discipline problems among some of his players. But once you strip that negativity away, you find only positives about this charismatic coach who compiled a 111-43-4 record in 13 seasons at Ohio State (1988-2000) as part of his 193-83-6 overall record.
With the Neyland Trophy, he enters a stratosphere occupied by Paul "Bear" Bryant, Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler, just to name a few.
"It's like a Who's Who in college coaching," Cooper said. "It's a great thrill, a great honor."
Cooper and his wife, Helen, were sweethearts at Powell (Tenn.) High School. She was a cheerleader. He was a three-sport star who played safety and quarterback in the ol' single wing.
They celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Dec. 24.
Ain't love grand?
 
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