Handwriting on wall for Orlando Pace
Chicago Bears left tackle working with second team; future with team beyond season appears doubtful
By Vaughn McClure
Tribune reporter
December 17, 2009
Orlando Pace looks on from the bench in the second half against the 49ers. (Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images / November 12, 2009)
Give Orlando Pace credit for showing some class.
Most veterans would take exception to a demotion, but the Bears left tackle walked off the Walter Payton Center practice field Wednesday with a smile after lining up with the second-team offense.
Multiple sources said the 34-year-old Pace will remain in a backup role for the remainder of the season, barring injury to left tackle Chris Williams or right tackle Kevin Shaffer.
"I guess it's what I have to do," said Pace, who returned to full participation in practice off a groin injury. "I'm a competitor. Every athlete wants to be on the field. If the decision is made that it's like that, then I have to abide by it."
Williams took over as the starting left tackle after Pace missed the last two games with the groin strain. Offensive coordinator Ron Turner said last week that it would be hard to keep a healthy Pace out of the lineup.
The decision to bench the seven-time Pro Bowler might push Pace closer to retirement, although he said he feels healthy enough to keep playing. The Bears could release Pace, as they did veteran receiver Marty Booker at the end of last season.
"I feel good, my body feels good," Pace said. "I re-evaluate things every year."
Pace, who the Rams cut in March to save $6 million in salary-cap space, signed a three-year deal with the Bears potentially worth $15 million. His base salary is $1.35 million for this season, $3.75 million next season and $4.74 million in 2011. He has workout bonuses totaling $500,000 over the next two seasons, and Pace earned $4.65 million in bonuses this season.
The Bears drafted the 24-year-old Williams with the 14th overall pick of the 2008 draft to be their left tackle of the future, but he had back surgery and missed the first seven games of his rookie season. Williams was moved to right tackle to accommodate Pace's arrival. The experiment, however, didn't go as smoothly as planned.
Oddly enough, the numbers don't indict Pace as much as many might figure. According to STATS, Pace has given up three of the Bears' 26 sacks in 11 starts, while Williams has surrendered seven in 13. Williams also has a team-high eight penalties with five false starts.
But the Bears are last in the league in rushing offense going into Sunday's game against the Ravens with an average of 85.8 rushing yards per game, and the left tackle must take some responsibility for that.
Regardless of his future role, Pace intends to help Williams master the left tackle position he once dominated. And Williams is willing to absorb advice from the likely Hall of Famer.
"Orlando's a professional and a great guy," Williams said. "And we're both here to do whatever the coaches ask us to do. For him to help me out, that's just the kind of guy he is."
