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

DontHateOState;1654489; said:
Just idiotic. Our fanbase is so stupid, it's really depressing.
I don't know, I've been reading the internet today and learned that since Henderson didn't sign with us, we are not going to field an OL next year or the year after. Maybe we can hire Bentley, Pace, and convince Mangold to retire and come back to help coach and recruit.
 
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DontHateOState;1654489; said:
Just idiotic. Our fanbase is so stupid, it's really depressing.


This irks the hell out of me. Pace is not coming to OSU to be a coach. I know this. Figured I'd make a statement that I didn't think somebody would take so serious. Sad is all I can say. I do have a problem with the way they recruit the position, but to get called an idiot for my statement. Wow!
 
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Retirement still on Pace?s mind
Relegated to backup status on Bears, best option seems mutual parting
Orlando Pace

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Orlando Pace could retire before the Bears release him. (Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images / November 12, 2009)

While Orlando Pace used Valentine's Day weekend to escape to Florida with his family, the Bears offensive tackle continues to ponder a permanent vacation from football.

Retirement could be near for the 34-year-old veteran and seven-time Pro Bowl selection.

``It's still up in the air,'' Pace said by phone Tuesday from his home in, go figure, Orlando. ``I'm still feeling my way through this.

``I haven't talked to anyone in the organization about it yet. That probably should be happening in the next week or so.''

Although Pace remains coy about his decision, it seems likely that the probably future Hall of Famer will step away from the game after 13 seasons. He still has two years remaining on the three-year, $15 million deal he signed with the Bears before last season. Pace would make a base salary of $3.75 million in 2010 to go with a $250,000 workout bonus.

Because the Bears now consider Pace a backup to starting left tackle Chris Williams, the best option seemingly would be a mutual parting. Retirement would allow Pace to walk away under his own terms rather than having to be released.

``That's a lot of money if they're thinking a reserve role,'' Pace said. ``I'm sure they're thinking about it from a business end as well.

``I understand that I was only here to kind of bridge the gap between a year and Chris, so I understand that's part of the business. Now I have to see what makes the best sense for me.''

Retirement still on Orlando Pace’s mind - chicagotribune.com
 
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Bears release tackle Orlando Pace
March 1, 2010
By Vaughn McClure

The Bears have released veteran left tackle and future Hall of Famer Orlando Pace, according to a source.

The source said Pace's name appeared on the waiver wire today along with tight end Fontel Mines and guard Tyler Reed.

Pace told the Tribune numerous times that he was considering retirement after 13 seasons. He still had two years remaining on the three-year, $15 million deal he signed with the Bears prior to last season. Pace would have made a base salary of $3.75 million in 2010 to go with a $250,000 workout bonus.
Photo: Orlando Pace blocks for Jay Cutler. (Brian Cassella/Tribune)
Bears Lovie Smith implied that a decision on Pace was coming soon when he addressed the media at the NFL scouting combine.

Pace, the former first overall pick of the Rams in the 1997 draft, made seven Pro Bowls. He turns 35 in November, and the Bears are looking for younger, more athletic tackles for new offensive coordinator Mike Martz's offense.

Pace came to the Bears as a starter but lost his spot to Chris Williams following a groin injury. The Bears believed Pace's best year were well behind.

"That's a lot of money if they're thinking a reserve role," Pace said last month. "I'm sure they're thinking about it from a business end as well.

"I understand that I was only here to kind of bridge the gap between a year and Chris, so I understand that's part of the business. Now I have to see what makes the best sense for me."

Bears release tackle Orlando Pace - Chicago Breaking Sports
 
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Orlando Pace getting a shot in the booth?
by VanRam on Jun 7, 2010

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M. Spencer Green - AP .
"That was nice throw. Don't you agree, empty chair?"

With Isaac Bruce back in the St. Louis Rams family, there are some other former Rams embarking on the next phase of their careers.

Adam Archuleta and Orlando Pace will be attending this year's NFL Broadcast Boot Camp from June 21-24. What is the broadcast boot camp? I'll let the NFL explain:

The program, which runs from June 21-24, is directed by the NFL Broadcasting Department and covers a wide range of topics with instructors from each of the NFL?s broadcast partners ? CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC, NFL Network, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Westwood One Radio, plus local radio and TV. It will include hands-on work in areas such as tape study, editing, show preparation, radio production, control room operation, studio preparation, production meetings, field reporting and game preparation. Each player will tape segments as a studio and game analyst and take part in a networking session with television executives. Each player also will serve as a live radio host on SIRIUS NFL Radio.

This isn't just some celebrity waiter type thing, as you can see. This is a program the league does to help players transition from a career on the field.

Over the last three years, 65 players have participated and 28 have landed broadcasting gigs.

Orlando Pace getting a shot in the booth? - Turf Show Times

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81888a0c&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
 
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John Cooper finally coming back
Ex-Ohio State coach made his name far away from home; always wanted to play, coach at Tennessee
By Dave Link
Knoxville News Sentinel
Posted July 28, 2010

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John Cooper finally coming back

John Cooper will never forget his childhood days growing up in the Knoxville area of Heiskell and being a University of Tennessee football fan.

Cooper sold Cokes at UT's Shields-Watkins Field in the late 1940s when Gen. Robert Neyland was the Vols' coach. When UT played road games, Cooper envisioned every play while listening on the radio.

"I could tell you any player's name," Cooper recalls. "If a game was played on the road, Lindsey Nelson was broadcasting the game. If I wasn't watching them play, I was listening on the radio. I dreamed of playing football for Tennessee."

It never happened.
Cooper's record in 13 seasons at Ohio State (1988-2000) was 111-43-4, but his many victories with the Buckeyes often were overshadowed by a 3-8 bowl record and a 2-10-1 record against rival Michigan. He was fired after the 2000 season and replaced by Jim Tressel.

"It's brought up all the time," Cooper said of his record against Michigan. "Hey, we never lost to a bad Michigan team."

It turned out to be an amicable split between Cooper and Ohio State. Cooper and Earl Bruce were chosen coaches emeritus and have offices in the Ohio State athletic complex. Cooper said he often talks football with Tressel, who is still Ohio State's coach.

"One of the best things in my opinion a head football coach can do is bring back former coaches and players," Cooper said. "They can help the program. I'm not a threat to Jim Tressel. I'm 73 years old."

Cooper and his wife live within a mile of his daughter Cindy, his son John, and his grandchildren in Columbus.

"The thing I'm trying to do now is be the best grandpa and husband I can be," Cooper said. "Coaches spend a lot of time away from family. Now that I'm retired I'm trying to make up for it. I take my grandchildren to school every day and bring my wife and daughter Starbucks every day."

John Cooper finally coming back ? Knoxville News Sentinel
 
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Orlando Pace: Played the first dozen of his 13 seasons with St. Louis (1997-2008) before being released and signing with Chicago for 2009. Seven-time Pro Bowl performer blocked for three consecutive most valuable players (Kurt Warner in 1999 and 2001 and Marshall Faulk in 2000), started 165 games in career. Former Ohio State star was No. 1 selection in 1997 draft. Started 16 games eight times, including seven occasions in eight-year span. Triceps and shoulder injuries plagued him in his last few seasons, and he logged only 34 starts his final four seasons (2006-09). Member of Team of the Decade for the 2000s. Hall chance: Good.
-- Len Pasquarelli

New starting left tackles in the NFL this season should include youngsters such as Baltimore Ravens' Michael Oher, Dallas Cowboys' Doug Free and Seattle Seahawks' Russell Okung - ESPN
 
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John Cooper, who succeeded Bruce as coach and went 2-10-1 against Michigan, was more ambivalent about the possibility of a change in the schedule.

"I think there are a lot of pros and cons," he said.

Cooper said he doesn't expect Michigan's doldrums - an 8-16 record the last two years - to continue, and he wonders whether it would be wise to have the Wolverines in the same Big Ten division as the Buckeyes because he thinks that could affect the competitive balance of the two divisions.

If OSU and Michigan are in different divisions, Cooper said, "I don't think you want to play them the last game of the year and then turn around and play them the next week" in a championship game.

Past players plead: Leave Game alone | BuckeyeXtra

JOHN COOPER, OSU coach from 1988-2000.

?Everybody?s going to be upset if Ohio State doesn?t play Michigan in the last game of the year. But if you go to divisional play (and they?re in separate divisions), you might be better playing in the middle of the season -- late October or whatever. Ohio State and Michigan are clearly the two best teams in the Big Ten Conference. You?re not going to see Michigan in the same situation they?re in right now very many times? I don?t know of too many coaches who want to play somebody two weeks in a row.?

?I don?t have a problem with playing the last game. I?m not saying it?s bad to do that. If you want to have them in the same division, it ought to be last game of year.?

On the cons of that
?It?d be tough on both teams if you played the last game of the year (once a league championship game is added). If you?re in the same division and you play them the last game of the year and lose, you?re out of the national title picture. If you play them the last game of the year and you?re not in the same division and you lose, you have a chance to come back and play that next game and then play for the national championship.?

More quotes from OSU-Michigan rivalry story (Blogging the Buckeyes)
 
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Pace had warm welcome at Rams opener
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BY JIM THOMAS | [email protected]
Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2010

Flanked by his wife and four children in the north end zone of the Edward Jones Dome, Orlando Pace didn't know what to expect when "introduced" to the crowd during a timeout.

Not to worry. He received one of the day's biggest ovations during the Rams' season opener against Arizona.

"I was glad," Pace said. "I was a little uncertain; you're always a little nervous. You want it to be a good ovation. But it was great. I was glad to see that the fans still remember."

How could they forget?

For most of his 12 seasons with the Rams, the former No. 1 overall draft pick from Ohio State was a pillar at left tackle. He made seven Pro Bowls and played in two Super Bowls for the Rams. Released following the 2008 season, he played one season in Chicago, and then decided to call it quits.

When it comes to retirement, Pace said, "I'm as official as it gets. But I haven't filed the papers or anything yet."

After playing at such a high level for such a long time, Pace wasn't the sort to hang on once his skills started to erode.

"It's funny, I was just talking to Eddie George last week about it," Pace said, referring to the former Buckeyes and Tennessee Titans running back. "He felt the same way about it when he retired. When you play really well in this league for a long time, and mentally you can still do it but physically you just can't do it anymore ...it doesn't make sense to me to play. Because I still have to look at myself and feel good about what I'm doing."

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_d4e8901e-c394-11df-b228-00127992bc8b.html

http://www.fandy.com/node/11776
 
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[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwSfw5YlQb8"]YouTube - Knoxville Quarterback Club 9/27/2010 - Part 1 of 2[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftVzRLeJV_M"]YouTube - Knoxville Quarterback Club 9/27/2010 - Part 2 of 2[/ame]
 
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One more year until JT helps wipe away the damage from the 10-loss hole John Cooper dug.

Only one more year... not that anything could heal the trauma of those years for me, but it'll bring some small measure of solace.

Keep going JT!
 
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