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)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."
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Pace gets paid $6.1 million dollars for 1st and could have made $4 million this year. Bears had no problem shedding this looser but when it comes to shedding the likes of Lovie, a much bigger looser, they come to a dead end and don't want to cross the bridge.
Pace should head down to Florida and see if Sea World is looking for any new whales!
WAIT A MINUTE!!! There's a $250,000 bonus for working out?!?! Does playing Wii Sports count? Cuz, that's what Pace did all last year!!!
No worry. They can always sign some other broken down horse. At this point if they did anything smart it would shock the world.
Except for quarterback once a player hits that 10 year mark it's pretty much over. Just too much mileage. If you do sign older veterans it's best on a year-to-year contract. When the Bears sign free agents it's too much of a reclamation project. Why even bother. Better to develop your young talent. But the Bears can't even do that.
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Never mind on Jahri Evans. Biggs is reporting that the Saints tendered him at the 1st and 3rd level as an RFA. So we are back to square one on the offensive line. They will have to use their first pick (maybe first two picks) on offensive linemen, and hope they get a RT and a G out of that group.
That leaves the defense for free agency.
If this had worked out, the Bears would have been hailed as sharp personnel guys. The normal decline for an offensive lineman is more gradual than most positions, so if he was healthy, the prevailing notion is that he could have been a good pass blocker, and at least a big wall in the way in the run game. But with all of his discreet injuries healed, he still lacked the ability to bend and block the smaller pass rushers in the 3-4 scheme, and struggled with speed to the edge.
In this case, it worked out poorly. We paid a guy $6M for a year, and got worse production than when St. Clair was on the left side. Tait hanging it up threw them a curve ball, so they were light on tackles, and needed someone who they thought could step in and play, and Pace was pretty well all that was left. Making the deal for Cutler was the clincher, where they knew they could not solidify the position through the draft.
No help on the horizon this year either. If Omiyale is moved to RT, and we sign Jahri Evans in free agency, we will be a lot more stable on the OL, but we will still have a weak spot with Garza, and an unknown in Omiyale, who has not started outside for any stretch of time. Even if we don't move Omiyale, we should still try and sign Evans. In the draft, we can find RT prospects in the 3rd round, and we can find solid guard prospects in the same area.
"Turnstyle" Pace was a liability from day one. Hope Martz finds a real blocker at left tackle.
Well put Brandon. WTF Chicago??????
This is goods news for Superdawg drive in. More time for Pace to concentrate on the important things.
I think Pace "retired" during the 2009 season and coasted with the million$$$ he got paid. Fat tub of goo. Best of luck to you in your future celebrity pie eating contests.
What a joke. Everyone with a brain knows that you can't get stronger with the free agent market in the NFL. You are better off having cheap in experienced division 3 players with heart than over the hill expensive "future hall o' famers".
See, here's just another of a hundred reasons why Lovie "Droopy Dog" should be Gone! Bringing in Archuleta & Pace to take up space and wasting time instead of trying to evaluate a young hungry rookie. Then he puts in Chris Williams in an unnatural position for him just to figure out at the end of last year that he didn't belong there...GREAT EVALUATING LOVIE! And that also goes for your STUPID evaluation of coaches you NIMROD! Way to let go of Rivera and replacing him with a bunch of NOBODIES including yourself! Lovie, the ONLY reason you made the Superbowl in '06 was because of Rivera's defense...NOT YOURS!!!!
I remember how excited my fellow Bears fan were over the Pace signing. I yawned and said he was finished. I said they had no defense, no O-Line, no receivers and therefore no chance. I was rudely shouted down. The messiah was here and it didn't matter if the team was mediocre. We finally had a good quarterback and for goodness sake - Orland Pace, HALL OF FAMER!
We all know the rest of the story. Plus, It will be the same or worse in 2010. But first, we have to get all excited about the Cubs- it's their year after all, right?
Another brilliant Angelo signing who couldn't produce.
Please, sign some young legs, not over-the-hill legs.
If I remember correctly, John Tait retiring put the Bears in a bind. It wasn't as if there were all star linemen waiting to be signed at the time.
I personally thought Pace was a decent signing and expected him to hold the fort until Chris Williams was ready. I just wasn't so sure about signing Pace to a 3 year contract. Hopefully Williams continues with the strides he made end of last season. We'll see what free agents are available this year.
Does anyone know if they are still obligated to payout the remainder of his contract? Do the Bears get cap relief for cutting him?
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Good riddance to Pace he couldn't stay healthy. Get rid of the deadwood. One less of Lovie's flunkies...I mean former Rams.
A few comments.
1. Signing Pace was a mistake. He was way past his prime and was worn out just like when the Bears got Mushin Muhammaed, Adam Archuletta and brought Booker back. Pace is a Hall of Famer indeed but at his age the Bears wasted good money and good time.
2. @Goodbye
Look, who cares if it will be impossible to get a vetern free agent here because of Jay Cutler? The Bears don't need veteran free agents. Every veteran free-agent that has come to the Bears have either contributed nothing or made the Bears worse. The best way to get players is getting young rookies that can be deveolped to be good players that leads to wins on the field.
Hey Angelo some advice here. When a crappy 2-14 team releases the guy a year before, there's a reason for it. And none of them are good. So next time make sure you're not the moron who signs him thinking he's 25 years old all over again!!