'Franchise' holdout Pace ends even later this year

[1niksder]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/s ... id=1875685

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

For the second consecutive season, St. Louis Rams standout left offensive tackle Orlando Pace has signed the one-year qualifying offer for a "franchise" free agent, ended his long hiatus from the playing field and plans to start in the regular-season opener.

Pace, who missed all of training camp and the preseason, signed the one-year deal worth $7.02 million and will practice Monday as the Rams begin preparations for a Sunday home opener against the Arizona Cardinals.


The eighth-year veteran also missed all of camp in 2003 before signing the one-year "franchise" offer, but he at least reported in time to play in the final preseason game last year. As a rookie, and the first overall player chosen in the 1997 draft, Pace missed all of camp before signing his initial NFL contract.


It is assumed Pace will continue to seek a long-term contract, but that was the case in 2003, as well, and no multiyear deal ever was consummated. That forced St. Louis to use the "franchise" marker for a second time on the perennial Pro Bowl left tackle.


Beyond confirming that Pace had signed the offer, Rams officials had no comment.


The team had made proposals in the offseason that would have made Pace one of the highest-paid offensive linemen in NFL history. He and his representatives countered with proposals more in line with contracts typically awarded to quarterbacks. So once again, Pace failed to land a long-term deal and wasted six months, finally signing a contract to which he could have agreed in February.


With Pace's arrival, just one "franchise" player, Seattle left offensive tackle Walter Jones, remains unsigned. This is the third straight year Jones has missed all of camp, and might be the third year he simply signs the "franchise" offer.


Getting their star blindside pass protector back in time for the opening game is a boon for the Rams, whose offensive line has been decimated by injuries, including the season-ending disc injuries to right tackle Kyle Turley, who is considering retirement. One of the game's most celebrated left tackles, Pace will stabilize a unit that has been shuffled and reshuffled throughout the preseason schedule.


Pace, 28, is accustomed to cramming for the season opener on an abbreviated schedule, so he should be ready for Sunday's contest -- although his conditioning likely will be less than ideal.


In addition to finally getting Pace to report, the Rams added help in the secondary, with the signing of former San Francisco safety Zack Bronson. A seven-year pro, Bronson, 30, can play both safety spots and has started 43 games in his career. The former McNeese State standout is a starting-caliber player, but his career has been marred by injuries.


After what looked to be a breakout season in 2001, when he had seven interceptions, Bronson missed 15 games the ensuing two years because of injuries.

[Justice Hog]

This guy just doesn't want to attend training camp, plain and simple. Kinda reminds me of Bruce Smith with his "Phantom injury" at the beginning of camp.

[skin_to_the_bone]

This guy just doesn't want to attend training camp, plain and simply. Kinda reminds me of Bruce Smith with his "Phantom injury" at the beginning of camp.

Apparently its contagious or more wide spead than people realize.

Was Bruce Smith sited at Rams camp?

That's it we found the cure. Keep Bruce out of ALL camps

[1niksder]

This guy just doesn't want to attend training camp

Every year they Fanchise him and he request some outragous signing bonus then signs the one yr tender about a week before camp ends. He must've got carried away this off-season because he wanted a $30mil SB and waited until after the last game. And having the Postons as agents don't help the Rams at all

[skin_to_the_bone]

And having the Postons as agents don't help the Rams at all

That's a huge part of the equation.