Pace’s release part of overhaul by new St. Louis Rams regime
There were about 6 millions reasons (one for each dollar the Rams saved under the salary cap) to release Orlando Pace. Still, it was a difficult task for Billy Devaney, who has been the team’s general manager for less than three months.
“It’s really tough,” Devaney said Tuesday afternoon, just minutes after he’d informed Pace, who has spent all 12 of his NFL seasons in St. Louis. In 1995, the Rams made Ohio State’s Pace the first offensive lineman in 27 years the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
Still, the new braintrust at Rams Park — basically, Devaney and coach Steve Spagnuolo, with the blessing of owner Chip Rosenbloom – is determined to put together a roster that it feels will be manned with enough talent to right a franchise that has suffered through two miserable seasons (5-27), hasn’t placed a team in the playoffs since 2004 and hasn’t posted a .500-plus record since ‘03.
With Pace gone, Alex Barron becomes the new left tackle, and if his offseason tutoring goes well, Jacob Bell will assume Barron’s old spot at right tackle. Recently signed free agent Jason Brown is the center, and Richie Incognito and John Greco are the favorites to start at guard.
Of course, free agency continues, a trade is always a possibility, and who knows what kind of shuffling could occur during training camp? But barring a surprise or an injury, this likely is the offensive line that will open the season for the Rams.
<><><>
Notes & quotes:
*Devaney very much would like to bring back vet Gus Frerotte to back up Marc Bulger at QB.
*Free-agent FB Mike Karney could well sign with the Rams on Wednesday. The same with strong safety James Butler, another free agent.
*A decision on WR Torry Holt is expected in the next few days. Holt is owed a $1.25 million roster bonus next Tuesday.
*Welcome to Ted Crews, the Rams’ new senior director of communications. Crews, who was working in the Falcons’ public relations department, succeeds the venerable Rick Smith. Smith is retiring after his second stint at running the Rams’ PR.
*And congrats to Crews’ highly capable sidekicks, Artis Twyman and Ryan Anderson, who were promoted to director of media relations and media relations coordinator, respectively. Much deserved.
All for now . . .
Wow this is differnt. Play those player in their position and do not screw with that success. Let me check my I.D. do I live ib Saint Louis, MO.”"”
Newsflash Bill, Butler was signed on Monday. How could you possibly miss that??????
lynrd….Devaney was on the radio today and said the deal with Butler wasn’t official yet, he still has to pass a physical tomorrow and sign the contract.
Bulger season will be over by game 3! Jackson will be broken and the rams can draft a qb with the number one pick 2010. rams have to draft a Lt this year for us to have any kind of chance. this BS about the rams rebuilding is all garbage they have been for the past two seasons. This is year number 3 the pr department is just trying to give the new coach some breathing room, so say that new coach new system we get it. No pressure. Hey didn’t some first year coach(s) make the playoffs last year? pressure back on!
Please dont sign Gus Frerotte, he is horrible and we have seen this first hand. He had winning record last season as a starter but it was not because of his play at all. Frerotte did nothing for us before except for show us how horrible he is. Please bring in some different talent at quaterback that could possibly push Bulger.
we need to win now the mayan calender runs out in 2012 dec. 21 were all dead! so no excuses we need to win now not in a few years! draft curry!
What if Matthew Stafford falls to us for some reason? I would draft him, and then trade him for Jason Smith, or Aaron Curry, and additional picks. How about trading down and selecting Ray Malaluga as our middle linebacker if we can get an additional 3rd round pick? We need someone who can start right now, which is why we should go with a linebacker, or an offensive tackle. I cannot handle another season of 13 or 14 losses.
The Rams released the wrong person. If they want to improve the line release Alex “False Start” Barron and “richie Icognito. Barron seemingly can’t count past two and Icognito takes knuckleheaded penalties. Orlando Pace was never the problem.
IF…Orlando were to say healthy for a full season…and that’s a BIG IF…he is still one of the top 3 tackles in the league. But can you trust his health with all of the games he has missed in the last 3 years? I love the guy and have been a proud supporter of his since before he was drafted, but the decision has been made. I was hoping to keep him and rotate him out with a young LT from the draft. Keep him fresh, kind of like what’s been happening with Leonard Little and James Hall.
here is a thought,
Trade Bulger and our #2 to Denver for Cutler (its a mess over there) and their #12 pick. We then draft Mualuga with the 12th pick and get a thumper in the middle LB spot, Witherspoon to the outside LB. Cutler is young with fire in his eyes plus can throw long and stretch the feild opening running lanes for Jackson. Dumping Bulger clears a ton of cap space to get some good free agents that will be out there this summer