Faulk's deal could help Rams lock up Pace

MACOMB, Ill. -- Now that Marshall Faulk is in the fold, the St. Louis Rams can turn their attention to the guy opening all those holes.

All-Pro offensive tackle Orlando Pace is entering the final year of the six-year, $18 million contract he signed as a rookie, and figures to be the next priority for a team trying to make the Super Bowl for a third time in four years.

"Hopefully, we can get some things worked out and we can continue this thing we've got going here," Pace said.

The seven-year, $43.95 contract Faulk agreed to on Monday was intended to allow him to finish his career with the Rams. Pace, the No. 1 overall pick of the 1997 draft, would like nothing better than to do the same.

"It would be great for me," Pace said. "St. Louis has been great to me. This is a great city and this is a great team I'm on. Of course, I want to finish out my career here."

Faulk's contract may enable the Rams to keep more of their stars. It is one of those deals with something for both sides: Faulk is guaranteed $12 million in the first two years of the deal, including a $9.3 million signing bonus. But his salary for 2003 is absurdly low at $700,000, and that combined with his yearly portion of the bonus clears nearly $10 million in salary cap space.

Faulk had been about to enter the fourth year of a seven-year, $44 million deal that was to have paid him $7 million next year plus a $5 million roster bonus. The deal was essentially structured to be reworked at this juncture.

"I went up to him today and said, 'Hey, we appreciate what you do for the team,"' quarterback Kurt Warner said. "He should easily be the highest-paid player in the league, and definitely at his position, and I know he's not with that contract, but we all appreciate it."

Faulk, 29, came to training camp with only the contract hanging over his head. He's not beating himself up over the team's Super Bowl loss last February.

"It's behind me," Faulk said.

He, and the Rams, have come a long, long way since the pre-draft trade in 1999 from the Colts propelled them to upper echelon status. The year before Faulk arrived for second- and fifth-round draft picks, the Rams had been 4-12, and he was hesitant to accept a trade to St. Louis.

"You never know how things are going to work out," Faulk said.