Pace finally budges, signs 1-year contract

The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- The Rams' offensive line got a big boost Tuesday when left tackle Orlando Pace ended his holdout and signed a one-year contract as the team's franchise player, the Rams said.

Details of the contract were not released, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said the 6-foot-7, 320-pound Pace was expected to sign for the franchise tender offer of $5.73 million.

Pace, the top pick in the 1997 draft, has been named to the Pro Bowl in four of his six seasons, all with the Rams. He battled injuries last season that limited him to 10 games, but he still was named to the Pro Bowl squad.

Pace practiced with the Rams on Tuesday. It wasn't yet clear if he would play Thursday when St. Louis hosts the Kansas City Chiefs in the preseason finale for both teams.

The Rams open the regular season Sept. 7 against the Giants in New York.

The Rams believe that with Pace in the lineup, they have the makings of one of the NFL's best offensive lines. Pace is joined by offseason acquisitions Dave Wohlabaugh at center and Kyle Turley at right tackle, along with guards Adam Timmerman and Andy McCollum.

Last season, the line took much of the blame as the Rams started 0-5 on their way to a disappointing 7-9 season.

The Rams and Pace had been at a contract stalemate since February, when the team designated Pace its franchise player.