Turley eager for chance to join Pace on offensive line

ST. LOUIS -- Kyle Turley is ready to line up at right tackle for the Rams and look over to see Orlando Pace on the left side.

Turley, acquired for a second-round 2004 draft pick in a March 21 trade with New Orleans, said Friday he's hopeful the Rams and Pace can bridge the gap in their contract talks. Though Pace's contract has expired and negotiations continue, the Rams have deemed him their franchise player.

"If they can get those things worked out, hopefully, it will be as good an offensive line as any I played with down there in New Orleans with Willie Roaf," Turley said.

"If we can keep the key guys around here, there should be no reason Marshall Faulk can't get as many yards as he wants and Kurt Warner can't throw for as many as he wants. I'm really excited about it."

It's possible the Rams could trade Pace if a long-term deal can't be reached. If that happens, Turley said he's willing to switch to the left side as he did in 2002.

"But if I'm at right tackle and Pace is at left tackle, that's quite a tandem," Turley said.

That's what the Rams had in mind when the acquired Turley and, on Wednesday, signed him to a six-year, $26.5 million contract. The deal includes a $10 million signing bonus.

"He will impact us in the same way Marshall Faulk did and Aeneas Williams did," Rams coach Mike Martz said. "This is a major, major, major step in really solidifying the offensive line." Right tackle "is a position we've struggled at over the last few years. Now we feel we've got just a tremendous addition to our team."

Sporting a large tattoo on his left arm and with his blonde hair down to his shoulder, Turley has a reputation for passionate play -- sometimes too passionate.

He drew national attention for a helmet-tossing episode in 2001. Turley attacked New York Jets safety Damien Robinson when Robinson grabbed the face mask of Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks, ripping off Robinson's helmet and throwing it downfield.

He then made an obscene gesture, actions that got him ejected. He also drew a 15-yard penalty that ended the Saints' final chance to tie or win a game they lost 16-9.

He hasn't always had pleasant things to say about the Rams -- until last season division rivals with the Saints. His tantrum during halftime of a 2001 game helped rally the Saints to a 34-31 win over a St. Louis team that went on to win the NFC title.

That's all in the past, Turley said.

"It was a great rivalry to say the least," he said. "I'm looking forward to playing with St. Louis now. When I heard of the teams that were expressing interest in a trade and I heard that the Rams were at the top of the list, I was like 'No, there's no way, not with all the things that had gone back and forth.' I didn't know how well received I would be up here.

"When I sat down with coach Martz, it was a great conversation. We're both on the same page.

I can't say I regret anything I said about this organization but that was when I was with New Orleans. Now, I'm playing for the Rams and I'm going to give as much to this city as I did to New Orleans."

Turley is participating in offseason workouts with the Rams, which began this week. Pace has been a no-show.