By Brad BiggsAlthough Orlando Pace did not come out and announce his retirement Monday when the Bears terminated his contract, the seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle still could be headed in that direction.
Had Pace retired before the Bears released him, the team could have chosen to pursue a portion of the signing bonus he received when he was signed last year within hours of the trade for quarterback Jay Cutler.
Would the Bears and general manager Jerry Angelo have made such a move? Probably not. The team did not go after a pro-rated portion of the signing bonus given to John Tait, the man Pace replaced, when he retired with one year remaining on his contract a year ago.
Photo: Despite Orlando Pace's departure, the Bears still have good depth at tackle. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty)
But by forcing the team to cut him, Pace protects himself moving
forward even if we're talking about only $667,000, the pro-rated
portion of the $1 million signing bonus he received in the $15 million,
three-year contract.
Pace earned $6 million in 2009 ($1 million signing bonus, $3.4 million roster bonus, $250,000 workout bonus, $1.35 million base salary). He was on the books for $4 million this season with the bulk coming in base salary and another $250,000 workout bonus.
The Bears have some depth at the position. Former first-round draft pick Chris Williams is the starter at left tackle. Veteran Kevin Shaffer, who has 91 career starts, is at right tackle. Since 2003, Shaffer has missed only two games.
There is a possibility the team will move Frank Omiyale outside to compete with Shaffer for the starting job. Also in the mix is James Marten, promoted to the 53-man roster late in the season. Angelo has liked him since he was a teammate of Josh Beekman at Boston College.
Pace earned $6 million in 2009 ($1 million signing bonus, $3.4 million roster bonus, $250,000 workout bonus, $1.35 million base salary). He was on the books for $4 million this season with the bulk coming in base salary and another $250,000 workout bonus.
The Bears have some depth at the position. Former first-round draft pick Chris Williams is the starter at left tackle. Veteran Kevin Shaffer, who has 91 career starts, is at right tackle. Since 2003, Shaffer has missed only two games.
There is a possibility the team will move Frank Omiyale outside to compete with Shaffer for the starting job. Also in the mix is James Marten, promoted to the 53-man roster late in the season. Angelo has liked him since he was a teammate of Josh Beekman at Boston College.
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Good. about dam time. I wish we would of got a draft pick for his uslees ass. Really , he was horrilbe week 3 i knew he was over the hill. Looks like he wont need to work again. Seeing how the fat lard got paid infull.Hell put me in 0-line i could of played better and i weigh 170lbs.. Good bye worthlees prick!
That was 6 million down the drain! Another great signing by Angelo and Lovie. He did not play well at all. The Oline was much better with Williams at LT.
Hopefully, Pace can work out a 1 day deal thing so he can retire as a Ram if that is his eventual decision. He was a franchise left tackle for them for many years, and is the best OL they have had since Jackie Slater retired.
It is obvious he is losing flexibility, and will no longer be able to contribute as a starter in the league, so the best choice would be to hang it up. While I lived in St. Louis, it always seemed like Pace would use the preseason and camp to get into shape. I do not recall a single year where he came into camp ready to go. I think that is why he is breaking down, and a guy like Kevin Mawae is still playing at a high level at 39 years old. Offensive and defensive linemen especially need to do more in the offseason because of the pounding they take every week, or their careers can fall apart quickly. It is a toss up between them and running backs for abuse to their bodies during the season.