Pace hires agents from Chicago firm
By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch
Monday, Feb. 28 2005
In a move that could lead to a multi-year contract with the Rams, left tackle
Orlando Pace has hired agents Fletcher Smith and Kennard McGuire of CSMG Sports
in Chicago.
"We think it's a tremendous opportunity," McGuire told the Post-Dispatch on
Monday. "We're excited to get the ball rolling (with the Rams) and see where
this takes us. We're looking forward to seeing this process through."
At Pace's request, McGuire declined to disclose specifics on why Pace chose his
firm as agents. But Rams officials said Monday that the fact that Pace now has
representation is a positive sign that he wants to sign a contract with St.
Louis.
But as one Rams official said, "Having an agent is still a long ways from
having a deal done."
St. Louis-based Rocky Arceneaux of Alliance Management and Kansas City-based
Tom Condon of industry giant IMG Football had been the two agents most
prominently rumored as front-runners for Pace's services.
McGuire and Smith have a modest stable of NFL players, and neither is known for
holdouts. A quick survey of the NFL Players Association player-agent list
showed them with 17 players on 12 NFL teams. The headliner of the group is
Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Their client list also includes Dallas cornerback Terence Newman, the fifth
overall pick in the 2003 draft; defensive lineman Ty Warren and linebacker
Rosevelt Colvin of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots; and Eagles
running back Correll Buckhalter.
The news comes on the heels of a hectic weekend of Pace-related developments in
which the Rams floated his name as a trade possibility to the Giants. Later,
parties from both clubs strongly denied that anything resembling substantive
trade talks had taken place.
On Sunday, coach Mike Martz said his frustration was increasing with Pace
because the club had placed the franchise tag on him for the third consecutive
year.
As long as Pace is under the franchise tag, he counts more than $8.4 million
against the team's 2005 salary cap. A multi-year deal could slice that cap
count in half, freeing up several million dollars to pursue other free agents,
and ensuring that Pace has a full offseason and preseason of work with the
club.
Rams withdraw offer to Edwards
Frustrated over their inability to get a contract done with Antuan Edwards, the
Rams have rescinded what is believed to be a three-year offer to the veteran
free safety.
Edwards was making the veteran's minimum when he was released by Miami last
November and picked up by St. Louis. The club's offer to Edwards is believed to
be in the range of $1 million per year. Edwards' agent, Cary Fabrikant, did not
return phone calls from the Post-Dispatch on Monday.
The Rams apparently want to put that money to a different use with the free
agency period beginning Wednesday.