By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch
Thursday, Sep. 09 2004
There may be no way to close the negotiating - and monetary - gap between
Orlando Pace and the Rams. But at least Pace has learned to make the most of
his time away from the Rams in terms of conditioning.
"I feel light years better than I did last year," Pace said Thursday. "Just
losing about 20 pounds. I feel a lot quicker, a lot fresher."
Pace reported at 325 pounds Sunday, about 20 pounds lighter than last season,
when he also boycotted all team activities and skipped training camp in a
contract impasse. After his initial practices last season, Pace felt winded.
Three practices into his 2004 season, that hasn't been the case.
"I feel great," Pace said. "Compared to last year, it's like night and day.
After taking a few reps, you're a little winded as everybody is, but not nearly
as bad as last year."
Pace trained a little differently this offseason, but the major factor in his
improved conditioning was an improved diet.
"I cut down on my fried foods," Pace said. "I tried to cut down on my soda, and
things like that."
Even at the heavier weight last year, Pace played surprisingly well at the
start of the season. So in theory, he could be even more impressive in his
trimmer, better-conditioned state.
"I watched (practice) tape, and it looks like he's been here all camp," coach
Mike Martz said. "Honest to goodness it does. No mental errors. He's quick.
He's physical. ... He's not sluggish.
"At this time last year, he was very sluggish. The conditioning was a factor
for him last year. So I'm very pleased with where he is. He's obviously been
very conscientious about being in shape and ready to go, and it's much
appreciated by all of us."
If only things could go as smoothly on the negotiating front.
"I'm always hoping that they can get a deal done - for security reasons, and
things like that," Pace said. "The possibility's still there. But I think at
the end of the year, they'll try to hammer something out, or else I'll be
franchised again."
Pace's "end-of-the-year" comment was curious, because now that he has signed
the one-year, $7.02 million tender offer, the sides actually can begin
negotiating again.
Under league rule, any talks came to a halt following a March 17 negotiating
deadline. Since Sunday, when Pace signed the tender, the sides can talk again.
A few weeks after the Rams' playoff loss to Carolina on Jan. 10, the Rams
offered Pace a seven-year, $42 million contract that included a
franchise-record $13 million signing bonus. Pace's agent, Carl Poston,
countered with a seven-year, $71 million offer that included a $27 million
signing bonus and $34 million in guaranteed money.
In March, when word leaked that the Rams would be willing to up Pace's signing
bonus to $16 million or $17 million, Pace told the Post-Dispatch: "If what was
written is true ... I think we can get something done."
Pace also strongly hinted that he might change agents, saying at the time:
"There will probably be some changes in the future."
On the final day before the negotiating blackout kicked in, Poston sent a
revised offer of seven years, $66 million to the Rams, including a $23 million
signing bonus. But the Rams received it literally minutes before the deadline -
far too late to react, or revise their offer.
On Thursday, in his first question-and-answer session with reporters since the
end of the '03 season, Pace was asked if a $16 million or $17 million signing
bonus would still get it done.
"I don't know," Pace said. "We'll have to see during the course of the year.
There's a lot of things that take place during the course of a year. Salary
cap, and those type of things. I'll leave that up to my people to handle, and
we'll go from there."
Pace also indicated that the Postons - Carl and his brother Kevin - remain his
agents.
"I always have confidence in the people that represent me," Pace said. "They're
professionals in what they do. They have to get the most for their clients. So
we just have to continue to work and try to hammer something out."
But Pace also stressed that he's in control of negotiations, not the Postons.
"Hey, they work for me," Pace said. "That's the bottom line. So whatever
situation we're in, and how it's handled, and things like that - I make the
call on that."
Pace said he boycotted team activities and training camp for the second year in
a row because "it was the only move I really had as far as when you're
franchised."
Technically, Pace wasn't a "holdout" because he wasn't under contract. But the
effect was the same because of his absence. Pace also said he had a
predetermined time in mind all along as to when he would report.
As for taking heat from fans because of his prolonged absence, Pace said he
tried to stay clear of encounters with fans during the offseason. What about
media criticism?
"You guys are going to do your job, and you have to report what you guys
report," Pace said. "But I have to move on. And really, the bottom line is what
matters in this locker room, and how the guys feel in here. They're happy to
see me, and happy that I'm back on the team."
well apart from the BBQ stuff ......... mmmm better get in there before fatty
Linear Mode
