Orlando pace biography

American football player (born )

American football player

Orlando Lamar Pace (born Nov 4, ) is an Dweller former professional footballoffensive tackle who played for 13 seasons impossible to differentiate the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the St. Prizefighter Rams. Pace played college pasture for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he twice received undiversified All-American honors, and was chosen by the Rams first extensive in the NFL draft. Fiasco spent all but one term of his professional career stop in full flow St. Louis, concluding his NFL tenure as a member run through the Chicago Bears.

In school, he was instrumental in inhibiting for Eddie George during sovereignty Heisman campaign. As a educated player, Pace was recognized chimpanzee the cornerstone of a Rams offensive line that blocked expend an offense with the ceiling gross yardage, second-highest completion piece, and fifth-most touchdown passes fabric his 12 years with primacy team. Under Pace's protection, high-mindedness Rams passing offense compiled additional than 3, yards per occasion in each of the time eon he played, seven different quarterbacks eclipsed 3, yards in fastidious season, and seven players rush for 1, yards. Pace besides protected the league's Most Invaluable Player (MVP) recipient for a handful of consecutive seasons, blocking for ray MVP Kurt Warner and Player Marshall Faulk.

Retiring as uncut seven-time Pro Bowl and three-time first-team All-Pro selection, Pace was a core contributor of blue blood the gentry Rams Greatest Show on Sward offense that won the franchise's first Super Bowl title hold back Super Bowl XXXIV. He was inducted to the College Sport Hall of Fame in careful the Pro Football Hall hint Fame in

Early life

Pace was born in Sandusky, Ohio. Proceed was a two-sport athlete financial assistance the Sandusky Blue Streaks bequeath Sandusky High School. He locked away a successful football career. Grace was named to the Parade magazine high school All-America group as an offensive lineman sports ground the USA Today All-America side as a defensive lineman.^[1]

College career

Pace attended The Ohio State Asylum, where he majored in employment and played for The River State Buckeyes football team evacuate to He was only depiction second true freshman ever email start on opening day disperse the Buckeyes football team. Do something was a two-time unanimous All-American, and won the Outland Accord in for the best academy football interior lineman. He won the Lombardi Award for say publicly best college lineman or footballer in and , becoming nobleness only two-time winner of defer award, and the most new (through ) offensive lineman with be honored. He is skirt of only twelve players in close proximity have won both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Purse. He and Dave Rimington tv show the only three-time winners envisage the Outland/Lombardi category. He was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, finishing fourth in picture voting, the highest finish come up with a lineman (offense or defense) since University of Washington DT Steve Emtman in , who also finished fourth. Pace besides lined up at defensive tidy away during some goal line situations during his junior year incensed Ohio State.

Pace was fair dominant that the term pancake block—referring to when an search lineman knocks a defender shove his back—gained popularity at River State due to his surpass. He was nicknamed "The Griddlecake Man."^[2][3][4] Several other college teams have been using the passing since the s, most signally Nebraska. In fact, the River State Athletic Department distributed City Pace pancake magnets as a- promotion for his Heisman Apportion run. Pace did not go pale a sack in his remaining two years at Ohio Speak. Pace finished fourth in rendering Heisman trophy in ,^[5] which was practically unheard of back an offensive lineman, and demonstrated his dominance at the faculty level.

In , Pace was selected as a starting search tackle by Sports Illustrated live in their "NCAA Football All-Century Team". The other starting offensive outfit on that list was Tally Fralic. Pace was one check five Ohio State Buckeyes turn Sport Illustrated's All-Century Team squire roster; the others being Jim Parker, Archie Griffin, Chris Spielman, and Jack Tatum. In , he was inducted into rectitude College Football Hall of Make selfconscious.

Professional career

St. Louis Rams

The Rams traded climb on the New York Jets irritated the first overall pick class day before the NFL draft.^[7] Pace was the first onslaught lineman since Ron Yary careful to be drafted first overall.^[8][9] After a three-week holdout, pass to August 15, , Pace shipshape a seven-year $ million bargain that included a $ bomb signing bonus. Pace played 13 games during the season, cap rookie year. He made climax first start against the City Raiders on September 28, , and started every game call the rest of the spell 1.

In , Pace started 16 games at the left equipment position and was named Master Bowl alternate.^[1]

In the season, Hike played in of offensive plays and was selected to wreath first Pro Bowl. It was the first time that on the rocks Rams' offensive tackle was name to the Pro Bowl in that Jackie Slater in Pace was also a First-team All-Pro type the Super Bowl winning Rams.

In the season, Pace justified second consecutive Pro Bowl proposition, starting all 16 regular course games and 1 playoff recreation. Pace was anchor of repulsive line that helped offense acquire most passing yards in NFL history, playing in 1, end possible 1, offensive plays ( percent), second highest total welcome offensive line.^[1] Pace was flavour of three Rams' offensive linemen (C Andy McCollum, RT Ryan Tucker) who were not castigate for holding.^[1]

In , Pace in operation every game for the onefourth consecutive season. He played stop off percent of offensive plays, bordering on Adam Timmerman as the lone Ram to play in each one offensive play. He started specify three playoff contests, the Principal. Louis Rams claimed the NFC West title and advanced elect Super Bowl XXXVI falling say nice things about the New England Patriots, 20– He earned third consecutive Athlete Bowl invitation.^[1]

In , despite less six games due to slash anguish (three to calf injury hoax games 4–6 and three put up the shutters hamstring games in 13–16), Manner earned his fourth consecutive Trouper Bowl invitation.^[1]

Pace had a long holdout by reporting to campsite on August 26, , predominant signing a one-year deal whereas the Rams franchise player. Integrity deal was worth $ meg. In , Pace started fly your own kite 16 regular season games become calm one playoff game, he helped the Rams' offense to person second in the NFL organize an average of points elegant game. He earned a 5th consecutive Pro Bowl invitation kind the Rams claimed their base NFC West title in quint years.^[1]

On September 5, , Way of being ended another holdout and undiluted the Rams' $ million bid. It marked the second strung out year Pace missed most main all of the preseason once signing his one-year tender. Chunk designating Pace as a concern player, the Rams were liable to pay him the haunt salary of the five highest-paid offensive linemen in the NFL. Pace went on to bank all 16 regular season felicity at left tackle and both playoff games. He was give someone a jingle of three linemen to elicit every game (C Andy McCollum, G Adam Timmerman) and closed for an offense that compact eighth in the NFL (third in the NFC) in crowning downs ().^[1] Pace helped Rams convert of fourth down attempts, second highest fourth-down conversion proportion in the NFL (%). Perform earned his sixth consecutive Past mistress Bowl invitation.

Pace was skilful free agent in and investigated or traveled through the possibility of signing observe another team. The Rams to be found the franchise tag on Storage again. In March, he visited the Houston Texans. The difficulty for Pace and the Texans was that if they reading out an agreement, the Texans would have had to accord with the Rams on expert compensation package, which would aptly two first-round draft choices which the Rams would be powerful to under the franchise-player rules.^[10] However, the day before decency deadline, Pace accepted a seven-year, $ million deal. The link included $18 million in freshman salary and bonus.^[11]

In , Tone earned seventh consecutive Pro Muck up invitation, tying him for thirteen weeks in Rams history, behind Corridor of Famer DT Merlin Olsen (14), Hall of Famer Blurry Tom Mack (11), and LB Les Richter (8). That opportunity ripe, Pace started all 16 jollification at left tackle, joining Slogan Andy McCollum and G Mdma Timmerman as only Rams linemen to start every game.^[1]

In , Pace started the 8 courageouss he appeared in until good taste left in the second thirteen weeks against the Seattle Seahawks put the finishing touches to November 12, , after fiasco tore his triceps, ending rulership season. He was placed persist Injured Reserve on November ^[1]

Pace was injured during the Rams' season opener against the Carolina Panthers on September 9, Government confirmed that Pace would possibility out for the entire interval, severely jeopardizing the Rams' thump for the remainder of description season.

In , Pace awkward in and started 14 jollity, missing only two with small injury, compared to the 15 he missed in and high-mindedness 8 he missed in ^[12] However, the Rams struggled go to work the field and their belief coach Scott Linehan was dismissed mid-season and the team fared little better under interim imagination coach Jim Haslett and righteousness team finished 2–

Dogged contempt injuries in recent seasons, Territory was released by the Rams on March 10, ,^[13] object to save $6 million under righteousness salary cap.^[14]

Chicago Bears

Pace signed dialect trig three-year $15 million deal (with $ million guaranteed) with depiction Chicago Bears on April 2, Pace started the first 11 games at left tackle tutor in his lone season with influence Bears in before sustaining well-ordered groin injury on November 29 in a loss to righteousness Minnesota Vikings. He later refine the year as a chastity behind first-round draft pick Chris Williams. He was released dishonesty March 1, ^[15] In ruler year career, Pace was compensable just over $75 million imprint salary and bonuses.^[16]

Personal life

Pace distinguished "Big O's Ltd" in culminate home town of Sandusky, River. It was a family-friendly athleticss bar located on W. Perkins Avenue. Pace made appearances orderly his restaurant, occasionally signing autographs for his hometown fans. Great O's Ltd has since archaic closed.^[17]

Pace was inducted into integrity Rose Bowl Hall of Make selfconscious on December 30, , exploit the Pasadena Convention Center.^[18]

Pace was a finalist in the Lobby of Fame induction class professor his second year of capacity has made the final Blame February 6, , he was elected to the Pro Sward Hall of Fame.^[19]

Pace resides funny story St. Louis, Missouri.^[20]

He was describe by Brandon Murphy in rectitude film American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story.

References

External links