Orlando Pace Released By St. Louis Rams

Today the St. Louis Rams lost another piece of their (GSOT) Greatest Show on Turf glory years. The “Big-O” Seven-time pro bowl tackle and Super Bowl champion Orlando Pace was released by the Rams today. This was actually a classy move on the Rams part, as well as being a good business move. From the business side the move will save the Rams $5.975 million against the 2009 salary cap. On the classy side the Rams did not owe Orlando a roster bonus this year and he was under contract so they could have drug this out for a few months. Now Pace will have a chance to sign with another NFL team prior to the 2009 NFL Draft. Could Pace reunite with Kurt Warner out in Arizona?

For the fans the writing was on the wall. The Rams have a new front office, and coaching staff, and are coming off a dreadful 2-14 2008 season. Steve Spagnuolo is going to try to make the Rams a power offensive and defensive team, and that means getting younger, stronger, faster and hungrier. Some sacrifices will have to be made for them to accomplish their goals. The Rams already said they would  not invited Pace or Holt to participate in the team’s off season strength and conditioning program which starts next week. In addition Torry Holt is already all but out the door. Put this together and you knew in your heart that Pace was on his way out. For fans this is unfair, hopefully soon the NFL will find a way to allow teams to keep their franchise stars like Orlando Pace, Brian Dawkins, etc.

The scary thing from today’s news could be what Billy Devaney had to say. Devaney on KSLG said Alex Barron will be moved from right tackle to left tackle immediately and they will take a long look at Jacob Bell, as the right tackle. OUCH, let’s hope that is the Grey Goose talking. Granted there is not much he can say at the moment, the Rams are in need of more linemen. It’s only March so let’s see what happens.

So with Pace gone, are the Rams 100% sold on a Left Tackle in the 2009 NFL Draft? Is Michael Crabtree back in the running with Torry Holt on his way out in the next week? What will the Rams do with the 14 million of cap space they will create with these cuts? What are your thoughts?