Tackle Orlando Pace visits Chicago Bears

Losing both starting offensive tackles from last season has the Bears considering all options, including a veteran named to seven Pro Bowls.

[David]

Signing Pace will shore up the O-line for sure --hoping he stays healthy. My only concern is that he will want to compete for the left tackle position --which may not be the worst idea. He may have been injury plagued of late, but he's not that many years off of the ProBowl Pace. I wonder if he's wanting elite LT money and years. Any thoughts...? Does anyone know anything...?

[Bear in Patriots town]

What on earth is going through Angelo's mind? I bet Einstein's theory of relativity can be solved more easily. JA insists on infusing young blood into the team and now we are talking about Pace and Lucas?If they do bring in Pace and Lucas chances are going to go for a WR, DT and a FS in the draft. But I would still like them draft a OT.
And what's with the experts disagreeing on the mock drafts? Just goes to show how many holes we have. Yeeesh!

[New Yorker]

This would have been a good move for the Bears...5 years ago. It's painful being a life long Bears fan. Management is as pathetic as City and County government.

[Jeff]

I know one thing. If he can't play QB, it really doesn't matter.

[philherb]

Do it Do it.....Who cares if he cannot play, don't get me wrong I hope he does but who better to mentor a young left tackle then one of the best left tackles to play, ever.

[True Dat]

Why'd they give Vasher a 5-year contract just two years ago if they weren't sold on him? More ineptitude of the Chicago Bears front office on display for ya. I thought last year the Bears would be one of the worst teams in the NFL. And this year's moves are even worse than last year's so far.:(

[BearsFan2]

Jeff wrote:

I know one thing. If he can't play QB, it really doesn't matter.

Great!

[WI Bear]

He WAS great, but we do not need another injury-prone player, and NO, we do not need another QB.

[Deep Dish]

Williams/Omiyale/Kreutz/Schaff er/Pace.

I dunno bout you, but that looks pretty good to me.

I really don't expect this to happen because Angelo will obviously try to get him for cheap and I don't think he's gonna settle for something like 2yr 4million. Pace is probably asking for a mid grade contract somewhere from 3-4 years at least 16 million.

I would rather go after Torry Holt, I believe at the tender age of 32 he would be,#1 a great veteran leader to not only help out Hester but also hopefully a Harvin/Nicks/Macklin or whichever Receiver they decide.#2 Be a serviceable possession Receiver. He did have about 800 yards last year and that was with the pathetic Rams.

At least Angelo is finally trying.

[Jack]

OP can still play... This would be a sliver of hope after absolutely nothing substanstial was done in free agent market this off season... The bears need as many offensive lineman as they can get their hands on... Anyone who thinks that having an older Pace is a bad thing must sprinkle their cereal with crack every morning.

[GHook93]

I would welcome the Pace signing, but it would also fall in line with the Bears always going after really good players PAST their prime!

[Homer]

Given the shortage of tackles on the Bears, Pace is probably as good an option as they have right now. They should still draft one.

[Get Real]

The biggest problem with signing pace would be if the Bears use that as a justification for ignoring the o-line on the first day of the draft again. Doing the above is how the Bears got into their o-line predicament to begin with. The kept signing over the hill free agent linemen instead of drafting them. Pace might have a good year, maybe two, but when tackles start losing a step their game goes downfill quicker than other positions. If the Bears don't start addressing the o-line in the draft, they will be in a situation where once again they have an aging o-line with alot of holes, and probably by then those holes will include a center (Olin is still godd, but not getting any younger), two guards and at least one tackle and that is assuming Williams and his t-rex arms and bad back pan out.

[JoeBu]

Probably a good mentor for Williams. I imagine, after scads of Pro Bowls, he has a few good habits to pass along.

[Bily]

Angelo please sign one of these guys, they are quality.

and to the Tribune, please bring back chicagosports.com . The main Tribune site is horrible slow and cluttered

[Damani]

True Dat wrote:

Why'd they give Vasher a 5-year contract just two years ago if they weren't sold on him? More ineptitude of the Chicago Bears front office on display for ya. I thought last year the Bears would be one of the worst teams in the NFL. And this year's moves are even worse than last year's so far.:(

When Vasher signed that deal he was playing good football. The problem is after he signed he has had two injury plagued seasons. The good thing about the NFL is you can cut a guy no matter how much he is owed and it does not hurt your salary cap! Vasher may be on the way out!!!

[jmac]

Staying healthy is the big question. Any contract shood be structured around that. The mentoring aspect is huge. You bring in a perennial pro bowler to play but to also help your young players. A good example of this is the impact that Alan Page had on the carriers of Dan Hampton and Steve McMicheal and the defense as a whole.
Anyone who thinks that quarterback is this teams only problem needs a reality check. WR is a must, along with someone that will go over the middle.

[David St Hubbins]

I bet John Hannah is available.

[caffeinater]

Jeff wrote:

I know one thing. If he can't play QB, it really doesn't matter.

Spoken like someone who learned everything he knows about football by playing fantasy.

[Bankerdanny]

Finally, a big name free agent is invited to Halas Hall.

I don't know if Pace has anything in the tank. If the money is not outrageous I would like to see them sign him. Even on one leg he is as good or better than anyone on the roster right now. In a rotation where he doesn't have to play every down he could be very effective.