Rams News

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Meet the new Orlando Pace -- a lean, mean, 315-pound blocking machine.

"There is a big weight off my back," said Pace, who is no longer a pudgy-faced 344-pound rookie.

Pace, 22, filled out his No. 76 jersey a lot differently during the Rams' minicamp last week than he did during the club's first minicamp last year after he was chosen with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

"He had lot of baby fat on him, but he doesn't have that on him now," Rams coach Dick Vermeil said.

Pace said he had no special diet. He lost the 29 pounds through the Rams' off-season conditioning program.

"I wasn't necessarily trying to lose weight," Pace said. "When you get into good shape, it just naturally kind of comes off."

Pace was a regular during four-day-a-week workouts at Rams Park this winter.

"He's learning what it is to be a pro," Vermeil said. "He's worked hard in the off-season so far and he is gong to continue to work as hard. He won't be as heavy as he was, but he'll be stronger and faster."

Vermeil referred to Pace as being cat-quick earlier this week. The comment caused Pace some razzing from his teammates.

"These guys have been on me," Pace said. "I feel quicker. I don't know if it comes from just losing weight or just being a little more confident."

Vermeil still marvels at Pace's natural ability.

"He is a remarkable athlete, that's all I can say about him," Vermeil said. "I watch him on tape and you just can't believe what he can do. The quickness is awesome, but it's the grace and balance that is really amazing. You never see him on the ground. He pulls and runs, and it's absolutely no effort for him."

Pace missed all of training camp before signing last summer. He then missed three games due to a knee injury. He ended up starting nine games.

Pace said he feels much more comfortable entering his second NFL season.

"I've got big goals for this season," Pace said. "This year will be a better year because I know what to expect. I know what to do, what places to go. Last year, I was hesitating because I was uncertain where to go. This year, I can be aggressive as I want."

Pace will be working against the Rams' top draft choice this season, Nebraska defensive end Grant Wistrom, in practice.

"I think defensive end is a lot easier to learn per se than offensive tackle," Pace said. "I'm just going to give him a good look in practice and hopefully he will progress and be pretty good during the course of the year."

It's obvious that Pace no longer feels like a rookie. He even had rookie wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim, who has the cubicle next to Pace's in the locker room, bring him a sandwich from the lunch buffet every day.

"He has to pay rent for being on this side of the room," Pace said.

Pace doesn't want to lose any more weight. He no longer is the heaviest player on the Rams. Offensive guard Fred Pollack (321 pounds) and defensive tackle James Manley (320) both weigh more.

"I just want to try to maintain my weight and get stronger," Pace said. "I think the stronger I get, the better I'll get."

Two unnamed Rams players were accused of sexual misconduct by two teenage girls early this week. Police are investigating allegations made by two Ste. Genevieve (Mo.) girls, who are both under 18. The names of the players haven't been released because they haven't been charged. If charges are filed, they would be misdemeanors.

An attorney for the players said his clients deny the accusations.

--Three losing seasons don't seem to have weakened the Rams' fan support. Brian Ulione, the Rams' vice president of sales, said about 600 Premium Seat Licenses have changed hands over the past year. That number is the same as the two previous years.

"We probably see 10 to 20 PSLs for sale in the newspaper in every week, but the actual transactions are about 600 a year," Ulione said. "It has been pretty consistent. It's not like people are unloading them. People die, people move out of town, people get divorced and all that kind of stuff. I think that is more a cause for those changes than any real dissatisfaction."

Ulione said the PSL system, with its big up-front investment, has kept people from bailing out on the team.

"People don't want to walk away from their interest in their team and their investment," he said. "It's really like a partnership. They feel they own a little piece of the team. I think they are going to be rewarded in the future when they are the ones holding the tickets when this team turns the corner."

Ulione said the Rams sold about 200 club seats and 150-200 PSLs two weekends ago as part of their annual "Tag Day" promotion. Ulione said the Rams have about 400 PSLs and 400 club seats still for sale. Many of those are single seats scattered about the Trans World Dome.

Vermeil thanked the 5,000 PSL holders who showed up at the Trans World Dome for the final practice of the minicamp.

"These people are very patient," Vermeil said. "The other thing I read into the fans that I meet and talk with is their understanding. ... There is a program trying to be established and we aren't kidding them; we aren't promising them anything. We are just saying we are going to build a football team. It isn't going to happen overnight, but I think this next year they are going to see an obvious improvement and that will generate even more enthusiasm."

--Vermeil said the star of the minicamp was second-year running back David Thompson, who set a club record last season for kickoff return yardage by a rookie.

"The most impressive guy to me has been David Thompson," Vermeil said. "He startles me. Every time he touches the ball, I say, 'Wow.' There is an air of confidence about the young man. He has a chance to be a fine football player."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "With being the first pick in the draft, there is a lot of added pressure. You try to perform to the best of your ability, but you know that everybody is watching you. The pressure is on. This year it will be on Peyton Manning. It's a relief for me." -- Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace, on no longer having to deal with the extra attention of being the NFL's No. 1 rookie.

Perhaps feeling a little insecure about cornerback Ryan McNeil's absence at minicamp, the Rams signed cornerback Willie Clark, who last played for the Philadelphia Eagles. Clark will push Dexter McCleon for the starting job at left corner if long-term contract negotiations with McNeil, who was upset about being tagged as the team's franchise player, go poorly.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: CB Ryan McNeil ($3.22M tender).

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: OG Ernest Dye (won't be re-signed); WR Malcolm Floyd (won't be re-signed); LB Britt Hager (a special teamer and backup who will not be re-signed); P Mike Horan (won't be re-signed); C Vernice Smith (will not be re-signed); LB Brett Wallerstedt (won't be back).

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WR Johnny Thomas ($397,000 tender; has big attitude for guy who caught two passes and was inactive 11 games); OG Zach Wiegert ($397,000 tender; initial indication is that his agent wants John Hannah money for mediocre play).

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: S Billy Jenkins, Jr.; WR Donald Sellers; RB David Thompson; DE Jay Williams (was lackluster as Leslie O'Neal's backup).

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED: OT Ethan Brooks (EFA; terms unknown); LB Troy Dumas (RFA; $397,000/1 yr)); QB Will Furrer (UFA; $825,000/2 yrs, SB unknown); RB Derrick Harris (EFA; terms unknown); TE Aaron Laing (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); RB Amp Lee (UFA; $4M/3 yrs, $1.25M SB); DT Chris Maumalanga (EFA; terms unknown); S Gerald McBurrows (RFA; 397,000/1 yr); S Mike Scurlock (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); LB Lorenzo Styles (RFA; $397,000/1 yr).

PLAYERS ACQUIRED: DT Ray Agnew (UFA Giants; $8M/4 yrs, $2M SB); TE Tyji Armstrong (FA); QB Steve Bono (Trade Packers for 7th-round pick in 1999 draft); RB Kevin Bouie (FA); CB Willie Clark (UFA Eagles; $700,000/1 yr, $100,000 SB); OL John Flannery (UFA Cowboys; $1.175M/2 yrs, $175,000 SB); LB Eric Hill (UFA Cardinals; $5.25M/2 yrs, $1M SB/$3.125M guaranteed); DT James Manley (FA); DT Joe Phillips (FA, had been cut by Chiefs; $1.6M/2 yrs, $500,000 SB); WR Ricky Proehl (UFA Bears; $6M/4 yrs, $1.6M SB); P Rick Tuten (UFA Seahawks; $1.9M/3 yrs, $300,000 SB).

PLAYERS LOST: WR Keith Crawford (UFA Falcons; $1.2M/2 yrs, $200,000 SB); DT Bill Johnson (UFA Eagles; $3.9M/2 yrs, no SB/$2.3M guaranteed); DE Leslie O'Neal (cut); QB Mark Rypien (UFA Falcons; $1.8M/2 yrs, $400,000 SB); WR Torrance Small (UFA Colts; terms unknown).

MEDICAL WATCH: S Toby Wright is jogging as he continues his rehab from reconstructive knee surgery. Wright isn't expected to be cleared to practice until August. ... LB Troy Dumas sat out the final day of the Rams' minicamp with a separated shoulder. The injury will probably require surgery. ... Rookie RB Raymond Priester has a slight hamstring pull. He should be healthy in time for the Rams' second minicamp.

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