Bears cut Orlando Pace

If Orlando Pace is going to retire, he won’t be wearing a Chicago Bears Snuggie at the retirement home.   On Monday, the Bears cut ties with the aged tackle, admitting yet another Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith mistake.  Maybe they could just pin this one on the recently canned pro personnel director Bobby DePaul and kill two birds with one stone?

Pace swept into town in the midst of Cutlermania last April and it seemed like a good move at the time.

It was clear that Pace was a step or three slow all season and an injury midway through the season cleared the way for Chris Williams to take over as the left tackle.  The O-line seemed to perform better when Pace headed to the bench and Williams shifted from the right side to his natural left tackle position.

It was clear that Pace wasn’t going to accept a backup role, but rather than retire with dignity, he chose to get cut.

"“That’s a lot of money if they’re thinking a reserve role,” Pace said last month. “I’m sure they’re thinking about it from a business end as well.“I understand that I was only here to kind of bridge the gap between a year and Chris, so I understand that’s part of the business. Now I have to see what makes the best sense for me.”"

Cutting ties with Pace highlights another position of need for a challenging offseason for the Bears.