The next shoe was expected to fall with the trade or release of wide receiver Torry Holt, who is scheduled to be paid a $1.25 million roster bonus March 17 in this the final year of his contract.

The release of Pace, who had a $5.975 million salary this year, along with a $25,000 workout bonus, saves the Rams $6 million of salary-cap space. They will still carry $3 million in dead money for the final year of his prorated signing bonus.

In addition to the roster bonus, Holt's salary this year is $6.65 million along with a $100,000 workout bonus. His departure would create another $8 million in cap space. The dead money against the cap for Holt will be $2.2 million.

The Rams are making essentially a clean sweep of the past with the offseason departures of general manager Jay Zygmunt and club president John Shaw, who is still serving as a consultant to owner Chip Rosenbloom.

Billy Devaney, in his role as general manager, hired Steve Spagnuolo as coach, and in the first two weeks of free agency added center Jason Brown, strong safety James Butler and fullback Mike Karney, while re-signing cornerback Ron Bartell.

In addition to Pace, the Rams have released quarterback Trent Green, wide receiver Drew Bennett, safety Corey Chavous and tight end Anthony Becht.

As for Pace, Rosenbloom said, "I can't begin to thank Orlando for all he has meant to the Rams organization. It is never easy to end a relationship that has had as much success as ours, but in the best interest of Orlando and the Rams, we feel now is the right time. ... (He) has been a true professional and will always go down as one of the finest Rams of all time."

Added general manager Billy Devaney, "As great a football player as Orlando Pace has been, it really makes it tough. You're losing the kind of person we've been preaching about bringing into the building. The character and professionalism that the guy represents ... that's a tough thing to get over. He's one of the great people in the game."

Concurrent with the release of Pace, the Rams plan to move Alex Barron from right tackle to left tackle, the position he played in college and in 2007 when Pace was lost for the season in the first game of the season. Barron is entering the final year of the contract he signed as a first-round pick in 2005.

Left guard Jacob Bell, who was signed as an unrestricted free agent last year, will be given an audition at right tackle in the offseason. Bell started three games at right tackle during his four seasons with the Tennessee Titans before coming to the Rams.

The Rams will also look long and hard at taking a tackle with the second overall pick in the draft.