Rams sign Holt to seven-year deal

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams solved one big offseason dilemma Friday with the signing of wide receiver Torry Holt to a seven-year contract. Now, attention turns to another star unhappy with his contract -- offensive tackle Orlando Pace.

The Rams also said they signed their two fourth-round picks in the 2003 draft -- wide receiver Shaun McDonald and cornerback DeJuan Groce.

Terms of the deals were not disclosed. Holt and the Rams had been discussing a deal that would pay him money similar to the Rams' other star receiver, Isaac Bruce, who is entering the fourth year of a seven-year, $42 million contract.

Holt, 27, was about to enter the final season of a five-year, $10 million contract he signed after being drafted out of North Carolina State in 1999. The new contract is effective beginning this season.

"I'm ready to get back to work," Holt said. "I've been blessed with a lot of energy. I love the game. I love what I do."

Coach Mike Martz called the signing of Holt one of his happiest days as coach.

"He's just going to get better," Martz said of Holt. "It's exciting to think about all the things that can happen with him offensively."

Few players are left from the Rams team that won the Super Bowl after the 1999 season, but the core stars of that team -- quarterback Kurt Warner, running back Marshall Faulk, Bruce and Holt -- remain and are now all under contract for the long term.

One key player still up in the air, however, is Pace, who is threatening to hold out when the team opens training camp next week in Macomb, Ill. Pace is upset over being named the Rams' franchise player and also wants a contract extension.

Pace still a holdout

"He's got to do what he has to do," Martz said, denying he was frustrated by the unresolved situation with Pace. "You just coach the guys in camp."

Pace skipped a minicamp in the spring. Holt, a team captain, showed up despite the negotiations that were stalled at the time.

Holt had his third straight 1,000-yard receiving season in 2002, leading the team with 91 catches for 1,302 yards. But his touchdown receptions -- four -- and yards-per-catch -- 14.3 -- were career lows as the Rams, expected to contend for the Super Bowl, went 7-9 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1998.

Holt is seventh in Rams history in both receptions with 306 and receiving yards with 5,088. He was named to the Pro Bowl following the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

McDonald was the 106th overall pick. He caught 156 passes for 2,867 yards and 24 touchdowns at Arizona State.

Holt said he was impressed by McDonald at minicamp, comparing his speed to former Ram and current Detroit Lions wide receiver Az Zahir-Hakim.

McDonald was second of the 2003 draft picks to sign with St. Louis. Guard Scott Tercero, the team's sixth-round pick, signed Wednesday.

Groce, the 107th overall pick, had four interceptions last season for Nebraska, though his gaudiest numbers came returning punts, where he scored a school-record four touchdowns, breaking Johnny Rodgers' 1972 record.

The 5-foot-10 Groce made The Associated Press All-American second team as all-purpose player on offense and as a defensive back.