LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Orlando Pace had other options in free agency. But the chance to play for a contender, reunite with Lovie Smith and remain at left tackle lured the seven-time Pro Bowler to the Bears.

Introduced to the media Wednesday after agreeing to a three-year contract last Thursday, Pace conceded that he had grown weary of playing for a Rams team that went 3-13 in 2007 and 2-14 in 2008.

Orlando Pace answers a question during his press conference at Halas Hall.

>>Click here to watch press conference

“I wanted to have an opportunity to win,” said Pace, who played 12 seasons in St. Louis after being selected by the Rams with the No. 1 pick in the 1997 draft. “Being in St. Louis the past couple years has been tough. Winning five games in two years is always tough.

“I wanted to come into an organization and a situation where we had an opportunity to win ballgames and be competitive and have a chance to be in the playoffs and possible championship, and I felt that Chicago had the tools and things like that that could get it done.”

Wooed by the Baltimore Ravens, Pace chose to sign with the Bears in part because of Smith. The two were together at Ohio State in 1995 and again with the Rams from 2001-03.

“For me, it was a comfort level,” Pace said. “No disrespect to Baltimore; they did a great job recruiting me. But just knowing Lovie from years back, it made the transition easy, made me feel more comfortable.

“I know a few guys in the locker room, knew guys who played here before and knew what’s happening with the organization, so it made me feel that much more comfortable.”

The third element of the equation was that while the Ravens wanted Pace to shift to right tackle, the Bears offered him a chance to remain at left tackle, the same position he played for 12 seasons in St. Louis.

“That was one of the things that really factored [into the decision],” said the 6-7, 325-pounder. “I wanted to get into a situation that was right for me. I’m comfortable playing left tackle. Right tackle would have been a stretch for me, but just in speaking with Lovie and the coaches, they felt that was a better move for me. That made Chicago even more of a sweeter deal for me.”

With Pace stepping in at left tackle, 2008 first-round draft pick Chris Williams will move to right tackle. Williams is expected to start, though he will have to beat out veteran free-agent acquisition Kevin Shaffer for the job.

Pace, 33, was released by the Rams on March 10. And while he admits that his departure was a mutual decision—he knows that St. Louis is rebuilding—getting cut for the first time in his NFL career has provided some incentive.

“When you’re released as a player, you want to go out and prove that you can still do it, and I think that was my situation,” Pace said. “I wanted to come out here and prove that I can still play at a high level and do it for years and without any setbacks, so I’m excited about the opportunity.”

Offensive tackle Orlando Pace, a seven-time Pro Bowler, signed a three-year deal with the Bears.

After missing 23 of 32 games due to injuries in 2006-07, Pace rebounded to start 14 contests last year.

“One of the reasons I chose to play [this coming season] is my body felt great,” he said. “One thing about injuries is when you’re injured you have a new desire to play football, a renewed love for the game.

“I’m really excited to be here because I think the Bears offer different challenges for myself also, so I think it’ll be good for me and my career.”

Pace blocked for the NFL MVP in three straight seasons in St. Louis: quarterback Kurt Warner in 1999 and 2001 and running back Marshall Faulk in 2000. The Rams made two Super Bowl appearances during Pace’s tenure, beating the Titans in 1999 and losing to the Patriots in 2001.

“You don’t really realize how big that experience is until you’ve been there before,” he said. “I think I can bring that to a ballclub, being that I’ve seen both sides of the Super Bowl, winning and losing once. I think that experience is really valuable.”

Like everyone else at Halas Hall, Pace is thrilled about the addition of Jay Cutler. Last Thursday the offensive tackle agreed to terms shortly after the Bears had acquired the Pro Bowl quarterback in a trade with the Broncos.

“My agent and the Bears were negotiating and my agent called and said the deal’s done,” Pace said. “I was excited about that, and he said [the Bears] also have Jay Cutler. That was almost like icing on the cake. I was excited about both deals and having an opportunity to play with Jay and the rest of the Bears.”