NFL

The Chicago Bears have released LT Orlando Pace. Pace isn’t yet 35 and was due a reasonable $3.75M salary in 2010, but his performance as both a pass and run blocker last year was indicative of a player that’s fallen “off the cliff.” No longer mobile enough to ward off edge rushers and long short on power, Pace will struggle to find a new home. Chicago will move forward with Chris Williams on Jay Cutler’s blind side.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

San Diego: Citing a league source, Lions beat writer Tom Kowalski reports that a trade sending Antonio Cromartie to Detroit is now “highly unlikely.” It appears Detroit balked when San Diego Chargers asked for Maurice Morris. The Lions have reportedly “opted to move in a different direction.” Though Morris is a replacement-level back, he is versed in OC Scott Linehan’s scheme and showed the ability to perform at a high level in spot duty with 126 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries against the Cardinals in Week 15 last year. Morris would also be the Lions’ every-down back if the season started today.

New Orleans: The Saints have extended a first- and third-round tender to restricted free agent RG Jahri Evans. The sides are working on a long-term deal, but New Orleans Saints had to make this move before the March 4 deadline to ensure Evans wouldn’t become an unrestricted free agent. Evans, 26, was a 2009 first-team All-Pro selection.

San Francisco: The 49ers will not tender DB Marcus Hudson, making him an unrestricted free agent. Hudson would’ve made just over $1 million with the lowest possible tender, but the San Francisco 49ers didn’t deem him worthy as mostly a non-factor on defense. Hudson offers special teams value, though, and should get some interest.

San Francisco: The 49ers have extended a low tender to restricted free agent LG David Baas. San Francisco clearly doesn’t think too highly of Baas, who was originally a second-round pick. Per new CBA rules, he’d only cost another team a third-round pick to sign away. Baas started all 16 games for the Niners last year.

New York: The Jets will release CB Lito Sheppard on Friday, the New York Daily News has confirmed. The OCNN (Ochocinco’s News Network) had the news first. Sheppard, 29, remained injury prone in his one-year Jets stint and was often burned when on the field. He wasn’t going to last with a $10 million roster bonus pending.

2010 NFL Draft: Scout.com’s Adam Caplan calls Fordham QB John Skelton “clearly” the strongest-armed quarterback at the Combine. “Skelton can make any throw, and he can make it look easy,” Caplan wrote after observing Skelton in Indianapolis and at a pre-draft all-star event. Skelton’s downfalls are his sense of timing — typical for D-IAA QBs — and accuracy. Skelton is a project, but with upside to someday start in the NFL