"The 3-4 game has really helped guys like myself," said Pace, a little undersized at end in the 4-3. "You have tackles that are 6-7, 350, so it's hard to get pressure in 4-3 against guys like Walter Jones. In the 3-4, they change it up and it helps. This scheme that happened to come along (in Arizona) that fit me better, and feel blessed."

And that one year playing in Arizona's 3-4 really did bless Pace. It landed him a six-year, $42 million deal with the Jets.