Entering the last year of his contract, Orlando Pace didn’t travel the same rocky road as former St. Louis teammate Kevin Carter did two years ago.

In 2000, Carter held out waiting for a new deal, and his career has not recovered. Pace arrived in training camp on time, and he’s going to let his agents and the team handle his future employment.

Buffalo's Shawn Bryson (38) dives into the end zone. Bryson scored a touchdown Saturday during a scrimmage against Cleveland at the Bills' training camp at Pittsford, N.Y.

“I didn’t want to be behind the 8-ball and then wait (until) the first or second game to try to get into shape,” the Rams’ left tackle said. “I just wanted to let the business side eventually work itself out.”

Pace, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 draft, is entering the final year of a six-year, $18 million contract.

He held out as a rookie but not again.

“I know that’s tough to do sometimes, but I have to do what I have to do,” Pace said. “I’m not going to let my teammates down. I wanted to be here and get to work.”

Broncos Blake Brockermeyer’s frustrating training camp is about to get better.

Brockermeyer, who signed with Denver as a free agent, has spent the first 10 days of training camp either on the sidelines or in the weight room trying to rehabilitate shoulder and knee injuries. Now it appears he’ll finally join his new teammates on the field.

Brockermeyer, who started at left tackle for Chicago last season, had surgery on his right shoulder and left knee during the offseason. He expected to battle Ephraim Salaam for the starting left tackle spot.

Bears Receiver Ahmad Merritt will miss 10 weeks after breaking two bones in his left hand, and right guard Chris Villarial is out 10 days after surgery for a broken right thumb. Both players were injured in practice Friday.

Villarial, who has missed two starts and one game the last four years, underwent surgery Saturday. The Bears say they expect him to be ready for the season opener Sept. 8.

Merritt, on the practice squad for two years before being activated for the final two games of the regular season in 2001, scored a touchdown in the playoffs. He could be lost for the season.

Browns With running back William Green sidelined and quarterback Tim Couch struggling in the pocket, Cleveland sputtered during a two-hour scrimmage against the Buffalo Bills. Couch went 7-of-10 for 58 yards, threw one interception, hurried a toss that led to a turnover, and was sacked three times. As for the Bills, Drew Bledsoe was 5-of-7 for 58 yards.

Seahawks Defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy formally announced his retirement Saturday night before the team’s scrimmage at the new Seahawks Stadium.

Kennedy, the third pick in the 1990 NFL draft, asked coach and general manager Mike Holmgren for his release following the 2000 season, after the Seahawks finished 6-10.

Kennedy, who did not play football in 2001, had offers from several teams but chose to finish his career with Seattle, where he played all 11 years.

Falcons T.J. Duckett was glad the Atlanta Falcons ended practice with goal-line tackling drills Saturday.

A day after signing a guaranteed, five-year, $7.5 million contract, Duckett wanted to get physical. The running back from Michigan State missed the first nine days of training camp in a contract dispute.

Duckett ran two plays from the 2-yard line. On the first, he beat linebacker Keith Brooking on a sweep, edging the ball in the end zone. Then he was stopped on a run up the middle.

The 6-foot, 254-pound Duckett also showed no lingering effects from a fight last month at a concert in Ionia, Mich. Duckett was walking across a footbridge when three men allegedly jumped him and hit his face with a bottle.

The Ionia County Sheriff’s Department closed its investigation Friday and forwarded information to the prosecuting attorney’s office. No arrests have been made.

Eagles Philadelphia defensive tackle Hollis Thomas broke his right foot Friday and is out indefinitely.

Coach Andy Reid said Saturday he did not know when Thomas would return. A similar injury that kept Thomas out of five games last year.

Ravens Safety Ed Reed, Baltimore’s top pick in the draft, agreed to a five-year contract Saturday. The former Miami standout is expected to sign the contract today and practice Monday.

The deal is worth $6.2 million.

Jets J.P. Machado came to training camp with the hope of securing a starting job on the New York Jets’ offensive line after four years as a backup.

With starter Kerry Jenkins gone to Tampa Bay via free agency and free agent acquisition Dave Szott out until at least November with a knee injury, Machado looked like he would start at left guard.

Instead, Machado has found himself playing center because starter Kevin Mawae is sitting out contact drills in practice while his surgically repaired left shoulder continues to heal.

Rookie draft pick Jonathan Goodwin is taking most of the reps at left guard while Machado fills in for Mawae.

“It’s important for me to start, but it’s more important for the team to do better,” Machado said.

Pro Bowl defensive end John Abraham sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during a mock scrimmage. He’s scheduled to have an MRI today.

Bengals Jon Kitna threw the only touchdown pass during the Cincinnati Bengals’ intrasquad scrimmage, staying ahead of Gus Frerotte in the two-man competition for the starting job.

Colts Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts’ offense looked in midseason form Saturday as the team wrapped up its first week of training camp with an intrasquad scrimmage. Manning went 5-of-6 for 109 yards and threw two touchdowns.