Rams Al-Pro tackle Orlando Pace has signed a one-year deal with the team as their franchise player. With the contract, he’ll make just over $7-million in 2004. Pace didn’t attend any of the mini-camps, practices or pre-season games, while trying to fortify a long-term deal. The player and team came to the same impasse last year as well, with Pace agreeing to a one-year tender as the franchise player in 2003, as well. Pace is expected to start against the Cardinals on Sunday at left tackle. Grant Williams will start at right tackle, Chris Dishman at left guard Adam Timmerman at right guard and Andy McCollum at center… The Rams released 11 players and signed free agent safety Zack Bronson on Sunday to get to the NFL-mandated 53-man roster. Bronson, who played the first seven seasons of his career in San Francisco, had 42 tackles in 12 games last year
