(AP) - The St. Louis Rams and defensive end Chris Long agreed on a four-year contract extension through the 2016 season before the first practice of training camp.

Long was seventh in the NFL with 13 sacks last year, topping his previous best of 8 1-2 sacks, and had a three-sack game against the Saints.

He had been entering the final year of a $56.5 million contract he signed after the Rams drafted him No. 2 overall in 2008 out of Virginia.

Long also led the Rams with 15 quarterback pressures and 16 quarterback hits.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)