St. Louis ? Mike Martz, who built the high-flying St. Louis Rams offense and helped the once-downtrodden team become a Super Bowl contender, has agreed to a contract extension through the 2006 season.

Martz had two years remaining on a four-year deal that paid about $1.1 million annually. Terms of the new five-year contract were not disclosed, but reports projected the value at between $3 million and $4 million per season.

Martz said he was happy to finish negotiations before training camp begins. The Rams report to Western Illinois University on July 26.

“Things went real fast,” Martz said. “It’s a good feeling to have it behind you.

“It’s unusual that a club will do that with two years to go on the contract, pay you more money.”