The St. Louis Rams have signed linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa to a five-year contract extension, the team announced yesterday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 6-foot-1, 235-pound linebacker, in his fourth year out of the University of Hawai'i, has led the team in tackles for three consecutive years.

"This is the type of thing we want to get done to maintain the continuity of our football team," Rams coach Scott Linehan said. "Certainly, it has to be earned and Pisa has. We're glad to say he'll be a Ram for years to come. I'm very happy about it."

Through five games this season, Tinoisamoa is fourth on the team with 24 tackles and one sack. The 25-year-old also has one pass defense and a fumble recovery.

In his career, Tinoisamoa has started 50 of 53 games. He has 424 tackles, six sacks and five interceptions along with 20 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

The Rams have not often extended a player's contract during the season, but Linehan said Tinoisamoa merited the new deal.

Tinoisamoa said he has no regrets about not trying to make more money as a free agent.

"We knew we could have went to the free agent market and just got loads of dough," Tinoisamoa said. "That wasn't important to me. What's important to me is winning and being with a great group of guys who are getting better. We got that."

IN THE COURTS

CHARGERS' LB FOLEY CHARGED WITH DUI

San Diego Chargers linebacker Steve Foley was charged yesterday with drunken driving stemming from a confrontation last month with an off-duty Coronado police officer that resulted in Foley being shot three times.

His arraignment on two counts of misdemeanor DUI was scheduled for Oct. 18, but he is not required to attend. His attorney can enter a plea for him.

Foley's attorney did not return a call seeking comment.

The player's agent, David Levine, said Foley is home recovering from several surgeries to his leg.

"He currently is unable to walk or stand without assistance," Levine said. "Right now he's going through a healing process, a very painful one, and it's unknown at this point in time how he's going to recover."

Foley was shot early on Sept. 3 near his Poway home by an off-duty Coronado police officer who had followed him for several miles after suspecting him of driving drunk.

Police said Foley, who had been partying in downtown San Diego, had a blood-alcohol level of .233 percent, nearly three times California's legal limit of .08.

BILLS

Buffalo starting cornerback Nate Clements missed practice yesterday because of a sore right quadriceps, and it's uncertain whether he'll play against Detroit this weekend.

Coach Dick Jauron hopes Clements will be able to practice by tomorrow and ready to play Sunday.

Clements was hurt when he was leg-whipped by a Bears player in a 40-7 loss at Chicago last weekend. Listed as questionable, Clements did not walk with a limp yesterday, a notable improvement after he had difficulty getting around the locker room on Monday.

BRONCOS

Denver defensive end Courtney Brown, whose career has been plagued by injuries, will miss the rest of the season and undergo another operation on his troublesome left knee.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 draft by Cleveland, Brown had knee surgery in August and hoped to return for the season opener. But he's been inactive for Denver's first four games and yesterday was placed on injured reserve.

He was replaced on the roster by former Green Bay defensive lineman Kenny Peterson, who practiced yesterday.

CHIEFS

Kansas City running back Larry Johnson and kick returner Dante Hall both missed practice yesterday, but coach Herm Edwards remained hopeful they would play Sunday at Pittsburgh.

The Chiefs (2-2) already have a long list of injured players, including quarterback Trent Green, who will miss his fourth straight start as he recovers from a severe concussion.

Johnson hurt his neck when he was tackled by the facemask in the final minutes of a 23-20 victory at Arizona. Hall sustained a hip pointer when he was returning the second-half kickoff against the Cardinals.

"They were both sore," Edwards said. "I anticipate both will practice (today).

LIONS

Detroit guard Damien Woody was placed on injured reserve yesterday and will miss the rest of the season with a sprained foot suffered Sunday at Minnesota.

Linemen Ross Verba (hamstring) and Rex Tucker (knee) likely will not play Sunday against Buffalo, leaving the winless Lions with just two starters protecting quarterback Jon Kitna and opening holes for running back Kevin Jones.

Woody signed a six-year, $31 million contract — including a $9 million signing bonus — with the Lions in 2004 after helping New England win two Super Bowls.