Three-time Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware and the Dallas Cowboys have finally agreed on a contract extension, a $78 million, six-year deal through the 2015 season that guarantees him $40 million.

After months of talks that intensified over the past two weeks, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he shook hands with Ware before the Cowboys' 37-21 victory over Atlanta on Sunday, agreeing to the deal. The paperwork was finalized late yesterday and the extension announced.

"I feel like I work really hard and am really deserving of what they've given me," Ware said. "All this is behind me now. It's time to get to work. You know what it's time to bring home. I'm not going to say what it is, we're just going to show you, and I'm going to show you."

Jones called Ware a "cornerstone player" for the Cowboys (4-2).

The 27-year-old Ware, who was in the final season of the contract he signed after being the 11th overall pick in the 2005 draft, has 57 1/2 sacks.

CHIEFS

RB JOHNSON USES GAYS SLUR TWICE

Kansas City running back Larry Johnson used a gay slur for the second time in as many days yesterday, the Kansas City Star reported on its Web site.

Johnson refused to speak with reporters, a day after the Chiefs' 37-7 home loss to the San Diego Chargers. Sitting in front of his locker, he turned away and muttered the slur in telling reporters to get "out of here," according to the Star, which recorded the comment.

On Sunday, Johnson belittled rookie head coach Todd Haley on Twitter in a series of posts that also included the same gay slur.

Haley said yesterday the Chiefs were looking into "a couple of situations" involving Johnson, but declined further comment. Asked about the slurs, he said the team was "gathering facts."

ELSEWHERE

Law and order: Former Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards has been charged with misdemeanor assault over accusations he punched a man outside a Cleveland nightclub, an incident that prompted his trade to the New York Jets.

Cleveland city prosecutor Victor Perez filed the charge yesterday. It carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Edwards is accused of punching promoter Edward Givens, a friend of NBA star LeBron James, following an argument Oct. 5 on the sidewalk outside View Ultralounge & Nightclub on Prospect Avenue.

Browns: Cleveland coach Eric Mangini has no plans to bench Derek Anderson, the NFL's lowest-rated quarterback.

Anderson has completed just 23 of 70 passes in the last three games and came out of Sunday's 31-3 loss to Green Bay with an overall 40.6 rating.

Mangini feels Anderson gives his team the best chance to win and will not switch back to Brady Quinn.

Rams: St. Louis rookie cornerback Bradley Fletcher will miss the rest of the season with two torn ligaments in his right knee.

Fletcher, a third-round pick, started for the third straight game and was injured in the second half of Sunday's 42-6 loss to the Colts.

Dolphins: Miami cornerback Will Allen is out for the season with a left knee injury.

Allen hurt his anterior cruciate ligament in the third quarter of the Dolphins' loss to New Orleans and will require surgery.