NFL NOTEBOOK: LEAGUE, UNION GET THREE-DAY REPRIEVE.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

After talks broke off and less than an hour from plunging into an uncertain labor future, the NFL and its players' union agreed late Sunday night to postpone the start of free agency another 72 hours, giving the sides more time to reach agreement on an extension of their labor contract.

It was the second three-day reprieve the owners and players have given each other as they try to stave off the type of labor discord that has plagued other sports leagues in recent years.

The failure to reach an accord Sunday had left many teams scrambling to meet the deadline for getting under the salary cap, which had been pushed back twice during the day.

The two delays boosted speculation that the two sides would reach an agreement before the 9 p.m. PST deadline, which marked the beginning of the NFL's fiscal year and its free agent season.

Instead, about 45 minutes prior to the deadline, another extension was announced. The extra time will give owners the opportunity to consider the union's latest proposal when they meet Tuesday in Dallas, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told the Associated Press.

The long-term ramifications of the sides not reaching an agreement could be great. While the labor contract doesn't expire for two more years, the failure to reach an extension could send the league in an uncapped year in 2007, and has sparked threats of lockouts and decertification that could eventually lead to a showdown in court.

All this from a league that - unlike the NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball when they went through work stoppages - already has a salary cap in place and touts its player-owner relationship as a model.

This dispute stems from how much of the NFL's skyrocketing revenues the owners and players are willing to share.

``The union rejected a proposal that would have increased player compensation to unprecedented levels,'' said Harold Henderson, NFL vice president of Labor Relations, in a statement. ``Our offer would have added a minimum of $1.5 billion in new dollars for players over the six years of the extension. It is an unfortunate situation for the players, the fans and the league.''

--Roster moves: As the deadline loomed Sunday, teams scrambled to get their cap numbers down by releasing players or restructuring their contracts.

The St. Louis Rams cut wide receiver Isaac Bruce (scheduled to make $8.1 million next season) and the Washington Redskins parted ways with three-time Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington (due to count $12 million against the cap).

The Jets also were busy, reworking quarterback Chad Pennington's contract to reduce what had been a $15 million cap hit, releasing perennial Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae and awarding a contract extension to guard Pete Kendall.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened up $5 million in cap space by restructuring the contract of Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Brooks.

--MVP receives extension: League MVP Shaun Alexander has agreed to a $62 million, eight-year contract to remain with the Seattle Seahawks, his agent said.

Jim Steiner said the deal is the richest ever for an NFL running back and will net the league's leading rusher more than $15.1 million in guaranteed cash. Alexander set an NFL record with 28 touchdowns last season.

Associated Press contributed.