Report: Rams release Bruce after contract talks falter

~ The receiver was the longest-tenured Rams player.

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams released wide receiver Isaac Bruce Sunday night after failing to reach agreement on a restructured contract, according to a published report.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported in today's editions that the Rams remained hopeful of reaching an agreement with the four-time Pro Bowl player. Bruce is the longest-tenured Ram, and has been with the team since 1994 -- the year before they moved to the Midwest.

"We do want Isaac to remain a Ram," Rams president of football operations Jay Zygmunt told the newspaper. "We're still hopeful that we can get something done in the near future."

Team spokesman Duane Lewis told The Associated Press he was unaware the move had been made official.

Bruce had a salary cap figure of $10 million for next season and had been due to receive a $1.5 million roster bonus today, the first day of the free- agency period.

The Post-Dispatch reported that Bruce rejected a three-year, $9 million extension.

"We've looked at this situation the last several days and we weren't able to come to an agreement," said Jimmy Sexton, Bruce's agent. "We'll keep working on it in the next several days and see if we can work something out."

Bruce is the Rams' career leader in receptions (813), receiving yards (12,278) and receiving touchdowns (77).

Owners postpone free-agency deadline

NFL labor negotiations took yet another surprising turn late Sunday when the league and union agreed to postpone free agency another 72 hours, giving the sides more time to try to reach agreement on an extension to their contract.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the delay would give owners a chance to consider the union's latest proposal during a meeting Tuesday.

Talks broke off earlier in the day, leaving dozens of veterans in danger of becoming salary-cap casualties before 12:01 a.m. today, when free agency was supposed to begin.