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RENTON, Wash. -- Earl Thomas is the latest member of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks to be locked up for the future. The best free safety in the NFL is getting rewarded quite well. Thomas and the Seahawks reached agreement Monday on a $40 million, four-year contract extension with just over $27.7 million guaranteed, according to two people with knowledge of the agreement. They spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because there had been no announcement from the team. The agreement was first reported by NFL.com. Thomas, a two-time first-team All-Pro, could have gone into the 2014 season with free agency on the horizon. Instead, Seattle made sure to keep the most important cog of its defence through the 2018 season. Its the latest move in a strong off-season for the defending champions. While there were losses in free agency and difficult roster decisions with expensive veterans released, Seattle re-signed defensive end Michael Bennett before free agency began, then locked up coach Pete Carroll with an extension through 2016. The debate was whether Seattle could get a long-term deal done with either Thomas or cornerback Richard Sherman before either became a free agent after the 2014 season. Thomas deal is finished and the Seahawks can turn their attention toward trying to get a deal done with Sherman and solidifying three-fourths of the top secondary in the NFL for years to come. Strong safety Kam Chancellor is already signed through the 2017 season. Thomas was Seattles second first-round pick in the 2010 draft, the first with Carroll and general manager John Schneider leading the franchise. Its turned out to be one of the most important selections the team has made since starting a makeover with the duo in charge of moulding the Seahawks into a championship club. "Earl is as serious a competitor as you could ever hope to be around. He is in it, and hes on it and dialed in," Carroll said before the Super Bowl. Thomas was Seattles second-leading tackler last season and added five interceptions, but its what his presence allows the Seahawks to do defensively that underscores his value. His speed in coverage and recognition in the secondary are among the best in the game. Much of what Seattle wants to do defensively is predicated on having Thomas on the roster. At one point early in his career, Carroll had to threaten Thomas with benching because he was trying to do too much. Thomas was getting out of position and being undisciplined in his assignments. As he matured, those mistakes became harder to find. Thomas recognition of what opponents were trying to run became so good that he could play alone in the back of Seattles defence. Often this past season, the Seahawks were able to move Chancellor closer to the line of scrimmage and ask Thomas to patrol the back end by himself. He did that job at an elite level and earned his second straight All-Pro selection. "In this defence, I think me and Kam do a lot. Sometimes dirty work, sometimes a lot of game-changing plays," Thomas said during Super Bowl week. "Everybody on the defence understands that. Thats why this defence is so compatible with each other. Its selfless guys. "Were going to put everything on the line for each other. Love is the highest frequency we have and we understand that, and thats what its all about. When youre filled up with gratitude, its a genuine appreciation for everybody around you. Thats the way I love it." Thomas has 15 career interceptions in the regular season and two more in the playoffs. Thomas will still only be 29 years old when his new deal expires after the 2018 season. Deacon Jones Rams Jersey . More importantly, he is trying to show his young teammates the Colorado are still post-season contenders. He hopes winning a series at home was a fresh start. Cooper Kupp Jersey . Off-Season Game Plan looks at what the Blue Jackets may do to build upon last seasons success to return to the playoffs again next year. http://www.ramsrookiestore.com/Rams-David-Long-Jersey/. Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse will reunite at this weekends season-opening World Cup at Canada Olympic Park as they begin their buildup to the Winter Games in Sochi. Jack Youngblood Womens Jersey . Felton was in court as the Manhattan district attorneys office outlined the agreement, which would resolve a gun case that arose amid the breakup of his marriage. Hes expected to admit June 30 to at least one charge, attempted criminal possession of a weapon -- he wont have to come to court to do so -- and get a $5,000 fine and 500 hours of community service. Kurt Warner Youth Jersey . Or how his team has defended Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Or just about anything that has happened on the court in the first-round playoff series. Instead, Rivers and his players spent Saturday talking about how they would respond to an audio recording of a man identified as Clippers owner Donald Sterling telling his girlfriend not to bring black people to games.St. Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Chandler Catanzaro made four field goals as the Arizona Cardinals moved closer to clinching a playoff spot despite not scoring a touchdown in a 12-6 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Thursday. The Cardinals (11-3) now own the leagues best record and can secure a postseason berth this Sunday as long as the Dallas-Philadelphia game doesnt end in a tie. Arizona can also clinch with a Detroit loss against Minnesota and a Green Bay win or tie in Buffalo. Arizona, however, suffered another injury at quarterback at the hands of the St. Louis defense as Drew Stanton left the game with a right knee injury in the third quarter. He was carted off to the locker room and did not return. Stanton, who was 12-of-20 for 109 yards before exiting, started his fifth straight game after Carson Palmer tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a 31-14 win over the Rams on Nov. 9. Ryan Lindley took over for Stanton and completed four of his 10 passes for 30 yards. Larry Fitzgerald (31 years, 102 days old) became the youngest player in NFL history to compile 900 career receptions after finishing with seven catches for 30 yards. Arizonas 11 wins ties a franchise record which was also set in 1925 and 1948. Shaun Hill threw for 229 yards and an interception on 20-of-39 passing and Stedman Bailey caught five passes for 74 yards for the Rams (6-8). St. Louis, which was coming off back-to-back shutouts of Washington and Oakland, turned in another solid defensive performance, limiting the Cardinals to just 274 total yards and 13 first downs, but lacked a spark on offense. The Rams finally converted a second-half first down as Bailey hauled in a 38- yard strike down to Arizonas 39 with 10:10 to play in the fourth quarter. St. Louis took the ball down to the 1-yard line, but Hill threw the ball away on third down and Greg Zuerlein was true from 19 yards out for a 12-6 game with 6:07 remaining. Kenny Britt caught a 22-yard dart between two defenders and Jared Cooks 10- yard catch moved the Rams to midfield. Hill hit Bailey for a 7-yard gaain on second down, but his pass intended for Chris Givens on fourth down was knocked down by Jerraud Powers and the Cardinals took over on downs.dddddddddddd After Arizona punted on its initial drive, Benjamin Cunninghams 19-yard catch moved the Rams into their opponents territory and Zuerlein kicked a 24-yard field goal for an early St. Louis lead. Frostee Rucker knocked the ball loose from Tre Mason and Larry Foote pounced on it to give Arizona the ball with 1:57 to play in the first quarter. Kerwynn Williams picked up a first down on an 11-yard run. The drive stalled at the Rams 5, but Catanzaro knotted the score with a 23-yarder. Michael Floyd outran Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins down the left sideline and made a 49-yard grab to set up an eventual 44-yard Catanzaro make for a 6-3 lead with 8:25 to play in the first half. The Rams punted the ball away on their first possession of the third quarter to Tedd Ginn Jr., who navigated his way down the field 42 yards to the St. Louis 42. Arizona, however, couldnt capitalize and gained just two yards before punting. On their next drive, the Cardinals benefited from a 36-yard pass interference penalty that moved them to their opponents 28. Two plays later, Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald sacked Stanton for an 8-yard loss. The Cardinals signal-caller stayed on the ground before hobbling off the field. Lindley took over and delivered a 6-yard pass to Floyd, which helped set up Catanzaros 51-yard field goal midway through the third. Arizona went up 12-3 when Catanzaro nailed a 46-yarder with 10:48 to play. Game Notes It was Arizonas first win without a touchdown since a 12-7 triumph over Tampa Bay on Jan. 2, 2005 ... The Cardinals have won their last three games against the Rams ... Catanzaros first field goal in the second quarter was the first points the Rams allowed in 146:33, a span of 10 quarters ... Arizona cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who was carted off the field with a left ankle injury last week, was active ... Williams rushed for 75 yards on 15 carries. ' ' '