Seau to Stay With Chargers

San Diego Charger nine-time Pro Bowl linebacker and emotional leader Junior Seau signed a contract extension through 2005.

Seau said his new five-year deal is worth an average of just more than $6 million a year, and team officials said he will once again be the NFL’s highest-paid linebacker. The new contract is a renegotiation and extension of a $27.1 million deal Seau agreed to in September 1997.

“I’m not one to jump on a ship that’s already arrived,” Seau said. “I want to help build one. I have five years to do it and I’m looking forward to it.”

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Tim Grunhard’s streak of 120 consecutive starts for Kansas City could end Sunday. Grunhard sustained an ankle injury Sunday in a 24-19 victory over Seattle and could miss this week’s game at Oakland. . . . Buffalo Bill defensive lineman Phil Hansen is expected to miss four to six weeks with a right knee injury. Hansen, a 10-year veteran, will have an MRI today. Shawn Price, who has started nine games in his career, and rookies Erik Flowers and Leif Larsen will fill in. . . . Brock Huard still hasn’t recovered from a concussion that he suffered in Oakland, so Jon Kitna is expected to start at quarterback again this week when the Seattle Seahawks play host to San Diego on Sunday. Kitna started in Seattle’s first five games before being benched by Holmgren.