Rams welcome Jackson

Steven Jackson signed a six-year, $44 million contract, ended a 27-day holdout, and was on the field for practice with the St. Louis Rams on Thursday.

Coach Scott Linehan, who conducted a month of practices without the centerpiece of the offense, joked that he gave Jackson “a big hug” and then asked for a loan. Offensive tackle Orlando Pace, no stranger to holdouts, said he was happy “big time, big time” to see the bruising runner. Defensive tackle La’Roi Glover said simply, “Things are pretty good at Rams Park right now.”

Jackson, 25, said both sides compromised during negotiations that stayed underground and generally cordial.

It’ll be at least a week before he gets his first preseason carry. Linehan said Jackson would be in uniform Saturday night against the Ravens but would not play while he conditions his body for football.

The 235-pound running back had been entering the final season of a five-year, $7 million deal he signed as a first-round pick in 2004. Linehan said he understood the business end of the game after Jackson got a deal that includes more than $20 million in bonuses and puts him third on the salary scale on the team, trailing only quarterback Marc Bulger and Pace and fifth among NFL running backs.

Jackson has averaged 115.7 yards from scrimmage since his rookie year, fourth best in the NFL. He led the NFL with 2,334 yards rushing and receiving in 2006 and his 90 receptions in 2006 is sixth best by a running back in league history.

Steelers extend Farrior

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed linebacker James Farrior to a five-year, $18.2 million contract extension that includes a $5 million signing bonus.

Farrior was signed through this season, but the 12-year-veteran had hoped to sign an extension that would keep him in Pittsburgh until he retired.

The bulk of the contract is for the first three seasons, valued at $12.6 million, including $10 million in the first two years.

Farrior has missed only four of the Steelers’ last 96 regular-season games, starting in all the others. He has 705 tackles in his six years with the team.

Houston fullback arrested

Houston Texans fullback Jameel Cook was arrested and charged with marijuana possession Wednesday.

A Fort Bend County sheriff’s deputy stopped Cook at about 7:30 p.m. because his 2007 Mercedes sedan had no front license plate or registration sticker.

He’s free on a $500 bond after authorities said he had about two grams of marijuana, no valid Texas driver’s license and no proof of liability insurance.

Cook, 29, was charged with a misdemeanor after the deputy searched the car and found a plastic bag containing two grams of marijuana.

O’Sullivan guides 49ers

J.T. O’Sullivan threw for 126 yards and a touchdown in his limited time while Alex Smith struggled, and San Francisco beat the Chicago Bears 37-30 in exhibition play at Chicago.

After two mediocre outings against Oakland and Green Bay, O’Sullivan couldn’t have performed any better against the Bears.

O’Sullivan was 7 for 8 with a perfect 158.3 passer rating in his third preseason start. He led the 49ers (2-1) to field goals on the first two possessions and a two-play, 77-yard touchdown drive on the third one. He hit Vernon Davis with a 40-yard pass and then scrambled to his right before throwing a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jason Hill to give the Niners a 13-10 lead less than a minute into the second quarter.

The Bears’ Kyle Orton was 10 for 17 with 147 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for Chicago (0-3). Rex Grossman was 1 for 4 with 6 yards.