HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Giving a contract extension to Curtis Martin would give the New York Jets two valuable things: the certainty of having one of the league's premier backs for several more years to come, and much needed salary cap relief.

	Martin

Negotiations with Martin have picked up to the point where the two sides could be closing in on a deal, the Newark Star-Ledger reported in its Tuesday editions.

Martin, who is entering his eighth NFL season -- fifth with the Jets -- is believed to be seeking a long-term deal with a signing bonus of more than $10 million, according to the newspaper's report. Martin will count $9.5 million on the salary cap this season and $10 million next season

The Jets also are attempting to re-sign veterans Wayne Chrebet and Kevin Mawae before the start of the season, but re-signing Martin is one of the organization's highest priorities.

"As these things go, they tend to accelerate fairly fast," Martin's agent, Eugene Parker, told the Star-Ledger on Monday. "Where we are is they want to sign Curtis to a deal that would allow him to finish his career with the Jets and that's what Curtis wants, too. Now it's just a matter of finding a way to get it figured out."

Martin, 29, said last week that he has "another good six or seven years" in him and that his goal is to set the NFL's all-time rushing record. The late Walter Payton currently holds the mark with 16,726 yards, a mark likely to be broken by the Cowboys' Emmitt Smith (16,187) this season. Martin, who was second in the NFL in rushing last season with 1,513 yards, has 9,267 career yards.

Though Parker and Martin would like to reach an agreement before the Jets' season opener in Buffalo on Sept. 8, they haven't issued an ultimatum, the Star-Ledger reported.

"I wouldn't call it a deadline," Parker said of the opener. "We want to foster a spirit of cooperation. I don't want to impose a deadline. But certainly getting a deal done early would minimize any distractions."

Last month, St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk signed a seven-year, $43.95 million deal that included a $9.3 million signing bonus. It's believed Martin's camp wasn't impressed with the Faulk deal, the Star-Ledger said, but Parker wouldn't say as much.

"Marshall Faulk has something in common with Curtis -- they're both running backs," Parker told the newspaper. "I think we're looking at Curtis uniquely because he's unique to his team. I don't think anyone would argue with that."