Having already addressed all their draft choice signings, the New England Patriots on Wednesday completed another key contract, signing coach Bill Belichick to a two-year contract extension through the 2006 season.

Owner Robert Kraft announced the extension before the Patriots took the field for the initial practice session of training camp.

Other than the length of the extension, details of the contract were not announced, but it is expected to place Belichick among the league's highest paid coaches. Belichick, 51, originally signed a five-year contract with the Patriots in 2000 and shepherded the club to a Super Bowl title the following season.

"I'm extremely pleased that Mr. Kraft has offered to extend my time here," Belichick said before spending most of his news conference discussing camp, held for the first time at Gillette Stadium after 27 years at Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I.

While he does not hold any title other than head coach, Belichick possesses considerable sway in all football-related matters, and essentially functions as a general manager. That implicit role may have boosted the value of the contract to beyond $4 million annually.

In three seasons, Belichick has posted a 28-23 record with the Patriots. The club finished 9-7 in 2002 and out of the playoffs.

This is Belichick's second stint as a head coach, and he led the Cleveland Browns to a 37-45 mark from 1991-95.

Long noted as one of the league's most innovative defensive minds, Belichick has over the last few seasons extended some influence over the offensive side of the ball as well. Following the death of quarterbacks coach Dick Rehbein during training camp in 2001, for instance, he took over much of the responsibility for coaching that position.

Belichick began his NFL career in 1975 as a special assistant with the Baltimore Colts. By 1985, he had risen to defensive coordinator with the New York Giants, where he began a long relationship with Bill Parcells, and he became the youngest head coach in the league when he took over the Browns in '91.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.