NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - New Orleans wide receiver Marques Colston has signed a three-year extension to remain with the team until 2011, the Saints said on their website on Wednesday.

Colston has made an enormous impact with this Saints and in two seasons with the team has made 168 receptions, more than any NFL receiver in his first two seasons.

"It was a priority for our team to get this done before our training camp practices started," Saints coach Sean Payton told reporters. "He is becoming a leader on our team, and certainly within our group of wide receivers."

Terms of the extension were not disclosed.

Colston caught a team-record 98 balls for 1,202 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. In his 2006 rookie campaign, the Saints finished 10-6 and reached the NFC Championship game.

The signing was New Orleans' second big transaction of the week, having picked up New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey in a trade on Monday.

(Reporting by Jahmal Corner; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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