Aaron Rodgers, Packers Agree On $110 Million Contract Extension
Aaron Rodgers has signed a contract extension with the Green Bay Packers that will pay him $110 million over five years, the fattest salary in NFL history.
Rodgers was already on record saying that he wanted to stay with the green and gold for the rest of his career.
The Super Bowl XLV MVP will wear a Packers uniform through the 2019 season under the new deal and will take home $40 million in pay just for showing up for the upcoming season. “Rodgers will make $62.5 million from 2013-15, and $110 million in new money over the course of the extension.” The deal comes out to $22 million a year, which outpaces the $20 million annual salary that Ravens agreed to pay QB Joe Flacco after this year’s victory in the Super Bowl.
Rogers was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft (24th selection overall) by the Packers out of the University of California, Berkeley, and became a starter in 2008 after Brett Favre finally got out of the way. He is a three-time Pro Bowler and ranks No. 1 in NFL history with a career passer rating of 104.9 and No. 2 in career completion percentage. Rodgers also threw for 21,332 yards from 2008-12, the most in NFL history by a quarterback in his first five seasons as a starter.
Last season, Rodgers threw for over 4,000 yards and 39 touchdowns, with only eight interceptions, leading Green Bay to an 11-5 record and the NFC North title. The Packers won the Wild Card game over the Minnesota Vikings but lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. The Packers actually should have notched a 12-4 regular season mark, but you’ll recall the horrible end-zone call by a replacement ref that gifted a victory to the Seattle Seahawks over Green Bay in a September 2012 Monday Night Football matchup.
Packers’ executive Ted Thompson had this to say about the Aaron Rodgers contract extension: “Aaron is a true professional and a special player. He works hard, is humble, and is focused on his actions, on and off the field. He is an excellent teammate and pushes himself and others to be the very best. We are happy to reach an agreement to extend his career with the Packers.”
Aaron Rodgers, who had two years and $17.5 million left on his current deal, seems pretty happy about inking the contract extension with the Packers:
Big thanks to the Organization, our coaching staff, my teammates, and packer nation for the last 8 years!Excited about 7 more!#extension
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) April 26, 2013
Do you think that any professional athlete, even one as skilled and accomplished as Aaron Rodgers, is deserving of this kind of crazy money?
