NFL: Flacco inks record $120.6 million deal

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco signed the richest contract in National Football League history Monday, a six-year deal worth $120.6 million to stay with the Super Bowl champions.

Flacco's deal, which includes $52 million in guaranteed payouts, reportedly will pay him nearly $170,000 a day in the NFL season for the next six campaigns after he completed his rookie contract, worth $6.76 million, this past season.

"It means a lot," Flacco said. "It was never necessarily about the money but it was about earning that respect and feeling like they respect me around here.

"Our goal is to win the Super Bowl and we did that. My goal has never been to get paid like this. It's just a part of it."

Flacco, the first quarterback in NFL history with playoff triumphs in each of his first five seasons, takes on the mantle of the NFL's highest-paid player from New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, who averages $20 million a season.

"When you are the quarterback you aim to make a certain amount of money based on what the value is out there," Flacco said. "It's not really about that money. It's about the respect. When you are happy with it you say, 'I'm good.'

"When you go out there you have confidence in what you are doing. You're not worried about what you are getting paid."

The Ravens also signed Flacco's deal ahead of a Monday afternoon deadline to name a "franchise player". Had they needed to do that to keep Flacco, the Ravens would have had a season salary cap setback of $19.5 million.

The contract, according to the Baltimore Sun, was structured so the Ravens would lose only $6.8 million off this year's cap under the deal, allowing them more room to seek free agent talent.

"Getting it done by this date will help out on the field and that's an important part of it," Flacco said.

Flacco, the Super Bowl 47 Most Valuable Player, said he does not think the boost in pay will bring a boost in pressure to perform.

"Last year there was probably more pressure getting it done," Flacco said. "This year is about keeping it going, working together and trying to get it done again."

Flacco's new riches had not yet prompted major spending ideas, he said.

"Nothing immediately. Hopefully not too much," Flacco said. "I look at it with a smile. It's not something you think about on a daily basis. I might have the freedom to do some things but I haven't really thought about it."

Flacco, 28, threw three first-half touchdowns as the Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in last month's Super Bowl. Flacco finished with 11 touchdown passes in the NFL playoffs.
 

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