Steelers Sign Big Ben to New Deal

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has agreed to a new deal that will pay him $102 million over 8 years with $36 million in guaranteed money; several media outlets are reporting.

The deal makes him the highest paid player in team history and the guaranteed money is similar to deals signed by Peyton Manning and Michael Vick in 2004. He is only one of 5 quarterbacks in the NFL to receive a $100 million contract. The deal is expected to be announced today.

The 26-year-old starter, who was the third quarterback taken in the 2004 draft (11^th overall), finished with a career-high passer rating of 104.1 last season after completing roughly 65 percent of his passes and setting a team record with 32 touchdowns. The Steelers made the playoffs for the third time in his four seasons as starter. The deal comes two years after he led the team to a Super Bowl title.

For his career, Roethlisberger has completed 62.3 percent of his passes for more than 11,000 yards and 84 touchdown passes. He has a career passer rating of 92.5; higher than the two quarterbacks selected before him (Eli Manning and Philip Rivers).