Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco has become the highest-paid player in NFL history after signing a new contract with Baltimore.
The Ravens quarterback will earn US$120.6 million over six years as well as a US$29 million signing bonus.
Flacco, who became the first starting QB in NFL history to make the playoffs in each of his first five seasons, threw three touchdown passes in Baltimore's 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in last month's Super Bowl.
But the 28-year-old insisted his new deal is more about respect than the money.
"It wasn't necessarily about the money. It was, at that point, about earning that respect and feeling like I was respected around here," Flacco said just minutes after signing the contract.
"The fact that they have made me that definitely makes me feel good about how I played and how they feel about me.
"I think I'm an asset to this team ... The fact that we won the Super Bowl just comes with that. If we didn't win the Super Bowl this year, I still think I'm worth the same."
Flacco turned down a US$15-million-a-year deal before the start of last season, which proved to be a profitable decision.
"I thought I was worth more and didn't really see any circumstances where I wouldn't end up getting paid more than what they were willing to give me at that point," Flacco said.
"The real risk is that I could get hurt.
"I always kind of had faith that we were going to get something done here no matter what. I didn't know if we were going to go win the Super Bowl and all of that, so that kind of helped the situation out, I think, a little bit."
By signing the lengthy deal, Flacco also avoided receiving the franchise tag, which would have impacted the Ravens' salary cap next season.
He hopes that will result in the bulk of the team staying put as they look to become the first team since the New England Patriots in 2005 to win back-to-back Super Bowls.
"I know we have a lot of good players on the team, and I love to play with those guys, so hopefully it works out very good for the organisation and we can keep as many people as we need," he said.