GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers made a long-term commitment to quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Friday, signing the first-year starter to a contract extension through 2014.
The team announced the deal after practice Friday afternoon, when Rodgers signed the paperwork. Terms were not disclosed.
“It means a lot,” Rodgers said. “I’m very excited knowing that my future is going to be here in Green Bay.”
A former standout at California, Rodgers was the Packers’ first-round pick in 2005. He then spent three years as the backup to Brett Favre.
His long-awaited opportunity to become Green Bay’s starter came when Favre retired in March. Then Favre expressed a desire to return to football, making Rodgers future seem uncertain.
But when Favre finally came out of retirement after training camp started in early August, Packers management stood by its commitment to Rodgers and traded Favre, the NFL’s only three-time MVP, to the New York Jets for a conditional draft pick.
“I appreciate the commitment that they’ve made, and I plan to reciprocate that commitment in my play and hopefully prove to them that they made the correct decision giving me this extension,” Rodgers said Friday.
The 24-year-old has had a solid beginning as a pro starter.
In seven games, he has completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 1,668 yards and 12 touchdowns with only four interceptions. His passer rating is 98.8.
Rodgers has played the last three games with a sprained throwing shoulder, which he hurt in the Packers’ 30-21 loss at Tampa Bay on Sept. 28.
“As we talked about in the past, we try to be proactive in our discussions with our current players, and we felt like this was an appropriate time to try to come to an agreement with Aaron,” Packers general manager Ted Thompson said. “We feel like this is good for the organization and the players, and we will continue this approach as we move forward.”
Rodgers said contract talks with the Packers had been ongoing the last few weeks, and he acknowledged Friday he felt an urgency to perform well from the start of the season.
“I can’t say that wasn’t on my mind,” Rodgers said. “Just to be able to play the way I did at the start of the season I think definitely helped. But this was still a little unexpected. So, I appreciate the commitment they’ve made to me.
“I still had a year and a half on my deal left, but this definitely means a lot to me that they’re saying I’m going to be the guy. And not just for the next two years, I’m going to be the guy for the future.”
Chiefs’ Johnson suspended.
Kansas City running back Larry Johnson was suspended for Week 10 by commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
Johnson already was deactivated the last two weeks by Kansas City and also won’t play Sunday against Tampa Bay. He will miss the Chiefs’ game at San Diego next weekend under the NFL’s suspension.
Johnson is not permitted on the team’s premises until Nov. 10.
The suspension will cost him about $147,000, or one game check.
“We respect the decision of commissioner Goodell,” said Chiefs president Carl Peterson. “The NFL player conduct policy sets forth a set of standards that all NFL players, coaches and staff members must abide by. Upon the completion of his suspension we sincerely hope that Larry will be ready to return to the field for the Chiefs determined to make a positive contribution to our team and, with the assistance of the people around him, turn his life around.”
Johnson was charged Monday with simple assault for spitting his drink in a woman’s face on Oct. 10. He also faces a Dec. 4 court date for another incident that occurred last February when he allegedly pushed a woman’s face in another Kansas City nightspot.
The most recent alleged incident at a Kansas City nightspot marked the fourth time in five years Johnson has been accused of assaulting a woman.
The 28-year-old Johnson apologized for his behavior last week.
