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Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger agreed to one of the richest contract in Pittsburgh Steelers history on Monday. The eight-year deal is worth $102 million US and includes $36 million in guarantees, placing Roethlisberger among the National Football League’s highest-paid players.

Roethlisberger, 26, would join fellow signal-callers Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb and the suspended Michael Vick in the $100-million club. An Ohio native, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory two years ago — the youngest quarterback to achieve the feat — and was the 11th overall pick in the 2004 draft. He has started in all four seasons with the team.

Last season, he threw a team-record 32 touchdown passes with only 11 interceptions in leading Pittsburgh to a 10-6 record and an AFC North title, bouncing back from a 2006 season marred by a motorcycle accident and an appendectomy. Roethlisberger’s Pro Bowl season also included a 65 per cent completion rate and a 104.1 efficiency rating.  In my opinion this guy is worth every penny.