PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia Eagles and star quarterback Donovan McNabb agreed Friday on a 12-year contract extension that may make him the highest-paid player in NFL history.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported McNabb will receive $115 million over the length of his contract that includes more than $20 million in guaranteed bonus money.
The team confirmed the length of the contract, but would not release financial terms of the deal.
"This is something my family and I are excited about," McNabb said at a news conference. "God has blessed me with a lot of talent and a lot of leadership ability."
McNabb's reported deal surpasses the $103 million contract quarterback Drew Bledsoe signed with the New England Patriots before the 2001 season. The Eagles intend their deal to be a lifetime partnership with the 25-year-old McNabb, who was in the fourth year of his original seven-year contract.
"I can't let the contract affect me" McNabb said. "I can only focus on my job and that is to make sure I'm prepared every Sunday."
No other NFL team has negotiated such a long-term deal with a player who has had that many years left on his contract, which demonstrates the team's desire to keep its franchise quarterback as the centerpiece for the next decade.
"He is the leader of this team," Eagles president Joe Banner said. "We like to think we move quickly to lock up our young players and Donovan was obviously a priority for us."
The second pick in the 1999 draft out of Syracuse, McNabb has already made the Pro Bowl twice and led the Eagles to the NFC championship game last season.
Initially, Philadelphia fans booed the selection of McNabb in the 1999 draft, preferring running back Ricky Williams instead. Now, the "City of Brotherly Love" has embraced McNabb.
Since taking over as a starter late in his rookie year, McNabb has guided the Eagles to a 27-16 record, including three playoff wins.
"Donovan is well liked by everyone on this team and that can be rare with quarterbacks," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "Some quarterbacks alienate themselves from the other players on the team, but he's not like that. He makes his way around the locker room and talks to all of his teammates."
McNabb was named the NFC player of the week for his performance last Sunday, passing for 287 yards and three touchdowns and running for 67 yards and another score in Philadelphia's 44-13 rout of Dallas.
He has completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 791 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions in three games this season.
McNabb earned his second trip to the Pro Bowl following the 2001 season after combining for 3,715 yards of total offense and establishing career highs in touchdown passes (25) and quarterback rating (84.3).
In his first full season as a starter, McNabb finished as the runner-up in the NFL Most Valuable Player voting after throwing for 3,365 yards and 21 touchdowns.
