Antonio Brown passes A.J. Green as NFL's highest-paid wide receiver

Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro Antonio Brown made good on his personal mantra Monday.

Business is boomin.'

The wide receiver inked a four-year, $68 million extension with the franchise, according to reports. The deal pays Brown $17 million annually, more than A.J. Green's $15 million annual average. He is now the NFL's highest-paid wide receiver.

Brown, 28, has led the NFL in receptions in two of the last three seasons. The five-time Pro Bowl selection had 1,284 yards and 12 touchdowns on 106 receptions in 2016, leading to his third consecutive All-Pro nod.

Despite Brown's postseason antics, the Steelers could ill-afford to let one of the league's best players depart Pittsburgh. Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert told reporters earlier this month that the franchise wanted Brown to "retire as a Steeler," via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"Antonio is a good guy, a good person," Steelers' President Art Rooney II said in a release. "I enjoy our personal relationship. His teammates like to have him on the team. He is a hard worker.

"AB is a big contributor to our success, has been for several years now, and I think he's capable of continuing to be that kind of player. I think he's someone who wants to be a great player and works hard to be that. Hopefully, he'll continue to evolve as a player and as a person."

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Brown's agent Drew Rosenhaus and the Steelers had a goal of March 9 for the signing.