(via chron.com)
Andre Johnson’s new contract with the Texans will make him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL.
Johnson received a two-year extension worth $38.5 million, including $13 million guaranteed. Counting the five years and $35 million he had left on his old contract, his deal is worth seven years and $73.5 million – an average of $10.5 million a year.
“This will make him a Texan for life,” Texans general manager Rick Smith said.
The contract also has incentive bonuses and built-in escalators that can make it even more valuable.
Owner Bob McNair said on the first day of training camp he thought the deal would be completed within two weeks. It didn’t take general manager Rick Smith, vice president of football administration Chris Olsen and agent Kennard McGuire that long to finish.
“It’s important that Andre have one home — and that’s with the Houston Texans,” McNair said. “He will probably be our first Hall of Fame player. We wanted to make sure he went in as a Texan and he played his career as a Texan. Hopefully he will retire as a Texan.”
McGuire also negotiated receiver Brandon Marshall’s new deal with Miami — five years, $50 million.
Last season, Johnson had 101 catches for 1,569 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2008, he had 115 receptions for 1,575 yards and eight touchdowns.
Last season, Johnson joined Jerry Rice as the only receivers to lead the league in yards in back-to-back seasons since the merger in 1970.
“Today, I’m very happy that we were able to get everything settled, and I can move forward with football,” Johnson said.
Johnson joined Marvin Harrison as the only receivers with at least 1,500 yards in consecutive seasons.
