Aaron Rodgers

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are getting closer to a long-term contract extension, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal is believed to be in the $25 million-per-year range, and would make the 2011 MVP the highest-paid player in NFL history.

Rodgers currently is under contract until 2014, after signing a six-year, $65 million deal in October 2008. Both the Packers and the Super Bowl XLV MVP have been very cautious in commenting on a proposed deal, but those familiar with the talks think a deal will be done during this offseason. Rodgers’ base salary in 2013 is $9.25 million, while he is set to make $10.5 million in 2014.

Three other Super Bowl MVP quarterbacks from this decade have recently cashed in with big deals. Joe Flacco (Ravens), Drew Brees (Saints) and Peyton Manning (Broncos) all have among the richest contracts in league history. Flacco’s deal is the richest in NFL history.

Rodgers’ new contract may surpass Flacco’s six-year, $120.6 million deal that he signed earlier this month after defeating the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. Rodgers finished the 2012 season with 4,295 passing yards and 39 touchdowns, eighth and second in the NFL, respectively.

Joe Flacco

Joe Flacco‘s agent, Joe Linta, has a higher opinion of his client than ever after the Ravens’ Super Bowl win, and said Tuesday that he thinks Flacco should be the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL.

“When you do a contract of this magnitude, you look at what is the player’s body of work presently,” Linta said in an interview with CNBC. “And what are the expectations going forward over the next four, five or six years. Joe wins on both accounts.”

Flacco didn’t have an outstanding regular season, but he passed for 1,140 yards and 11 touchdowns with zero interceptions in four postseason games this year, ultimately leading the Ravens to a 34-31 over the 49ers in the Super Bowl. He also became the first quarterback to win a playoff game in each of his first five seasons. He is up for a new contract this offseason.

At 28, Flacco is younger than Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, who make $18 million and $20 million, respectively. Each has won one Super Bowl, now the same number as Flacco, and Linta said that that should justify an even bigger payday for Flacco.

Joe Flacco

Joe Flacco appeared on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman” on Monday night, a day after the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII. Flacco, who earned Super Bowl MVP honors, talked with Letterman about his upcoming free agency.

Letterman asked Flacco if he had talked with Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti about a new contract.

“Well, you know, actually, I only talked to him a little bit before this game, but before the New England game, you know, he just came came up to me and said, ‘Listen, this is our time, and go get ‘em. We have all the faith in you, and this is going to be your team for a long time,’ ” Flacco said.

Flacco has led the Ravens to the postseason in all five of his NFL seasons. This was by far his best postseason, setting career highs in completions (73), passing yards (1,140), touchdown passes (11), and quarterback rating (117.2). He threw 11 touchdown passes with no interceptions.

Flacco said he turned down an extension offer from the team last July.

“Well … when I wasn’t signing what they wanted me to sign, [Bisciotti] said, ‘Listen, when the time comes, I mean, you come and beat on my desk,’ and I said, ‘All right, I’ll take you up on that,’ and I think the time has come.”

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is wearing a boot after re-injuring his foot Sunday in the team’s 19-16 win over the Bills. Coach Mike Tomlin said that Roethlisberger may miss practice Wednesday but is likely to play on Sunday, when the Steelers play the Ravens in an NFL North first place showdown.

Roethlisberger stayed in the game after sustaining the injury and had an 18-yard run later in the game. He missed the team’s week 4 loss to the Ravens, when Joe Flacco led a last-minute drive to lead Baltimore to a 17-14 win.