Jan 12, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) passes the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

It was announced today that Baltimore Ravens‘ Super Bowl-winning, Super Bowl XLVII MVP quarterback Joe Flacco would be rewarded grandly for his perfect playoff efforts with a new contract that will not only make him the highest paid player in the National Football League, but will be felt all the way to Green Bay, especially by Aaron Rodgers.

Aaron Rodgers is ready to cash in.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

It’s reported that Flacco will be making a bit more than New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who signed a $20 million per year contract last fall. Flacco will sign a formal contract Monday that’s set to pay him $20.1 million per year for six years.

Flacco was expected to break the bank after leading the Ravens to a Super Bowl victory last month. In that game against a San Francisco 49ers team that had dominated in its run through the NFC, Flacco connected on 22-of-33 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. Though the Niners came back and nearly pulled out a victory late in this Super Bowl, the Ravens’ goal line stand saved the day and helped lead to Flacco’s MVP.

Joe Flacco
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

So, what does this mean for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers? Well, it will mean tens of millions of dollars per year. Rodgers’ extended contract he signed a few years ago comes due in the coming year and he’s surely to benefit greatly. Rodgers, who is also a Super Bowl winner and MVP, wants to play at least another eight years and retire a Packer. No doubt, the Packers want that, too. So it looks like Rodgers will be negotiating another extension that’s going to pay him at least $20 million per year. He’s currently making $9 million per year – grossly underpaid for the production he has provided his team.

In five years as a starter, Rodgers has missed only two games – one because of a concussion and the other because he was rested on the final game of the 2011 season. During those five years as a starter, Rodgers has completed 1,726 passes out of 2,665 attempts (65.7 percent), for 21,661 yards, and 171 touchdowns.

Over that same time span, Flacco has played in every game. He has completed 1,507 passes in 2,489 attempts (60.5 percent), for 17,663 yards, and 102 touchdowns.

Yes, Flacco had an amazing run through the NFL Playoffs this past season – a near-perfect run at that – but Rodgers had a similar experience in 2010 when the Packers were the sixth seed and won four straight road games en route to their Super Bowl XLV win.

If one looks at statistics alone, we can understand why Aaron Rodgers is smiling today. He’s got the world in his hand and, based on how Flacco was rewarded today, has every reason to believe that his future reward will be more than he could possibly imagine.

Joe Flacco’s career statistics …

Aaron Rodgers’ career statistics …

Jan 15, 1967; Los Angeles, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr (15) in action against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl I at the Coliseum. The Packers defeated the Chiefs 35-10. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Professional football players dream of being selected to the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Few would hope they get votes at the political ballot box, but that’s exactly what we saw here in northern Wisconsin during the most recent Recall Election that had Democrat Tom Barrett trying to unseat Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

One individual Tweeted on his Twitter account that they had voted for Greg Jennings and after a check with Minocqua, Woodruff and Arbor Vitae town clerks found that a local had voted for Bart Starr. And while there was the usual Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck write-ins, one can only guess just how many counties actually recorded votes for other Packers players. You’ve got to believe that there had to be at least a few for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, cornerback Charles Woodson and linebacker Clay Matthews.

In the meantime, here’s a story by The Lakeland Times’ Joe VanDeLaarschot that explains the local situation at the voting booth.