[jwplayer khEmHsYo-ThvAeFxT]
An unexpected series of calls from his agent in the middle of the night started the process. Soon after, Kenny Clark’s entire body was in stunned disbelief as he signed a life-changing new contract with the Green Bay Packers.
Clark, who agreed to a four-year, $70 million extension on Saturday, said he was actually “shaking” as he signed the new deal.
“When Russ (Ball) gave me the contract to sign, I was shaking. Shaking hands, I was shaking and stuff. I didn’t know what to say,” Clark said Saturday.
His mom was on the phone as he signed, crying the whole time.
“I’m just blessed. Just happy about the opportunity. I worked hard for this. I really believe I deserved it,” Clark said.
A first-round pick of the Packers in 2016 and a Pro Bowler in 2019, Clark was set to enter the 2020 season playing on the final year of his rookie deal. This new extension pays him $17.5 million per year in new money, includes a $25 million signing bonus and keeps him in Green Bay through the 2024 season.
It’s hard to imagine not shaking while putting pen to paper on a deal worth $70 million. And the $25 million signing bonus? It’s only the biggest signing bonus the Packers have ever paid to a non-quarterback. As a first-round pick, Clark has already made a significant amount of money playing football. Now, he’s earned the type of deal most players can only dream of receiving.
Clark said he went to bed around 8:00 p.m. on Friday night after a long day of work at Lambeau Field. By midnight, he was awake and aware of the situation: his new contract was about to get done.
After hearing about all the numbers in the deal, Clark made it clear to his representation: “Man, let’s do it.”
ESPN and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the completion of Clark’s new deal Saturday morning. Not long into Saturday’s practice, the Packers officially announced the contract extension.
Clark, who has 16.5 sacks over the last three seasons, is one of the NFL’s most disruptive interior defensive linemen. He doesn’t turn 25 years old until October.
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