The Green Bay Packers continued with their practice of rewarding their own young players that excel, signing guard Josh Sitton to a five-year contract extension.

Sitton was entering the final year of his contract and was scheduled to earn $1.2 million this season. According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, it’s believed to be a large deal that could push Sitton’s earnings in the neighborhood of $7 million per season, making him one of the better paid interior linemen in the league.

“It’s a big weight off my shoulders,” Sitton told the team’s Web site. “That was what we said from the beginning, that we wanted to get it done before the season. That way I didn’t have to deal with it and I could just focus on playing football. That’s what I do. I’m a football player.

“It’s kind of surreal, thinking three and a half years ago sitting in college and not even knowing if I would get drafted or not,” Sitton said. “I’ve always been an underrated type of player. That’s kind of my M.O. and I like it that way. It’s been a crazy ride for a few years and I’m excited to keep it going.”

Per Silverstein, tight end Jermichael Finley and wide receiver Jordy Nelson could be next in line for pay days.

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