PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger signed a new contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers that makes him one of the NFL's highest paid players.

ESPN.com reported today that the deal is worth $102 million over eight years.

The Pro Bowl quarterback led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory two years ago, and was the 11th overall pick in the 2004 draft. He's been the starter in all four seasons with the team.

Roethlisberger threw 32 touchdown passes with only 11 interceptions in leading the Steelers to the playoffs this season, bouncing back from an injury marred 2006 season.

Roethlisberger was the third quarterback taken in the '04 draft, behind Eli Manning and Philip Rivers. He started 13 games his rookie season and was voted offensive rookie of the year, the first quarterback to win the award since it was first given in 1957. The next year he led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory.

He was injured in a serious motorcycle accident in the 2006 offseason, then underwent an appendectomy. Although he started 15 games, his play was subpar — he threw 23 interceptions, three more than he had thrown in his first two seasons, and Pittsburgh failed to make the playoffs.

This season, he led the Steelers to a 10-6 record and the AFC North title before they were eliminated by Jacksonville in the playoffs.