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Weeks after general manager Kevin Colbert insisted the franchise wanted the All-Pro receiver to "retire as a Steeler," the club took a major step in that direction by signing Antonio Brown to a new five-year contract.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the initial figures show Brown received a four-year extension worth $68 million. That's $17 million per year over four years and $18.5 million over three years. The deal makes him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. Brown was already owed $4.71 million this season, so the full value of his deal is $72.71 million over five years.

But the new money average is, as NFL Network's Mike Garafolo put it, "massive" -- and it's not hard to figure out why.

Brown was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round in 2010 and has grown and developed into one of the best wide receivers in the game. In his first seven seasons in the league he has caught 632 passes for 8,377 yards, a 13.3 yard average, and has hauled in 50 touchdowns.

Brown finished first in the AFC and second in the NFL in total receptions in 2016 with 106, finishing just behind Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald who had 107 receptions. Brown was fifth in the league in total yardage with 1,284 yards. He became the first player in NFL history to lead his conference in receptions in four straight seasons.

Brown, who was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time, including four consecutive years, became the first player in team history with 1,000 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns in three straight seasons (2014-16), and the first player in team history to record 90 receptions in four straight seasons.

The list of accomplishments for the hard-working Brown goes on and on. He has at least one reception in 99 straight regular-season games, set an NFL record for the most receptions by a player in the first 100 regular season games of their career with 622 and has the most receptions in NFL history in any four-year span with 481 (2013-16).

When it comes to Steelers’ records, Brown is making a name for himself and then some in the books.

He has the most double-digit reception games in team history (13), is tied for the most 100-yard receiving games in team history (29), is just the second player to record at least 600 receptions (joining Hines Ward), and along with the Ward the second player in team history to record 1,000 receiving yards in four straight seasons. Brown is third on the Steelers in all-time receiving yards, behind Ward and Hall of Famer John Stallworth.

Thanks to his role in one of the league's most prolific offenses, the presence of QB Ben Roethlisberger and Le'Veon Bell, Brown has emerged as the most consistently high-end fantasy receiver in the NFL. Assuming there are no major changes to Pittsburgh's offense and personnel, there's no reason to believe that won't continue.