Green Bay Packers

Sources: Packers sign DL Mike Daniels to $42 million extension

Published Dec. 14, 2015 10:44 a.m. ET

foxsports

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Mike Daniels plans to keep playing with a proverbial chip planted squarely on his shoulder, even after being rewarded with a contract extension on Monday by the Green Bay Packers.

Growing up, Daniels said he got overlooked in high school. Only Iowa looked at Daniels as he headed to college. And entering the draft in 2012, the 6-foot Daniels heard the questions about his height and strength, and whether he could play against the run in the NFL.

Four seasons later, he has turned into a key figure on the defensive line for the Packers.

The contract extension was worth $42 million over four years, FS1 NFL insider Mike Garafolo confirmed. ESPN.com first reported financial terms.

"It doesn't change the fact that I had to grind to get to where I'm at," Daniels said. "Success is just a product of the work I'm doing. I'll just keep on working."

Daniels sets the tone with a seemingly non-stop motor on the field. He's a force in the trenches, aided in part also by the return of B.J. Raji this season from an arm injury.

Daniels this year has 56 tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble. He is second on the team with 12 quarterback hits and 19 pressures. The fourth-round draft pick has started every game since the start of the 2014.

Born in New Jersey, Daniels stays in Green Bay in the offseason.

"Everybody leaves," Daniels joked. "I must love the snow, right?"

Daniels told his agent he wanted to stay in Green Bay. The deal keeps Daniels off the open market in the offseason, when he would have been one of the top available free agents.

Talks had cooled off before a conversation about a potential extension began last week. It was announced on Monday, by which time a few smiles and laughs broke through Daniels' normally stoic face.

The signing of Daniels solidifies his standing as a core player on a defense that has played relatively well over the last five weeks, giving up about 15 points game during that span. Green Bay beat Dallas 28-7 on Sunday to take a one-game lead in the NFC North over Minnesota.

Besides Daniels, linebacker Clay Matthews, cornerback Sam Shields and safety Morgan Burnett are among key players under contract for the next few years or beyond.

As for Daniels, he's moved on to getting ready for next weekend's game against the Raiders.

"It's here, it's done. My name is on the paper. I've got to play against Oakland," Daniels said. "Seriously, that's where I'm at."