Joe Flacco has revealed that he would have found it tough to join another team if he had not been able to agree a contract extension with the Baltimore Ravens.
The quarterback was just over a week away from becoming a free agent when he signed a six-year $120.6m (£80.3m) deal with the AFC North side.
The Super Bowl MVP told Sports Illustrated: "Yeah, that would have been tough. If Baltimore didn't come up to the plate and get something done before they had to franchise me at one of the levels, some team could have stolen me.
"I'm glad I didn't have to go through that, because, yeah, Cleveland could have come in and put an offer together that these guys couldn't have matched. They could have paid me a ton of money so that there's no way that these guys could have done anything about it.
"I would have been disappointed if that happened. I already felt that I had clawed and fought as hard as I could. It would be different. At the same time, you know, I don't think I would have left these guys on a bad note though."
The Ravens have reached the playoffs every year since drafting Flacco in 2008.
Sian Cowper
