The Green Bay Packers have signed Antonio Freeman, one of the NFL's two most productive wide receivers over the past three seasons, to a long-term contract extension, Executive Vice President/General Manager Ron Wolf announced today.
In just four seasons, the 27-year-old Freeman has entrenched himself among pro football's elite wideouts, a development underscored when he led the league in receiving yards last season (1,424), earned consensus all-pro honors and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time.

An established scoring threat, his 35 touchdown catches over the past three seasons easily rank as the top total among NFL receivers (along with Minnesota's Cris Carter) over that span.

The 6-1, 198-pound Virginia Tech alumnus also has been rewriting the receiving records section of the Packers' media guide along the way, becoming in 1998 only the third player in team history to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons - and only the second player to catch 80-plus passes in two different seasons.

With 14 scoring receptions in 1998, he now owns the record for the most receiving touchdowns by a Packer in his first four seasons with 36, having surpassed the legendary Don Hutson (30, from 1935-38). He also is tied for the sixth-highest such total in NFL history to start a career.

En route to becoming only the fifth Green Bay player to lead the NFL in receiving yards, he posted six 100-yard receiving games last season, giving him a career total of 13 (plus three more in the postseason).

Freeman, who now has caught at least one pass in 34 consecutive games (including playoffs), enters the 1999 season in 12th place on the team's all-time receiving list with 229 career catches (for 3,706 yards) and should easily invade the Top Ten this season.

The highly productive Baltimore native already stands 21st on Green Bay's all-time scoring list heading into the 1999 season with 218 points, only 12 points behind Pro Football Hall of Famer Johnny Blood McNally.

As productive as he has been in the regular-season, Freeman has been at his best in the postseason. He now owns nine Packers playoff records: Most Consecutive Games, Touchdown Pass Received - 3; Most Touchdown Passes Received, Career - 7; Most Touchdowns, Career - 9; Most Consecutive Games Scoring Touchdowns - 3 (twice, one of which remains current); Longest Reception - 81 yards vs. New England in Super Bowl XXXI; Most Kickoff Returns, Career - 20: Most Yards Gained on Kickoff Returns, Career - 413; Highest Punt Return Average (game - 3 returns) - 24.0 yards vs. Atlanta in 1995; and Longest Punt Return - 76 yards vs. Atlanta in 1995.

Freeman also owns a current string of at least one pass reception in 10 consecutive playoff games, one off the team record of 11, is second to Robert Brooks in career receiving yards (600), second to Chris Jacke in career scoring (54 points) and third in career receptions (34).

Listen to WR Antonio Freeman talk about his contract - (Real Audio).

Career Statistics

Receiving
Year		G/S	No	Yds	Avg	LG	TD
1995	Green Bay	11/0	8	106	13.3	28	1
1996	Green Bay	12/12	56	933	16.7	51t	9
1997	Green Bay	16/16	81	1,243	15.3	58t	12
1998	Green Bay	15/15	84	1,424	17.0	84t	14
Totals		54/43	229	3,706	16.1	84t	36
Playoffs		10/8	34	600	17.5	81t	5

Rushing
Year		No	Yds	Avg	LG	TD
1995	Green Bay	0	0	0.0	0	0
1996	Green Bay	0	0	0.0	0	0
1997	Green Bay	1	14	14.0	14	0
1998	Green Bay	3	5	1.7	10	0
Totals		4	19	4.8	14	0
Playoffs		1	5	5.0	5	0

Punt Returns
Year		No	FC	Yds	Avg	LG	TD
1995	Green Bay	37	3	292	7.9	26	0
1996	Green Bay	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
1997	Green Bay	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
1998	Green Bay	0	0	0	0.0	0
Totals		37	3	292	7.9	26	0
Playoffs		10	2	143	14.3	76t	1

Kickoff Returns
Year		No	Yds	Avg	LG	TD
1995	Green Bay	24	556	23.2	45	0
1996	Green Bay	1	16	16.0	16	0
1997	Green Bay	0	0	0	0.0	0
1998	Green Bay	0	0	0	0.0	0
Totals		25	572	22.9	45	0
Playoffs		20	413	20.7	42	0

2-pt Conversions: 1 in 1998
Other Touchdowns: 1, fumble recovery in end zone vs. San Francisco (1/4/97-postseason)
Miscellaneous Tackles: 1 in 1995; 1 in 1996; 1 in 1998 for total of 3
100-Yard Receiving Games: 4 in 1996; 1 in 1996 Playoffs; 3 in 1997; 2 in 1997 Playoffs; 5 in 1998 for total of 12

CAREER SINGLE-GAME HIGHS
Most Receptions: 10, vs. Chicago (12/1/96) and at Carolina (12/14/97)
Most Receiving Yards: 193, vs. San Francisco (11/1/98)
Longest Receptions: 84t, vs. Detroit (9/6/98)
Most TD Receptions: 3, vs. Denver (12/8/96), vs. Tennessee (12/20/98)