TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals and Larry Fitzgerald have agreed to an eight-year deal that could pay the star receiver as much as $120 million, making it one of the richest deals in the NFL.

The agreement, with guarantees near $50 million, is by far the biggest in the franchise’s history.

Fitzgerald and team president Michael Bidwill appeared at a hastily called news conference Saturday night to announce the agreement.

Fitzgerald insisted he “hates this part of sports,” but he certainly has made a boatload of money. This is the third major contract he has signed, and he doesn’t turn 28 until Aug. 31.

“Growing up, since I was 7 years old, this has been the game I love and something I have been so passionate about,” Fitzgerald said, “and to have to talk about it on the business side is a little bit uncomfortable. But I am really happy to put it behind us and it wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the Bidwill family’s hard work in making this thing happen.”