It can be argued no team in the NFL needed a wide receiver more than the Bears. And on Saturday they signed an All-Pro who led the NFL in receiving yards and touchdown receptions.
Muhsin Muhammad immediately becomes the Bears’ No. 1 receiver, stepping into a role that has been essentially vacant since August when Marty Booker was traded to Miami in the Adewale Ogunleye deal.
This move is the biggest yet in the rebuilding of an offense that fell to the bottom of the NFL after quarterback Rex Grossman was lost to a knee injury after three games in 2004.
The acquisition of Muhammad lessens the pressure on the Bears to spend their first two picks in the NFL draft on offensive players. It makes it more likely they will look at running backs with the fourth pick of the first round. Auburn teammates Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams and Cedric Benson of Texas are the top prospects, with Brown appearing to be the one who could best complement incumbent Thomas Jones.
The signing also raises a question about the future of David Terrell, who came up short in his opportunity to succeed Booker as the Bears’ top receiver. Terrell had 42 catches, but nine came in one game. His penalties often hurt the Bears, and his traffic infractions became a major distraction.
Muhammad’s arrival could squeeze out Terrell, who hasn’t played like the first-round pick he was in 2001. The Bears are in the market for more receivers and they want to see more of last year’s third-round pick, Bernard Berrian, as well as Bobby Wade and Justin Gage, who will be in their third seasons.
Muhammad became a free agent Friday when the Carolina Panthers gave up on negotiating an extension. They already had decided they would not pay a $10 million roster bonus, so he was cut.
“We had a couple of guys in mind, and we had a pecking order, and we felt they were going to release him–it was a matter of when,” Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said.
Within hours, agent Joel Segal and Angelo huddled in their hotel at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis and agreed in principle in talks that went until 4 a.m. Saturday. They went back to work Saturday afternoon to complete the details.
“His agent had just done the Jerry Porter deal with Oakland, so he knew the market for receivers,” Angelo said.
The deal will pay Muhammad about $16 million over three years, with $12 million guaranteed. To ease the salary-cap hit, it’s technically a six-year deal that could be worth $30 million.
“I wanted a team that would feature me and promote me and where I could be a big part of the offense,” said Muhammad, who will turn 32 in May. “I think I can be that here.”
The speed with which the deal was consummated surprised many because several other teams could use a receiver, most notably Baltimore and Minnesota. The Vikings are expected to complete a trade of star receiver Randy Moss to Oakland on Wednesday.
But the Bears’ need was huge, and they acted aggressively.
“They were aggressive, and that impressed Muhsin,” Segal said.
The Bears’ wide receivers caught only three touchdown passes last season. Without Grossman, the offense scored only 13 touchdowns in 13 games.
Muhammad scored more touchdowns than that by himself. He caught 16 touchdown passes, double his previous career high. He led the Panthers with 93 catches, sixth in the NFL, for 1,405 yards, an average of 15.1 yards per catch.
“What he did last year speaks for itself,” Angelo said. “He’s a big, physical guy with a lot of toughness.”
At 6 feet 2 inches, 217 pounds, Muhammad will give whoever plays quarterback for the Bears a big, experienced target.
Muhammad thrives on guile more than game-breaking speed. He won’t necessarily stretch defenses to help the running game, but he’s noted for his blocking. He’s adept at finding the openings in defenses and making tough catches.
At his age, the Panthers were concerned how many good years he had left. They wanted him back, but not at the cost of a $10 million bonus.
The Bears need help, so age didn’t matter to Angelo.
“Terrell Owens is 32, Marvin Harrison is 32, Jimmy Smith is 35,” Angelo said. “Twelve years ago, Jerry Rice was 32. There’s some history of receivers in this age bracket, and they can go into their mid-30s.
“We’re a young football team and want to get older. He’s a quality, experienced player.”
Muhammad leaves the Panthers as the 10-year-old franchise’s all-time leading receiver with 578 catches for 7,751 yards.
In 2003, when Carolina lost the Super Bowl to New England, Steve Smith surpassed Muhammad as the Panthers’ leading receiver, catching 88 passes to Muhammad’s 63.
Muhammad re-emerged as the centerpiece of the offense last season after Smith and running backs DeShaun Foster and Stephen Smith were injured.
Despite being the focus of defenses last season, Muhammad had two games with 10 catches and two more with eight. In the final five games, he had seven touchdowns, at least one in each game as the Panthers chased a playoff spot they would miss by one game.
Carolina drafted the Lansing, Mich., native out of Michigan State in the second round of the 1996 draft.
“He’s extremely physical–very, very tough,” said Bill Polian, who drafted Muhammad for Carolina and is now the Indianapolis Colts’ president.
“He’s a great competitor. Chicago will love him. He’s the ultimate team player in my experience. He’s a great pickup.”
Polian recalled Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban, Muhammad’s coach at Michigan State, said he was tough enough to play defense.
“Nick Saban said he should have made him a safety,” Polian said, “that’s the kind of player he was.”
Instant upgrade
Muhsin Muhammad had nearly as many receptions and yards in 2004 as the four main receivers on the Bears’ roster–and 13 more touchdowns.
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PLAYER NO YDS TD
Muhammad 93 1,405 16
BEARS RECEIVERS
David Terrell 42 699 1
Bobby Wade 42 481 0
Bernard Berrian 15 225 2
Justin Gage 12 156 0
TOTAL 111 1,561 3
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By the numbers
Career statistics for wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who agreed to a six-year contract with the Bears on Saturday.
Height: 6-2. Weight: 217.
Born: May 5, 1973, in Lansing, Mich.
College: Michigan State.
Notes: Drafted in the second round of the 1996 NFL draft by Carolina . . . Panthers’ all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards. . . . Has 26 career 100-yard receiving games. . . . Two-time Pro Bowl selection (1999, 2004).
(All statistics with Carolina)
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YEAR NO YDS AVG LG TD
1996 25 407 16.3 54 1
1997 27 317 11.7 38 0
1998 68 941 13.8 72 6
1999 96 1,253 13.1 60 8
2000 102 1,183 11.6 36 6
2001 50 585 11.7 43 1
2002 63 823 13.1 42 3
2003 54 837 15.5 60 3
2004 93 1,405 15.1 51 16
TOTALS 578 7,751 13.4 72 44
Career rushing stats: 11 carries, 64 yards, 0 TDs.
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