jimster Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 Muhammad's Future Unclear in Carolina Jan 3, 4:09 PM (ET) Email this Story By JENNA FRYER CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Muhsin Muhammad left Carolina's stadium certain that he wants to be back with the Panthers next season and hoping to be highly compensated. Unsure that both can happen in Carolina, Monday's season-ending team meeting might have been his last. "I definitely think that I've done all I can do," the receiver said as he headed out of Bank of America Stadium with his personal belongings in a large brown box. "I definitely can say that I played this year as hard as I can possibly play and I don't have any regrets. "I think I did everything that I set out to do and left it all on the table, so at this point, hopefully we can come to some sort of agreement." Muhammad has spent nine seasons with the Panthers, and this one was his best statistically. He set team records with 1,405 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns, and took perhaps a final curtain call Sunday with six catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the New Orleans Saints. But the most important number surrounding Muhammad is the $10 million roster bonus the Panthers will owe him if they activate the final year of his contract. It's highly unlikely that Carolina management will ever write that check, but the Panthers said Monday they will try to renegotiate his contract to keep him in Charlotte. A new contract probably would mean a long-term deal, and the price tag got a lot steeper as Muhammad finished strong and was selected to the Pro Bowl for just the second time in his career. And don't think Muhammad didn't take notice of the $66 million contract extension Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison signed last month. Muhammad said the day after Harrison's deal was announced that "every time a receiver signs a big deal, I think it raises the bar for everybody underneath them." On Monday, Muhammad refused to discuss particulars of what kind of contract he's seeking. The only thing he did say was: "I think I should be paid what I am worth, if that's what you are asking." The Panthers plan to negotiate. "We've expressed to him that we would love to have him back," general manager Marty Hurney said. "And he's expressed to us that he would like to be here if it all works out." Cost will end up being the biggest factor in whether or not Muhammad is back in Carolina. The Panthers signed fellow wide receiver Steve Smith to a six-year extension worth $26.5 million last year, then used a second-round draft pick on Keary Colbert, who broke all of Carolina's rookie records this season. Both Smith and Colbert are considerably younger than the 31-year-old Muhammad, and Smith had replaced Muhammad as Carolina's big-play receiver before breaking his leg in the season opener this year. So it might take Muhammad settling for less than what he believes he is worth to keep him in Carolina. He did say Monday that playing for the Panthers is his first choice, and he'd prefer to close his career with the team that drafted him. "I think it is a very special thing to be able to start and finish your career in the same place because it is such a rarity - I think it is a tragedy when a guy like Jerry Rice can't retire as a 49er," Muhammad said. "I think it would be an honor just to be able to play your whole career in one place and I think that is kind of something that has been lost throughout the years." Smith insisted he wants Muhammad back next season and that Jake Delhomme throws enough balls for both of them. "I'm not really focusing on who's going to play well or get the most balls," Smith said. "We're not going to be out there like, 'He got 10 balls and I got eight balls.' " Although it took Delhomme much longer to develop the rapport with Muhammad that he instantly had with Smith, he also wants both of his top targets back. "I'd love to have him back, he's a great player, a good person," Delhomme said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Die Hard Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 Players believe they want what their worth. Unfortunately, that's not true at all. Players want to be paid regularly for their highest level of production. But they'll simply never match those totals. If they do, then they deserve to get paid. Maybe NFL contracts for each position should be measured by "production" and predetermined. For instance, if you can produce, say 90+ catches or 1,400 yards or 16 TDs in a season... you will get a predetermined salary. The highest at the position. That is the only way to be guaranteed what you're worth. Apparently Mr Muhammad has played 9 years... had his best season statistically in his 9th year... has only been to the Pro Bowl twice.... but yet wants the rest of his contract to average out to his best statistical year. If I"m the Panthers, I cut him lose. I'd be willing to bet anybody he'll never match those numbers again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 if anyone is suggesting the Redskins should step up and make Mr. Muhammad's dreams come true in the wallet, back to the cave! :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cdowwe Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 I agree, this season was a fluke for Muhammad. With all the RBs hurt like Davis, the Panthers depended on their aerial attack a lot more, giving Muh many more catches than he would have otherwise. I tip my hat to the Panthers and Fox for turning around their season, just a little late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Redskin Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 I think muhammad has been a good reciever for his whole career. don't forget he has been hiding in carolina his whole career. Not saying I want us to sign him but he deserves some respect. here are his career numbers compared with harrison's. notice marvin's pre-manning #'s aren't that great either. Muhammad had who for QB. winkey, peete. lucky for him he had Steve Buerline early on or his #'s would be worse. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/MuhaMu00.htm Muhsin Muhammad Wide Receiver Born: 1973 1-time Pro Bowler: 1999 Game-by-game data | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | +--------------------------+-------------------------+ | Rushing | Receiving | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ | Year TM | G | Att Yards Y/A TD | Rec Yards Y/R TD | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ | 1996 car | 9 | 1 -1 -1.0 0 | 25 407 16.3 1 | | 1997 car | 13 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 27 317 11.7 0 | | 1998 car | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 68 941 13.8 6 | | 1999 car | 15 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 96 1253 13.1 8 | | 2000 car | 16 | 2 12 6.0 0 | 102 1183 11.6 6 | | 2001 car | 11 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 50 585 11.7 1 | | 2002 car | 14 | 3 40 13.3 0 | 63 823 13.1 3 | | 2003 car | 15 | 2 -2 -1.0 0 | 54 837 15.5 3 | | 2004 car | 16 | 3 15 5.0 0 | 93 1405 15.1 16 | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ | TOTAL | 125 | 11 64 5.8 0 | 578 7751 13.4 44 | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/HarrMa00.htm Marvin Harrison Wide Receiver Born: 1972 5-time Pro Bowler: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 Game-by-game data | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | +--------------------------+-------------------------+ | Rushing | Receiving | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ | Year TM | G | Att Yards Y/A TD | Rec Yards Y/R TD | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ | 1996 ind | 16 | 3 15 5.0 0 | 64 836 13.1 8 | | 1997 ind | 16 | 2 -7 -3.5 0 | 73 866 11.9 6 | | 1998 ind | 12 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 59 776 13.2 7 | | 1999 ind | 16 | 1 4 4.0 0 | 115 1663 14.5 12 | | 2000 ind | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 102 1413 13.9 14 | | 2001 ind | 16 | 1 3 3.0 0 | 109 1524 14.0 15 | | 2002 ind | 16 | 2 10 5.0 0 | 143 1722 12.0 11 | | 2003 ind | 15 | 1 3 3.0 0 | 94 1272 13.5 10 | | 2004 ind | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 86 1113 12.9 15 | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ | TOTAL | 139 | 10 28 2.8 0 | 845 11185 13.2 98 | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 At 31 receivers tend to become less productive, the next team that signs Muhammad will see dwindling numbers over the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdarugar Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 NO MUHAMMED. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Redskin Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 his numbers are probably more comparable with Eric Mould's and his many Qbs Eric Moulds Wide Receiver Born: 1973 3-time Pro Bowler: 1998, 2000, 2002 Game-by-game data | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | +--------------------------+-------------------------+ | Rushing | Receiving | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ | Year TM | G | Att Yards Y/A TD | Rec Yards Y/R TD | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ | 1996 buf | 16 | 12 44 3.7 0 | 20 279 13.9 2 | | 1997 buf | 16 | 4 59 14.8 0 | 29 294 10.1 0 | | 1998 buf | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 67 1368 20.4 9 | | 1999 buf | 14 | 1 1 1.0 0 | 65 994 15.3 7 | | 2000 buf | 16 | 2 24 12.0 0 | 94 1326 14.1 5 | | 2001 buf | 16 | 3 3 1.0 0 | 67 904 13.5 5 | | 2002 buf | 16 | 1 7 7.0 0 | 100 1287 12.9 10 | | 2003 buf | 13 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 64 780 12.2 1 | | 2004 buf | 16 | 5 19 3.8 0 | 88 1043 11.9 5 | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ | TOTAL | 139 | 28 157 5.6 0 | 594 8275 13.9 44 | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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