Bears add Muhammad in hopes of boosting passing game

CHICAGO -- All-Pro receiver Muhsin Muhammad agreed to a six-year contract with the Chicago Bears one day after being released by the Carolina Panthers.

Muhammad was cut by Carolina on Friday because the Panthers did not want to pay a $10 million roster bonus due on Tuesday. It didn't take long for him to find a new home, and the Bears will give him a $12 million signing bonus, which is guaranteed money.

"I don't think there is one person that's a Superman in this sport that can totally revolutionize or change a team," he said. "But I have a lot of experience at what I do and I'm going to bring that experience to Chicago. I'm going to bring my leadership skills and hopefully I influence enough people to make the team better."

Muhammad, who will be 32 in May, comes off a strong season despite the Panthers having spiraled from NFC champions to 7-9. He caught 93 passes, led the league with 1,405 yards and had 16 touchdowns as the main target after Steve Smith broke his leg.

"He's a guy who makes plays," Bears receivers coach Darryl Drake said on the team's Web site. "He just brings a lot of experience and savvy and a lot of intangibles to the organization that you just can't coach.

In his ninth NFL season, Muhsin Muhammad had a career year with 1,405 receiving yards and 16 TD catches. (Getty Images)

"I'm excited about him coming in at this point in time being involved in a new offense, and getting himself established and helping us reach the goals that we want to reach as a team."

Added general manager Jerry Angelo: "The timing was good because everybody's under one roof here. His agent was here and we were able to visit with him. We met through the night and got it done."

The agent, Joel Segal, recently worked a new contract with the Oakland Raiders for Jerry Porter.

"I think it says that we're serious about improving our team and making a serious run," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "We've identified some places where we thought we needed some more players. A receiver was one of those. To be able to get a receiver like this will definitely help you get some momentum going into the rest of free agency and, of course the draft coming up."

Drafted in 1996 in the second round, Muhammad played 125 games for the Panthers, making two Pro Bowls.

Chicago has had one of the league's worst passing games. Last season, without starting quarterback Rex Grossman for much of the year, the Bears ranked dead last among 32 teams.

Although a fan favorite, Muhammad's time in Carolina was not always smooth. Through his ties to former Panthers Rae Carruth and Fred Lane, he was a witness at court hearings for Carruth, who was charged with arranging the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, and Deidra Lane, who pleaded guilty to shooting to death her husband Fred.

He was also the target of an offensive racial term used by then-Panthers quarterback Kerry Collins in 1997. He was arrested in 2002 on misdemeanor drug and weapons charges.

On the field, Muhammad was often criticized for dropped balls and for giving up on a route at Atlanta in 2003 that led to a game-ending interception by the Falcons.