jimster
January-3rd-2005, 03:40 PM
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.
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.