Muhsin Muhammad

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Muhsin Muhammad
Date of birth	May 5, 1973 (age 33)
Place of birth	Lansing, MI
Position(s)	WR
College	Michigan State
NFL Draft	1996 / Round 2 / Pick 43
Career Highlights
Pro Bowls	2000, 2005
Records	Carolina Panthers Career Receptions (578)
Stats
Statistics	Pro Football Reference NFL.com DatabaseFootball ESPN
Team(s)
1996—2004 2005—Present	Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears

Muhsin Muhammad II (born Melvin Campbell on May 5, 1973) is an American football player who currently plays wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the NFL.

Contents 1 Early life 2 NFL career 2.1 Carolina Panthers 2.2 Chicago Bears 3 Personal life 4 Trivia 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Early life

Muhammad was born in Lansing, Michigan. He was mainly a soccer player in elementary school, but eventually started to play football due to peer pressure ^[1]. He attended Waverly High School in Lansing, Michigan. While there, he excelled in athletics, earning three letters in football, and an additional two in basketball and track. Furthermore, he not only defined himself as a threat as receiver, but also as an all-state linebacker and running back.^[2] Muhammad would always remember his high school well after graduation. On, February 28, 2007, Muhammad’s alma mater awarded him with a special award for donating $50,000 worth of equipment to school’s fitness center, which was also renamed in his honor.^[3]

After graduating from high school, Muhammad enrolled into Michigan State University.

[edit] NFL career

[edit] Carolina Panthers

Muhammad was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft After two mediocre seasons, Muhammad exploded onto the NFL scene, averaging nearly 1000 yards each season from the 1998 to 2000 NFL season. During the 2001 NFL season, Muhammad was plagued by injuries, but he managed to recover his form the following season. He would later play a leading role in the Carolina Panthers' run to Super Bowl XXXVIII during 2003 NFL season. The Panthers lost to the AFC Champion New England Patriots 29-32.^[2]

Muhammad would go on to have an excellent 2004 season, leading the NFL with a career high 1,405 receiving yards, and 16 receiving touchdowns. To compliment this he would also go to earn a Pro Bowl invitation. By the end of the 2004 season, Muhammad held all of the Panthers' receiving records, including catches (578), receiving yards (7,751), 100-yard games (26), the top three single-game yardage totals (192, 189, 179) and was tied with Wesley Walls at 44 touchdown receptions.^[2]

Following the 2004 season, Muhammad, who was due a $10 million roster bonus, could not come to contract terms with Panthers, and was released in February of 2005. Hours after his release, Muhammad received a call from the Chicago Bears, who offered the 32-year old veteran a six year contract. Without hesitation, Muhammad agreed, and left Charlotte for Chicago.^[4]

[edit] Chicago Bears

Muhammad established himself as one of the main receiving threat for the Bears during his first year with the Bears. He has been credited for encouraging a stronger work ethic within the Bears receiving corps. Also, Muhammad shared his sagacious advice to young wide receivers Bernard Berrian, Mark Bradley, and Rashied Davis.

Despite failing to catch several poorly thrown passes from the rookie quarterback, Kyle Orton, Muhammad held himself accountable for the mistakes, and promised reporters he would work to improve his game. However, it should be noted that Muhammad would later be seen complaining to Orton during a Sunday night match up against the Atlanta Falcons. Following Muhammad's criticism, coach Lovie Smith benched Orton in favor of a fully recovered Rex Grossman.^[5]

Muhammad emerged as the Bears’ leading receiver for the second consecutive season in 2006.^[6] He amassed over 860 yards, including three games where he caught for over 100 yards. Muhammad played a menial role in the Bears' victories 2006 post season victories over the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints, due to the emergence of Bernard Berrian and Rashied Davis. However, he caught touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLI, which gave the bears a temporary lead over the Indianapolis Colts. His efforts were in vain, as the Bears lost, 29-17.

Additionally, his catching ability and ball handling skills were almost unmatched on the team; Muhammad caught several poorly thrown passes that would have been likely intercepted at the hands of other Bears’ receivers. He has also been a strong supporter of Rex Grossman, who was criticized by skeptics because of inconsistent play.^[7] However, Muhammad’s age has seemingly played an effect on his endurance. Although he played all sixteen games, Muhammad was often listed as probable or questionable days prior to many games.^[8] Before the start of the 2006 season, he revealed that he had played through the 2005 season with a broken hand.^[9]

[edit] Personal life

Muhammad is currently married to his wife, Christa, and has three daughters and one son. He spends the off season living with his family in Lansing, Michigan. He has been greatly recognized for his work outside of football, contributing much of his time and resources to help the lesser fortunate. Muhammad has created his own charity foundation called, “The M2 Foundation for Kids”, which is dedicated to enhancing the educational, mental, and physical development of children. Also, Muhammad promoted the "Back to Nature" program, a special camping trip which encouraged children to spend more time with nature by taking them on various nature hikes throughout the Great Smokey Mountains and numerous nature perseveres in Tennessee.^[2]

Muhammad has been a long time supporter of the for Muscular Dystrophy Association in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was worked with several of his teammates to raise funds and awareness for the group by organizing Christmas toy drives and a special football camp. Furthermore, Muhammad serves as a spokesperson for the Men For Change organization, a group which helps generate money for impoverished women’s shelters.^[2]

Muhammad's career with the Panthers was plagued with several negative experiences. During his time there, he was the target of a racial slur from Kerry Collins, testified at murder hearings for Rae Carruth and Deidra Lane (wife of Fred Lane), and was arrested in 2003 on misdemeanor drug and weapon offenses. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

[edit] Trivia

• Muhammad was born Melvin Campbell, but his father converted to Islam when Muhsin was four years old. ^[13]; Muhammad himself is a Christian.^[14]
• Muhammad’s nickname is “Moose”, and fans in the crowd often wear moose antlers in support of him. Additionally, fans will often yell "Moooose!" when Muhammad makes a catch, first down or touchdown pass. People unfamiliar with this tradition often assume that the crowd is booing him.^[15]
• He is also known for his signature touchdown dance, which was featured in one of the opening cameos of Madden NFL 2006
• Because of his hours of volunteer work with various charity groups, the Carolina Panthers’ organization, Muhammad was presented with the Panther’s “man of the year” award in 1999.
• During the 2002 and 2003 off-season, Muhammad became a color commentator for NFL Europe on behalf of FOX television. Furthermore, he was a post-season correspondent for NFL Network in 2004.
• Muhammad holds the Super Bowl record for the longest play from scrimmage, an 85 yard touchdown reception in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
• Muhammad won an Chicago Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement for Sports Programs for his segment, Hanging with the Moose, which aired on Comcast SportsNet 's "SportsNite" in 2005. ^[16]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Muhammad's Chicago Bears Profile
• Moose87.com - Official Website
• Muhammad @ NFL Rush: Player of the Day