Muhsin Muhammad

Muhsin Muhammad II (/muːˈsɪn/; born Melvin Campbell May 5, 1973) is a former American football wide receiver who played for the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Muhammad played college football for Michigan State. He was drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft. Muhammad was a two-time Pro Bowl selection for the Panthers in 1999 and 2004, and also made the 2004 All-Pro Team. He was known for his nickname, “Moose”, and for his signature touchdown dance, which was featured in one of the opening cameos of Madden NFL 2006.

Early life

Muhammad was born in Lansing, Michigan. His birth name was Melvin Campbell, but it was changed after his father converted to Islam when Muhammad was four years old.^[1] He was mainly a soccer player in elementary school, but eventually started to play football due to peer pressure.^[2] 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.^[3]

After graduating from high school, Muhammad enrolled into Michigan State University. He would break out in 1995 under Nick Saban with 50 catches for 867 yards and 3 TD while playing with QB Tony Banks and alongside WR Derrick Mason.

Professional career

Carolina Panthers (1996–2004)

Muhammad was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft. After two mediocre seasons, Muhammad earned his full-time starting spot in 1998 by leading the Panthers with 68 receptions, 6 TDs, and almost 1000 yards. Muhammad exploded onto the NFL scene in 1999 under new coach George Seifert, earning his first Pro Bowl bid with 96 receptions, 8 TD, and 1253 yards, and followed it by co-leading the NFL in receptions in 2000 with 102. Muhammad averaged 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, while Muhammad recorded the longest touchdown reception (85 yards) in Super Bowl history.^[3]

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 complement this he would earn his 2nd 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.^[3]

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 2005. Hours after his release, Muhammad received a call from the Chicago Bears, who offered the 32-year old veteran a six-year contract. Muhammad agreed, and left Charlotte for Chicago.^[4]

Muhammad's first stint with the Panthers was plagued with several negative experiences. During his time there, he was the target of a racial slur from his quarterback, 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.^[5][6][7]

Chicago Bears (2005–2007)

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, 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.^[8]

Muhammad’s statistics improved with Rex Grossman at quarterback in the 2006 season. He had his first one hundred-yard day with the Bears in their season opener against the Green Bay Packers, and later another against the Minnesota Vikings during week three. However, he began to see less action as Grossman began to play inconsistently after the season’s midway point. Muhammad defended Grossman from criticism, and often publicly voiced his support for Grossman at press conferences.^[9] Muhammad’s finished the regular season as the team’s leading wide receiver for the second consecutive time.^[10] His lone post-season touchdown came at Super Bowl XLI, en route to a 29-17 loss.

Muhammad had a down year in 2007, as did the entire Bears offense. However, he has stated that he was not worried by this recent lack of productivity.^[11]

On February 18, 2008 the Bears released him.^[12]

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.^[13] Before the start of the 2006 season, he revealed that he had played through the 2005 season with a broken hand.^[14]

Months after leaving the Bears, Muhammad told Sports Illustrated that Chicago is "where wide receivers go to die." The remark caught the attention of Darryl Drake, the team's wide receiver coach. While Drake stated he was unfazed by Muhammad's remark, he argued that former Bears wide receivers Bernard Berrian, Justin Gage, and Bobby Wade were able to develop in Chicago, and later lead successful careers after leaving.^[15]

Return to Carolina (2008–2009)

Just nine days after being released by the Bears, Muhammad re-signed with his former team, the Carolina Panthers, in the form of a two-year deal.^[16] On September 14, playing against the Bears, he became the 29th player in NFL history to reach 10,000 career receiving yards. He finished the year with 65 receptions for 923 yards and 5 touchdowns.

In 2009, Muhammad caught 53 passes for 581 yards and a touchdown. After 14 seasons in the NFL, he retired after the season ended.

Professional statistics

Regular season

Post-season

Broadcasting career

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. He also has worked as a color commentator for the Big Ten Network ^[17]

Muhammad won a 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.^[18]

Personal life

Despite his father's conversion to Islam, Muhammad himself is a Christian.^[19][20] He is currently married to Christa Muhammad. They have four daughters and two sons: (oldest to youngest) Jordan, Chase, Journey, Muhsin III, Maddon and Kennedy. Maddon and Journey were adopted from Ethiopia in 2007.^[21]

Philanthropy

Muhammad has created his own charity foundation called, “The M2 Foundation for Kids”, which is dedicated to enhancing the mental and physical development of children. He is also a supporter of the "Back to Nature" program, a special camping trip which encouraged children to spend more time with nature by taking them on various hikes throughout the Great Smokey Mountains and numerous nature preserves in Tennessee;^[3] the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he 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.^[3] On February 28, 2007, Muhammad’s high school alma mater gave him a special award for donating $50,000 worth of equipment to school’s fitness center, which was also renamed in his honor.^[22]

The Carolina Panthers presented Muhammad with the organization's “Man of the Year” award in 1999 for his charity and volunteer work.

References

External links

• Moose87.com - Official Website
• Muhammad @ NFL Rush: Player of the Day
• Carolina Panthers bio